"Alice in Wonderland" (movie review)

This is not going to be everybody's cup of tea!
I strongly suggest you prepare for the movie by reading both books (Wonderland and Looking Glass), and then erasing with whatever hallucinogenics are at hand your memory of plot or sequencing.
Because the movie is a delight!
But you need to know the characters, and at least some of the poetry, to get a handle on where Tim Burton's coming from.
This is Alice seen very much through Burton's looking glass, and what a psychedlicoscope that glass must be.
The characters are wonderful - a top cast of actual actors and voices...
Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham -Carter are staple Burton material (does anyone remember the ravishing Bonham-Carter in "Room With a View"? Burton and Bonham-Carter must have a STRONG relationship, based on the roles he's given her!), and there are some wonderful cameos from Alan Rickman, Christopher Lee, Frances De Latour, and MANY others.
Visually the movie is a gorgeous glide through fantasy land.
Message-wise, this is one very much for the right-brainers - go with the flow and dare to dream your dream, and DON'T marry someone just for convenience's sake!
On a downer, I think it's time for Burton to drop Elfman (soundtrack composer from way back) - the soundtrack seems simply to fill in, and doesn't add to the movie a great deal.
So, who would enjoy this movie?
Not particularly young kids (show them the straightforwardly mawkish 2D original instead).
Kids with imagination and literary leanings...no matter what age.
In short, people ready to sit back and enjoy the ride!

9/10 (but approach with caution).