Tim Burton is back on his game with a brilliant realization of the darkly sweet children's classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Based on the emmensely popular children's book by Roald Dahl, this the story of youthful hero Charlie (Freddie Highmore), who has had the misfortune to be born into a desperately poor family. This is poor beyond any standard we'd recognize today: Charlie's four elderly
grandparents are forced to share one bed amongst them.

Charlie finally catches a break - winning one of 5 coveted tours of local eccentric recluse Willy Wonka's chocolate and candy factory. Other winners include: Veruca Salt (Julia Winter), Augustus Gloop (Philip Wiegratz), Violet Beauregarde AnnaSophia Robb) & Mike Teavee (Jordan Fry), all of whom are spoiled rotten - and each possessing of a trademark vice. Ironic punishments are in store for these mini-villans on their tour of the factory.

Besides good performances by the entire cast, including the child actors, the main draw of the film was the beautifully imagined world -
a testamont to Burton's genius. Depp's performance is another over-the-top jaunt, but one that is perfectly suited to this arcanely delightful place.