I think you have to look at both movies as completely different entities. Not only because of the era in which each film was made, the actors, etc. But, because each is a completely different interpretation of the source material. I will always treasure the first movie, it got me through many a Thanksgiving spent at my grandparents' house. But, the second was fun and inventive in parts. The differences were vast, but both retained a very distinct flavor of the original story.
All in all, I recommend both. There were parts of the Buron/Depp version I prefer, such as the history of Willie Wonka and the squirrels. But, the songs in the first, and Gene Wilder as Willie Wonka made the character more appealing in that he wasn't so strange looking and reminiscent of Michael Jackson.
Scott Hajek
[i]"A beer right now would sound good, but I'd rather drink one than listen to it."[/i]