This is an example of when it is good to not listen to critics. Had we followed the feedback my husband had read about Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Burton and Warner Bros. would have had nine fewer customers. That's a mere pittance given the new movie generated $56.2 million in the first weekend since it was released on the big screen Friday, July 16th 2005.

The New York Times calls it "wondrous and flawed". Roger Ebert of The Sun Times writes "Depp, an actor of considerable gifts, has never been afraid to take a chance, but this time he takes the wrong one".

Brilliant - Brilliant - Brilliant

Rugged Elegant Living calls Burton's intrepretation of Roald Dahl's book brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

Brilliant colors. Brilliant acting. Brilliant directing.

Johnny Depp as Willy with Director Tim Burton On The Set

Tim Burton's take on the Roald Dahl's classic is classic Tim Burton: creative, unique, colorful, offbeat, a stretch of the imagination, and superbly humorous.

Mel Stuart, who directed 1971's "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", masterfully brought to life what Dahl fans had imagined as they first read Dahl's book.

Burton creates a new fantasy world that has every bit the tenderness between Charlie and his Grandpa Joe, the wonder of the chocolate factory, and even more eccentricities than the original Willy Wonka.

Fortunately, it has been over thirty years since Gene Wilder played the role of candy maker Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. With fond memories of a perfect performance by Wilder, few actors could stand a chance at "competing" with the 1st Willy.

However, Johnny Depp pulls it off. It is no wonder so many people call Depp their favorite actor in Hollywood.

Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka wearing TV Glasses

Johnny Depp .... Willy Wonka ... The "Real" Golden Prize Winner

Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka is a sight-to-behold.

Depp plays a weird, whacky, woeful Wonka in a wonderful way.

Some people have likened his character to Michael Jackson. Perhaps in looks. Perhaps because of the strange glove they sport -- Willy wears two. But that's about where the similarities end.

Depp portrays a character that makes us embrace his eccentric ways, especially when we get a glimpse of his childhood wounds which Burton portrays in the form of clever flashbacks.

As a head-geared dentist's son not allowed to have one piece of candy at Halloween, we empathize with him as a woeful boy.

On the other side of the spectrum, Wonka's audience is captivated by how downright funny he becomes as an adult.

Time-after-time his audience laughs out loud -- not just over Depp's hilarious lines but in the way he delivers them.

Also hilarious are Burton's cloned Oompa-Loompas, who create a song and dance after four-out-of-five of Wonka's guests are sent away in every size, shape, form and color.

While Willy Wonka has fame and fortune, it is Charlie who has love from his family and a personality any p-p-p-parent would be proud of.

Tim Burton's Willy Wonka & Charlie offer a golden ticket to not just a wild & crazy ride. Burton's ticket is much more than that.

In the end, it is Wonka who wins the real golden prize.

The love of his father, and the love a family, which Wonka gave up when he ran away from home and then returned to find his home ran away from him, becomes a bigger prize than Charlie's in"hair"itance.

Bravo!

Freddie Highmore .... Charlie Bucket

Freddie has Johnny Depp to thank for being cast as Charlie.

Highmore did such an outstanding job in Finding Neverland Depp sold Director Tim Burton on casting Freddie as his co-star, and rightful "hair," I mean "heir", to his factory.

While Highmore did not receive top billing in Finding Neverland certainly after his performance in last year's Academy-nominated Best Picture of the Year and this year's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory his name will appear on the cover of every DVD and VHS in America when it is released -- as well it should.

Freddie Highmore's tender eyes make him likeable before he utters one word.

His acting draws you in and then has you cheering him on from beginning to end.

Go Freddie! Go Charlie!!

David Kelly .... Grandpa Joe

David Kelly may have had as equally a difficult task as Johnny Depp. Who can forget that wonderful Grandpa Joe played originally by Jack Albertson?

While Albertson died in 1981, his spirit is brought back to life through the fabulous Irish actor David Kelly. Did you see Agent Cody Banks 2 - Destination London?

If and when you do, look for Kelly, who plays the hilarious "Trival."

Kelly's fancy foot work, after playing one of four bed-ridden grandparents, shows off this multi-talented performer. Grandpa Joe is once again "a love" who deserves a fan club as much as Charlie and Willy.

Other actors who add contrast to the sweetness of the subject include:

Helena Bonham Carter .... Mrs. Bucket

Noah Taylor .... Mr. Bucket

Missi Pyle .... Mrs. Beauregarde

James Fox .... Mr. Salt

Deep Roy .... Oompa Loompa (He plays them all!)

Christopher Lee .... Dr. Wonka

Adam Godley .... Mr. Teavee

Franziska Troegner .... Mrs. Gloop

Annasophia Robb .... Violet Beauregarde

Julia Winter .... Veruca Salt

Jordan Fry .... Mike Teavee

Philip Wiegratz .... Augustus Gloop

To enter "the factory" online, please go to:

Congratulations Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly and company!

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "winning the golden ticket of love" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC