We enjoyed it. I'm glad it wasn't a straight remake and the effects were obviously much more extreme and "realistic". My left brain took over a few times (e.g., riding down the river), but on the whole I was able to get involved with the story.

Things I liked:
1) Charlie was genuine.
2) Grandpa looked much more frail than in the original movie. I could believe that he (and the others) would have to live in that bed.
3) Depp's Wonka seemed to make much more sense to me. Wilder's version was wonderful, but he just seemed a bit excentric, not quite abnormal enough to build a huge chocolate empire and then shut everyone out.
4) The visuals; especially the house and the Wonkavator!
5) The supporting characters (e.g. the leeches in the final candy store and the good counter man; Mrs. Beauregarde).
6) The dentist back-story and seeing Willy's childhood.
7) The different ending - Wilder's Wonka whipping out the contract, etc., seemed too over the top at the time.
8) All of the Oompa Loompas being played by one person. :-)

Things I didn't like:
1) As with most DVDs these days, the music is TOO DAMNED LOUD for the dialog. We constantly had to turn the volume up for the dialog and down when the music or sound effects start up.
2) Much of the dialog is mumbled. See #1.
3) I love Danny Elfman's music, but maybe it wasn't mixed right - I couldn't make out much (if any) of the lyrics to the Oompa Loompa songs.

I think it's more of a movie for parents that fondly remember the first one than for children these days. I don't think it was especially dark, and I enjoyed Depp's portrayal of Wonka very much. He did seem to get some inspiration from MJ, but that's OK. He brought his own humor to the role.

I don't know if young children would get as much out of it as from WW&tCF, but it's good to have both.

4/5 stars.

Cheers,
Scott.