By Susanne Robbins

The chocolate carpet was abuzz last Sunday in anticipation of the long awaited "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" premiere. I am quick not to call this a remake as I have been told many a time this is an adaptation from the book. So don't expect Johnny to break out into song, the singing is set aside for the Oompa Loompas. The smell of chocolate is hovering in the air. Yes, chocolate is being pumped out from scent makers throughout the carpet. There is a candy man walking around with a tray of chocolate delights; anything you can imagine is dipped in chocolate and making its way toward me.

The first to arrive are the golden ticket winners themselves: Jordan Fry who plays the video game junkie Mike Teavee (one of a few updated versions to the movie). Next is Annasophia Robb who plays the over-achieving gum chewing Violet Beauregarde. Following Annasophia is Julia Winter who plays the ever spoiled "I want it now, Daddy!" Veruca Salt. Danny Elfman passes me, this film marks his 11th collaboration with Tim Burton and his music is yet another element that makes this film what it is. Grandpa Joe is played by David Kelly, who has some rather large shoes to fill and Mr. Kelly stepped right in. Freddie Highmore is the loveable Charlie. Now, I think that is the best choice even from here as he looks like the innocent sweet child I expected to see. Deep Roy comes by looking oh-so-cool on the brown carpet with his shades; he is the lone Oompa for those of you who did not know.

Commotion hits the chocolate carpet. Is it the chocolate king himself? The man we have all been waiting for? The master of disguise? Yes it is! It's Johnny Depp. Wait, Johnny! Come back! He arrives late and is whisked away into the theatre. My first trip on the chocolate carpet was equally matched by the film itself. I loved every minute of it.

Tim Burton does an amazing job of bringing this classic to life again. Only this time he leaves the singing to the Oompa Loompas. Burton has created a visually spectacular world right down to the Bucket's leaning home. It is filled with the typical Burton quirky characters. I kept hearing that this version was a darker rendition of the original classic and that if follows the book more closely. I found this movie to be like watching an old time fable; it was light and sweet and extremely funny.

You know the story: Willy Wonka has decided to give five lucky kids the chance to win the keys to the city so to speak, his chocolate city. Charlie, the loveable child with a heart of gold but barely a roof over his head wins one of the golden tickets. We learn a little about Willy's background through the eyes of Grandpa Joe who use to work for Mr. Wonka back in the day. We also get a glimpse from Willy himself as he suffers from flashbacks throughout the film remembering a childhood that was less than pleasant, and a father played by Christopher Lee. I love that Burton gives you a little insight into Willy Wonka's background which helps you understand why he is the strange childlike character that he has become. We have all seen the clips of the bizarre character Johnny Depp has created, trust me though it works. Just when you think he is completely childlike, you will see a look from Depp that shows that Willy isn't exactly the buffoon everyone thinks he is.

There are some differences in the stories. The Oompa Loompa songs definitely have the Danny Elfman flair to them. These are not your traditional Oompas, so don't expect the orange faces and the same song over and over again. The children are basically the same rotten little runts they were in the first one, with a few modern touches. Mike Teavee is a video game junkie who likes to destroy just about anything in his path. The verbal exchanges between Mike and Depp's Wonka are priceless. The Golden Goose is replaced by Squirrels who work for Wonka by breaking walnut shells to extract the perfect nut. You might be missing some of your favorite scenes from the original but remember: this isn't a remake; it is an adaptation of a classic. The old standbys are there: the glass elevator, the boat ride, the kids all meet their demise in the same way with one exception that I will keep quiet about. However with the help of special effects, the elevator takes on a new role in the film just as the boat ride has a different twist.

Look, if you are a fanatic about the first one then leave your judgmental self at the door and go enjoy this movie for what it is. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what you find. My personal opinion and I am sure I am going to get comments about this, but this is by far one of my favorite Tim Burton movies. I think even if you are not a Tim Burton fan you will love this movie, he has made sure there is something in there for everyone. So to answer my original question why remake a classic? Why not?