Alice in Wonderland is Tim Burton’s first partnership with Disney since the classic Nightmare before Christmas and unfortunately Alice doesn’t stand up to nightmare in visuals or story. However that is to be expected of a Disney film and Burton channels his efforts on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to create a mildly visually interesting piece. However it is better than what a lot of today’s directors can do, and with an interesting cast it keeps your attention throughout. The performance of Helena Bonham Carter is tops, and Johnny Depp is solid, but didn’t do anything for the Hatter.

The central problem with Alice in Wonderland is the screenplay. It takes something that is supposed to be confusing and mind bending and turns it into a Chronicles of Narnia-like film. There is a journey, a rebirth, an evil queen who committed genocide and a transforming animal. All in all the script is sufficient to keep the kids and tweens entertain, and the visuals will entice the older viewers from time to time, but Alice lacks and real substance beyond the important strong woman in a man’s world message.  A highligh of Alice in Wonderland is the amazingly brilliant score from Danny Elfman that features the inspired Alice theme that adds a fantastical element that the visuals seemingly struggle to do.

For the Foodie: With Johnny Depp’s character taking a Scottish twist on the Mad Hatter, take note of a  book on the market called Celtic Tea with Friends written by Elizabeth Knight which offers a departure from the Classic English Tea Pary.  Another Cultural take would be trying an Indian Tea time.  Whatever you do, enjoy the opportunity to fellowship with friends over a cup of tea.