Let me start this review by saying that I love Tim Burton's movies (Big Fish, Batman, and Nightmare Before Christmas are a few of my favorites.) They are all some form of a fairy tale, lovingly told and beautifully filmed. This movie is no exception.

Charlie Bucket is a young boy from a loving and supportive, but poor, family, who would love for Charlie to win a Golden Ticket to tour Willy Wonka's factory. We meet the first four winners, Veruca Salt, a spoiled rich girl; Augustus Gloop, a gluttonous kid who stuffs his face with sweets; Violet Beuragarde, a champion trophy gum chewer; and Mike Teavee, a kid who spends more time watching TV and playing video games than anything else. Finally, Charlie also finds a ticket and takes his Grandpa Joe, who once worked at the factory, with him on his tour.

This movie (based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the beginning of Charlie and the Glass Elevator) is so good because it keeps the focus on Charlie and his family. The books and this movie are about good behavior being rewarded and bad behavior being punished. They are about positive role models, and the negative results of giving in to every whim a child may have. Family is so strong in this story that Charlie turns down his prize because his family can't be with him.

This movie is typical Burton eye candy, with larger than life sets in vibrant colors. Willly Wonka is perfect. He's as creepy and strange as he is in the books. The Oommpa Loompas are great and the lyrics from their songs are straight from the book. Alex and I were happy to see Roald Dahl listed for the lyrics in the end credits. Mason enjoyed the good sense of humor running through the movie. When Charlie and the others arrive at the factory for the tour, they are greeted by an odd mechanical doll show which goes horribly awry. This is funny in itself, and comes back later in a quick bit that made us all laugh again. We also really enjoyed seeing the kids all leaving the factory after all their trials and tribulations.

Charlie and and Chocolate Factory is as good as the book, and may be better than the first film because it is about Charlie and his family, not WIlly Wonka. I, like Jennifer, appreciate when movies based on books stay true to those books. (Although the first movie is also very good!)

This movie is rated PG and is probably more appropriate for older children.

Great movie!!!