Alice in Wonderland

Not Gonna Lie..............Surprisingly Enjoyable

Knowing Disney, I didn't expect to be impressed by Tim Burton's adaption of Lewis Carroll's classic children's story. I was, however, very pleasantly surprised. The special affects are good, the acting was great and it stayed moderately true to the original story. We all know the story of course, Girl (Alice, if case you hadn't figured that one out) falls down a hole chasing a rabbit that no one else can see, meets a crazed hat maker, a lunatic rabbit (not the same one she followed), two short fat twins who love to argue with each other, and a slew of other oddball characters. In this version, a young Alice tells her father of a strange dream she had, involving all the wonderland characters. "Have I gone mad?" she asks him, to which

he replies "Yes, I'm afraid so. Your entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret - all the best people are" Years later, Alice's father is gone, and her mother is anxious to marry her off to a rich noblemen. While visiting a candidate's home, Alice spots a rabbit in a waste coat - the very same rabbit she saw in her dreams years before. She chases it, falls down a hole and ends up in "Wonderland" a strange place ruled by the evil Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter). Alice soon meets "Chesh" a vanishing cat with a very big smile. He takes her to the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) and March Hair, two oddballs stuck in a time wrap cause of a fight the Hatter had with time. The Hatter tells her of the White Queen, the true queen of Wonnderland who was dethroned by her sister the Red Queen. Alice also learns that she must slay the dreaded "Jabberwocky" and defeat the Red Queen. Thinking it is all a dream, she agrees, only to discover that her visions of Wonderland years before were no dream but a memory. This film has it all, action, romance, humor and even some life lessons. An all around great film for families!

3 1/2 Stars