I was afraid the film would be less about what fans love about DS and more about how cool Tim Burton is, and if the trailer is any indication, it looks like that may in fact be the case. But I'm not nearly as upset as I was afraid I'd be. I've had a while to ready myself for it, and I feel pretty optimistic.
I've heard it said about the '91 revival that a large part of its failure, for those who don't find it appealing, was Dan Curtis's strict adherence to his original vision, and his unwillingness to try anything really new or different with the series.
I tend to agree. If for no other reason than that any attempt to "do" DS again is useless. DS was so much more than the sum of its plots. It was the product of a specific time, a specific place, and specific people.
Phil said it beautifully:
I...absolutely love the crazy edge of the show's "live on tape" energy, up to and including the bloopers and mishaps. Those elements are inextricable from what I love about the show, and it's why nothing's ever gotten it "right" - not HODS, not the 1991 version, not the 2004 pilot. The original series can never be duplicated, so to me hoping they "get it right" is an exercise in futility.
So why shouldn't the next incarnation of DS be a departure? It could be wonderful.
We're probably going to get a restored NODS and HOSD on DVD/Blu-ray, the complete original series is coming out with an edit or two restored, who knows what else is in the works. Things could be worse.
I'll take DS directed by Tim Burton starring Johnny Depp over no DS at all any day.