Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

This topic contains:

• overall comments and recommendations
• details about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 's classification and consumer advice lines
• a review of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory completed by Young Media Australia (YMA) on 2 September 2005 .

Overall comments and recommendations

Based on the book by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is essentially a remake of the 1971 film. While it includes flashbacks into Wonka's childhood, vibrant sets and some very imaginative new scenes, it nevertheless misses the mark to some degree.

About the movie

This section contains details about the movie, including its classification by the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) and the associated consumer advice lines.

YMA review

This review of the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory contains the following information:

• a synopsis of the story
• use of violence
• material that may scare children
• product placement
• sexual references
• nudity and sexual activity
• use of substances
• coarse language
• the movie's message

A synopsis of the story

The reclusive Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp), inventor of the world's best selling chocolates and candies, has decided to open up his factory after more than fifteen years. He has hidden five golden tickets under the wrappers of ordinary chocolate bars and has issued a decree that whoever finds a golden ticket will win a tour of his factory, a life-time supply of chocolate and possibly a surprise beyond their wildest dreams.

The first ticket is partially eaten by Augustus Gloop (Philip Wiegratz), the second is taken by spoiled-little-rich-girl Veruca Salt (Julia Winter), the third by champion-gum-chewer Violet Beauregarde (Annasophia Robb), the fourth by television addict Mike Teavee (Jordan Fry), while the fifth golden ticket remains elusive up until the day before the tour.

Charlie (Freddie Highmore) lives with his impoverished family in a dilapidated shack not far from the Wonka factory and has always dreamed of meeting Mr. Wonka. However there appears to be little chance of that until Charlie finds some money, buys a bar of chocolate and chances on the last remaining ticket. With Grandpa Joe (David Kelly) at his side Charlie joins the small group preparing for the tour of a lifetime.

As the group winds its way through the factory, greed, heedlessness, desire and vanity take control of the children causing them to reveal their true natures. The only one unaffected is Charlie, whose virtuous conduct wins him a prize beyond anything he could ever have imagined.

Use of violence

Research shows that children are at risk of learning that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution when violence is glamourised, performed by an attractive hero, successful, has few real life consequences, is set in a comic context and / or is mostly perpetrated by male characters with female victims, or by one race against another.

Repeated exposure to violent content can reinforce the message that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution. Repeated exposure also increases the risks that children will become desensitised to the use of violence in real life or develop an exaggerated view about the prevalence and likelihood of violence in their own world.

There is a fair amount of violence contained in this film, including:

• Mike is sitting in his lounge room shooting creatures as part of some game while shouting at the top of his voice “Die! Die! Die!”
• Violet karate chops a bunch of people.
• A couple of Oompa Loompas are seen whipping a cow.
• Willy Wonka is chased through the jungles of Oompa Land by an enormous flying insect, which he then attacks and mutilates with his machete.
• Veruca is attacked by squirrels and forced down a garbage chute.
• Mike shoots huge gumballs out of a large machine gun at various targets.
• Mike violently shoves two Oompa Loompas aside.
• Mike is slapped and dropped and nearly smashed when he sends himself into the TV.
• The glass elevator crashes through the roof of Charlie's house.

Material that may scare children

Under eight

Children under eight are most likely to be frightened by scary visual images, such as monsters, physical transformations, the death of a parent or child abandoned or separated from parents, children or animals being hurt or threatened and / or natural disasters.

There are a number of scenes that would frighten younger viewers, including:

• Life-sized singing dolls welcome the group to Wonka's factory and towards the end of the song burst into flame, with wax and melted plastic running down their faces and distorting their features. Later these same dolls are seen in a burns unit.
• The group is taken on a boat trip through various parts of the factory and wind up on a raging river, going over rapids and through darkened tunnels while Wonka has flashbacks to his childhood. There is loud, dramatic music playing in the background. Many younger viewers may be worried by the intensity of the scene.
• As a child, Willy Wonka runs away from home and when he returns a few hours later his father and their entire house have disappeared, leaving him alone in the world.
• Most of the children are, at one stage, separated from their parents and appear to be in life-threatening situations: Augustus is nearly drowned in a chocolate river and turned into fudge, Violet is turned into a gigantic blueberry and has to be juiced before she explodes, Veruca is sent down the garbage chute straight into the incinerator. In each scene the parents are visibly upset and no one is sure if the children will be alright again or not.
• Wonka, Charlie and Grandpa Joe are in the glass elevator about to blast through a glass roof and be killed, or so Grandpa Joe believes. There is a tense build-up in this scene before they break through the glass. While Wonka appears oblivious, Charlie is clearly worried. Many children may be frightened by the fear that Charlie and his Grandpa share.

Aged eight to thirteen

Children aged eight to thirteen are most likely to be frightened by realistic threats and dangers, violence or threat of violence and / or stories in which children are hurt or threatened.

Some children between the ages of eight to thirteen could be disturbed by some of the above-mentioned scenes.

Over the age of thirteen

Children over the age of thirteen are most likely to be frightened by realistic physical harm or threats, molestation or sexual assault and / or threats from aliens or the occult.

Children over the age of thirteen will not be frightened by this film.

Product placement

Research shows that children, particularly children under the age of eight, are vulnerable to product placement in movies. Even if the child doesn't recall seeing a particular brand in the movie, they will choose that brand in preference to another, if they have just seen it used or displayed in a movie. This effect may be exacerbated if the product is highlighted as part of the story or if an actor or character they admire is seen to endorse or enjoy the product.

Nestlé's ‘Wonka Bars' are mass promoted in this film and are being marketed heavily in association with this movie. Parents should be aware that the company is using marketing strategies from the film to better sell their products and that the entire film encourages the consumption of chocolates, candy, chewing gum, ice-cream and a mass of other sweets.

Sexual references

There are no sexual references.

Nudity and sexual activity

There is no nudity or sexual activity.

Use of substances

There is no use of substances.

Coarse language

While there is no coarse language in the film, there is a fair amount of name-calling. The various children are at different stages referred to as nincompoops, brats, jerks and idiots. Mike repeatedly refers to Wonka as an idiot.

The movie's message

There are many messages hidden in this film, firstly that you should be true to your heart and follow your dream, wherever it may lead, secondly that good things come to those most deserving and finally that there is no underestimating the importance of family.

With a host of schools, media and various corporations encouraging healthy eating, attitudes and lifestyles, parents may wish to discuss the importance of making healthy eating choices with their children.