Wow, that was a great analysis. I totally understand what you mean about Wes Anderson; his short films are basically dioramas brought to life, and Benedict Cumberbatch gave him just the right touch of "bored rich kid" that the character desperately needed.

But you're absolutely right: the book has a texture that the screen just can't replicate. The bit about the yellow teeth and the turtle oil is a classic Dahl detail; he always managed to make his characters feel a little disgusted or repulsed before he started telling you about their redemption. Those details on the page make it much easier to understand why Henry's change is so radical. In the end, the most powerful thing about the story isn't the "magic" of seeing without eyes, but the real effort of a selfish guy to become a better person through sheer discipline. Reading it after watching the film was, I think, the ideal order to appreciate how Dahl handled the rhythm and weight of the words.