The first Charlie teaser released last Christmas was a bright and wacky bit of whimsy. Featuring a manic montage cut to an especially wonky Wonka tune, it heralded a vibrant new twist on a classic that some (myself included) might have thought was heresy to remake. And as excited as I was to hear that it was Burton who planned to do the honors, one need only mention Planet of the Apes to start me worrying.

Can you spot the matching image in the Kong trailer?

The final full-length trailer winds down the pace long enough for us to take in the scenery, from the DayGlo-green grass to the peppermint-twist nut-sorting chamber (with that wince-worthy "don't touch that squirrel's nuts" line -- let's hope the movie's other jokes aim a little higher). But as delicious as Wonka's new digs look, there's something off about the trailer, something that dredges up memories of (shudder to think) that unfortunate Cat in the Hat adaptation.

Maybe it's the way the production design seems to dwarf everything else on-screen, or the fact that Depp seems to be channeling Mike Myers. For me, there's just too much zaniness for such a small space, and we can only hope that the feature-length version allows us some time to absorb our colorful surroundings in peace. What's worse, the trailer resorts to a narrator to help unravel our confusion, but instead, it only makes this pitch that much more inelegant. It's good to know that the basics are still in place (the Oompa Loompas, the four brats in desperate need of a lesson, etc.), but what to make of all the gonzo new touches?

"Candy doesn't have to have a point. That's why it's candy," the young Charlie explains, offering what might also be Burton's reply to critics who have accused him of emphasizing style over substance in his films. But what a style it is! The trailer may leave Charlie looking like a mess, but no one can accuse Burton of underdelivering in the eye candy department.

Hey kids, did you catch the random Kubrick reference?