Preview: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

(Warner Bros.) Directed by Tim Burton

As the elusive, eccentric candy-maker Willy Wonka, Johnny Depp leads the charge in this new retelling of the fabled Roald Dahl novel about a boy named Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore), who wins a tour of Wonka's "non-pollutionary, anti-institutionary, pro-confectionery factory of fun," which turns out to be more surprising than sweet. Given the popularity of Mel Stuart's 1971 version starring Gene Wilder, Depp and Burton have their work cut out for them, even more so considering that these days, inviting kids over to your house for candy and rides can land you in hot water.

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