It's not a remake because both films are based off of a Roald Dahl book. The Depp/Burton version is much more closer to the original work, which like much of Roald Dahl's books, is pretty creepy.
Roald Dahl certainly had a "flair" for the unusual. Here is a quick biography and some info. Yeah, what a mind! "Vermicious Knids" and all that. I do kind of think that the johnny Depp will more adequately portray the character of Willa Wonka moreso than the talented Gene Wilder. Gene was excellent in his role but in today's times, Deppp will be able to provide further depth into some of the darkness that Dahl could subtly infuse into his characters and stories.
"His books are mostly fantasy, and full of imagination. They are always a little cruel, but never without humour - a thrilling mixture of the grotesque and comic. A frequent motif is, that people are not, what they appear to be. Mary Maloney in "Lamb to the Slaughter", for example, is not a friendly widow, but a clever murderess. In his stories, the background is perfectly worked out: details are very close to reality.
Roald Dahl didn't only write books for grown-ups, but also for children, such as "James and the Giant Peach", "Fantastic Mr. Fox" and "The Gremlins". About his children's stories he said once: "I make my points by exaggerating wildly. That's the only way to get through to children." Roald Dahl is perhaps the most popular and best-selling children's book author. However, these stories are so sarcastic and humorous, that also adults appreciate reading them. "