Saw it on Thursday with EUOL, MsFish, Spriggan, and CtrlZed. Perhaps I need a couple more days to process before I can review it, but I'm going to anyway. My impression right now is WEIRD. Visually it was quite good--I like Tim Burton's style, the factory was cool, and there were some amazing shots. And I think Johnny Depp did a good job of creating a unique character and being consistent. But I felt very detached from Wonka, and thus from the movie. The comments about him being plastic like his gloves echoes how I felt, I think. The first half of the movie you are attached to Charlie. But from the moment we enter the factory, Wonka takes center stage and Charlie gets barely any attention. Even when he wins, it's not for any real reason except, "Gee, you weren't quite as nasty as those other kids, and since you're the only one left, I guess you win." Charlie is an afterthought--the story has been taken over by Wonka and his family issues. This might not be true for everyone, but I have a hard time becoming emotionally attached to a detached character, especially one detached from the characters I like. So I didn't really feel Wonka's plight. I was glad he got better, but I didn't really care like some movies get me to do. And the ending felt very tacked on, like we suddenly were supposed to feel all warm and fuzzy.
So I guess the movie was supposed to be about a socially inept person trying to find an heir (or hair). Okaaay. Interesting, but not endearing.