Not your grandmother's Alice.

Rating: 6/10 (22 June 2010)

Your grandmother may be dazzled with the outstanding special effects, but the story falls a bit short. Director Tim Burton collaborates with screenwriter Linda Woolverton to deliver a contemporary twist to the beloved Lewis Carroll classic. A coming-of-age Alice(Mia Wasikowsa)is none too please with a "set-up" wedding. On the lavish estate she spies a white rabbit with dangling pocket watch scoot into the brush. Following her curiosity with the rabbit, Alice falls down a hole that takes her to a very strange world filled unusual characters. There is a disappearing Cheshire Cat(Stephen Fry), a demanding Red Queen(Helena Bonham Carter), a Knave of Hearts(Crispin Glover) and a Mad Hatter(Johnny Depp). There are other colorful characters that all believe Alice has been sent to free their kingdom of Underland by vanquishing the dreaded Jabberwocky(Christopher Lee).
Not exactly living up to all the hype; but a vehicle for the very talented Depp. The visuals do make this whimsical tale memorable, but at times you look for a much welcomed conclusion. Others in the cast: Alan Rickman, Michael Gough, Matt Lucas and Anne Hathaway, for me the lest impressive.It's just a different Alice in Wonderland.