Charlie and the Chocolate Factory article
Welcome to the wonderful world of the quirky confectioner known as Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp)! What lies behind his factory gates is certainly a mystery, as is the man himself. Never appearing in 15 years, the world is stunned to wake up one winter day to find that the candy maker is holding a contest. Not an ordinary contest, though, for if you find one of the five golden tickets hidden under the wrapper of the ordinary Wonka Bar, then you will have to chance to go on the adventure of a life time.
Our story takes place in a town where the amazing factory owned by the one and only Willy Wonka, a figure held with an almost royal status. The story in the beginning focuses on a young boy of 11 years old named Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore), a boy of a poverty status and a kind, loving heart. He idols the chocolatier, and though he only tastes his candy once every year on his birthday, he stares at the factory with a longing look. Charlie, living with his four grandparents, mother, and father, awakes one morning to find flyers posted around the town, announcing a worldwide contest, where only five children will win and be able to get a tour of the factory. This alone is enough to make the world’s population go to extremes to win, but with the promise of a special prize at the end for one lucky child, things begin to get chaotic.
With the chocolate bars being sold left and right but millions of people, it is impossible for a boy with no money who only gets a bar a year to be lucky enough to find one of the Golden Tickets. Or so Charlie thought. After four tickets are found by four other children, and the news of forged tickets floating around, Charlie Bucket makes a few last hopes to attempt to impossible when he finds money on the street. The lucky child opens the bar of chocolate to find a glint of gold and realizes what this means. He is to go on the tour of the man he dreams so much about.
Fate turns all five children and five parents at the front of the factory, waiting impatiently to enter the reclusive mans realm. But when the candy maker shows himself, he is unlike anything the children thought he would be. Instead of a warm friendly man, he seems to be a pale, nervous, high-pitched gentleman, with a top hat and cane. His manner is rather foreign to the adults and children, though it is undeniable that he is a genius. This is very well proven when they step into the first part of the tour. The chocolate room. A room with bright confection trees and edible grass. A river flowing through made of the best chocolate (mixed by a waterfall of course) and the group is stunned. While amazed by the brilliant mind of the inventor, the tourists are introduced to a singing tribe known as Oompa Loompa’s, a sarcastic inventor, and a whole new world.
But this wonderful universe of edibles isn’t quite as friendly as it seems, for strange mishaps begin. With one boy getting sucked up a pipe into the boiler, and another girl becoming a blue berry, things are taking a turn for the worse. But not for Wonka. He seems to be perfectly relaxed and joyful, though somewhat witty and strange. As the group continues, more accidents happen, involving squirrels and Television Chocolate, the only un-maimed child is Charlie. As it so happens, the special prize is the entire factory.
This movie is a wonderful story by the brilliant director Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas) will humor for the whole family. Depp’s performance is outstanding and unique. This story is a heart warming and imaginative performance. With the musical score of Danny Elfman (The Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack), this movie is a brilliant and creative piece of work!
© Snuggably_Wonkable , 2006
Summary