The thing I like about Tim Burton movies, especially his movies made from books, is that he gives you 80% of what you're expecting, and 20% of something you're completely not, and somehow melds that into a really really good movie... and for the first half of this one, I'd thought I'd found an exception.

This movie is quite slow in the windup.  Thank God he assumes that we know most of the characters from the original book, for it saves us the tedium of all the introductions.  That aside, however, this movie is NOT the Alice in Wonderland you read in books or watched in traditional animation, and so a bit of leadup has to be developed for the characters.

The movie does make enough back references to the books to be humorous, but not enough to be smothering.  But this movie is full of Fridge Logic, and you'll easily find yourself standing at the concessions stand after the movie trying to figure out just WHY some of the people did the things they did.

Without spoiling, the theme of the movie is supposed to be that Alice is not on rails;  her life is not predestined, she can make her own choices... which, well, you'll see.  That's one big piece of fridge logic.  Wait until you see the movie, you'll scratch your head.

Much critical angst has been hurled at Anne Hathaway for her portrayal of the White Queen.  I must say that all they complain about is true:  she is very flighty and well, a bit annoying.  But she's the freakin' white queen!  In my opinion, her acting was far and away better than Johnny Depp's, who's portrayal of the Mad Hatter was indeed Mad... but just didn't click for me.

The simple fact is, this isn't really Alice in Wonderland.  It's Tim Burton's take on a story with familiar characters who were in Alice in Wonderland, in a vaguely Alice in Wonderland type plot.  It's generally amusing, but not really funny.  It's got some great parts, and it's got some bad parts.  Some of the actors were epic (White Queen, Red Queen) and some were frankly flat (Mad Hatter, Alice).  Which is ironic, when you see the billing and oh, I don't know, the Title.

Best computer animated character goes to the Cheshire Cat;  when you see the scene where he obsesses over the hat, you'll agree.

Finally, this is not a kid's movie.  Kids may be amused by it, and there's nothing more gory than stuff you've seen on Lord of the Rings, but there are a few really disturbing scenes.  It's not full of humor, or funny animated characters.  It's dark.  And it's got some serious Grownup Themes.  This isn't to say you can't take your kids, it's just to say maybe you should pick a different movie for them.

On the other side of the coin, if you decide to see it (and you can do worse), and if your theater (unlike mine) has more than one showing, get a showing where there aren't going to be a ton of kids.  The fidgeting and inappropriately timed giggling and parents knocking around when they realize this isn't a kid's movie will only detract from the movie, and the movie doesn't have enough going for it to allow that kind of distraction.

If you want to see a movie this week, you should go see.  It's well done and enjoyable, but it's nothing to write a review about, if you get my drift.  You could do worse, but you could also do much better using only Tim Burton's credits.  This movie should have baked in the thinking box a bit more before it was made, but now that it's here, heck, it's worth seeing on video if nothing else.  It's a solid MEH until half way through, when it goes to solid WIN.

Just, please, leave the kids at home.