The Basics Title: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Rating: PG
Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best for Ages: 6+
Ages 3 - 7: Yellow
Ages 8 - 12: Green
Ages 13 - 17: Green
Violence Amount: Green
Violence Portrayal:
Green
Fear: Green
Illegal / Harmful: Green
Language: Green
Nudity: Green
Sex: Green
Review:
First brought to the screen in 1971 with Gene
Wilder as Willy Wonka, this time the wonderfully
gifted Johnny Depp takes on the role with
Freddie Highmore playing Charlie. Eccentric,
Willy Wonka never leaves his chocolate factory
and no one has seen him for years. He puts
five golden tickets in his Wonka chocolate
bars and each child who finds one will get
a tour of the chocolate factory. Charlie is
a boy from a poor family. He only gets one
Wonka bar a year for his birthday. However,
fortune shines on Charlie and he gets a golden
ticket. He brings his beloved gramps with
him to tour the factory. When Willy Wonka
appears in the movie, we are immersed in the
world of chocolate. The factory is a fairyland
of chocolate rivers, chocolate waterfalls,
chocolate hills, all sorts of candy and the
strange, little workers (Oompa-Loompas). The
children are all mesmerized but one by one
their bad qualities get the better of them.
One is greedy for chocolate and falls in the
river. Another is greedy period. She wants
everything that she sees. Another is only
interested in winning the big surprise at
the end of the tour. The last one is a video
game expert and he looks down on everyone
else. One by one, the children eliminate themselves
and learn a punitive lesson. Charlie is the
boy that everyone wishes they had for a son.
He loves his family more than anything and
he appreciates each thing that is given to
him. The re-make does a good job of using
current slang, music and special effects for
the factory. The Oompa-Loompas sing about
each child and dance as each child does something
wrong. There are quirky action situations
and mild language. Children under six years
of age may have trouble following the storyline
and may worry about what happens to each of
the children when they are taken away. Rich
or poor, the role of family is shown is five
unique ways. Which child do you dislike the
most? Why? How does Charlie help improve Willy's
life? Talk about your family and the different
ways that they are important to you.
Linda
Thomas is a native Minnesotan. She
graduated from the University of
Minnesota with a double major in
sociology and psychology. Married
with a family, she has remained
in the Minneapolis area.
Linda has been a lover of movies
since she was a small child. This
love of film eventually brought
her to the point in life where
she is now, a film critic. She
was featured on WCCO radio for
three years on the “Dark
in the Morning” show with
Dark Star.
In December of 2001, Linda became
the film critic for the syndicated
“Ruth Koscielak Show”.
Linda sees over 150 movies a
year and has had the opportunity
to interview a number of directors
and actors when they are in town.
She has also appeared on a public
access show called the "Cinema
Judge" and has ventured into
writing for "Cinestar"
magazine in September 2002. The
Twin Cities movie magazine is
available, for free, at most local
Blockbuster's and local movie
cheaters.
As one of the few female reviewers
in the Twin Cities area, she brings
a unique point of view to her
reviews. Linda has raised two
children, a boy and a girl, and
knows what they like in movies
and what is appropriate. Hopefully,
her reviews will help your family
in choosing where to next spend
your movie-going dollar.
Linda
Thomas is a native Minnesotan. She
graduated from the University of
Minnesota with a double major in
sociology and psychology. Married
with a family, she has remained
in the Minneapolis area.