"Queen of Hearts," 2.5" x 3.5", ink/marker, 2010.

Pretty much, that's what "Alice" delivered.  The acting was pretty fun (especially the Queen of Hearts and the Cheshire Cat), the visuals were top notch, but I had a hard time relating to any of the characters.  Even so, it was a fun ride, and I enjoyed the movie.  Once the movie was over, the more I thought about  the plot the less it made sense.  I'm going to get into SPOILERS here, so be forewarned.  Clearly, the trip to Underland was intended to be a lesson to Alice in how to live her life, as she heads below with a rather large question hanging in the air.  There are a lot of people with a lot of expectations for her, both above and below.

My big issue is that clearly she's supposed to stand up to those around her and decide her own path, regardless of what everyone else has tried to plan for her.  But below, she is repeatedly told that she's destined to slay the Jabberwocky, and eventually caves in and fills that role.  As a parallel for her above-ground life, it's a poor precedent.  Somehow doing exactly what she's told to do (albeit with some hemming and hawing - although in no meaningful way.  She never questions anyone's motives or what her role is in the war between the sister Queens, which is another way in which this movie fell flat) teaches her to defy everyone topside.  It's a pretty huge logic flaw, but one that was effectively obscured by the visual treats while experiencing the film.

I guess I'd be more disappointed in "Alice" if it had been the product of another director, but it delivered exactly what I figured any Tim Burton film might.  I would never go to see one of his movies if I didn't think the visuals weren't going to have an fighting chance to carry the entire thing.  In that sense, "Alice" was a complete home-run.  I could watch the Cheshire Cat scenes every day and probably never get tired of them.  It's just a shame that the characterization and plot fell so short.

c.