In North America it's pretty hard not to not know about Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland.
Even if you don't know the details, you probably know of the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat and Tweedle Dumb and Dee.
You also probably know what a Tim Burton movie looks like. Now if you take a moment (go on, take it) the image in your head is exactly right.
This film is pretty much Burton's as usual as he takes the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory cast to Wonderland.
Mia Wasikowska is a pretty good 19-year-old Alice who has just been asked to marry a nitwit. Next thing you know she's down the rabbit hole and into Tim Burton's trademark creepy yet accessible world.
A world apparently ruled by Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter playing the same roles they always play. While everything is good, including the appearance by Crispin Glover, it can hardly be called groundbreaking.
In fact more than a few times the potential for 3D effects seemed to be the focus of the story.
If you like Tim Burton you will probably tolerate this film but don't expect anything new. It's basically The Golden Compass meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with a little girl kicking ass in a fantasyland.
In the end I suppose it's a good enough way to waste away a rainy Sunday afternoon with a bucket of popcorn.
