There have been many incarnations of Alice In Wonderland - from books, to TV shows, to movies (both animated and live action) - and all have been fairly similar. An innocent girl gets caught up in a wonderland full of crazy people. It's a fairly simple premise, and one that is equally scary as it is dazzling. I for one thought the Disney animated version was bound to scare a few children!

Now in 2010 we have a new fad with 3D technology. Of course, at the moment this only really translates in cinemas due to 3D televisions costing a fortune, so home video releases fall a little flat if they are stories that relied heavily on the new technology. I believe this version of Alice is one of them. While it looks beautiful, even in 2D, the acting is sub-par and the storyline is flimsy at best.

It was a movie I yearned to love, with some of my favourite stars in - from Johnny Depp to Helena Bonham Carter, the movie is absolutely loaded with familiar faces around every corner. It just doesn't gel for me, and I found the ride uninspiring and bland, which is ironic considering how colourful the world can be. It's a typical Tim Burton directed movie, and while that isn't necessarily a bad thing, it often feels like Burton on auto pilot. Burton with Depp, and Danny Elfman on the score. We've seen and heard it all before, and sadly it has been done far better than this.

Mia Wasikowska doesn't do a bad job as Alice considering the script she is given, and the talent she gets to work with do their best to make her look strong and a genuine threat on their level, but it's often very unbelievable - and not just in the typical fantasy way. Helena Bonham Carter's Red Queen is annoying enough to make me turn off at points, rather than being the typical villain you wish to see defeated. And the Mad Hatter seems to be Johnny Depp reprising Jack Sparrow with a bit of Willy Wonka thrown in and wearing a different hat. It's certainly not a challenging role for him whatsoever.

In the end, the movie will appeal to children, and it was a great success at the cinema. I do feel it loses a little of the spectacle that it needed on the big screen once translated to television, and it's probably a rental title at most. I cannot see it as a movie that warrants repeat viewings unfortunately.