I remember as a kid excitedly watching 3-D films while wearing ill-fitting cardboard glasses but still becoming immersed in a brand-new world. 3-D is back with box office smashes like “Avatar”, “Up”, and “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.” The latest of which is Tim Burton’s adaptation of the childhood classic, “Alice in Wonderland” but this movie may make you reconsider wanting to become part of Alice’s fantasy.

Looking for a wonderland, you won’t find it here. Instead, Burton selected to replace it with Underland. But, that’s not all that is different. This Alice is unlike any that you’ll remember from a bedtime story. She is back as a young woman, no longer the sweet little girl from the classic, and unbeknownst to her heading to her own engagement party. She escapes her fate through a rabbit hole and enters a world filled with talking creatures and more than a few characters from Lewis Carroll’s original tale.

Upon arriving in this new world, Alice soon discovers that the wicked Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) has become the ruler and the only way to restore order and White Queen’s (Anne Hathaway) reign is destroy the monster, Jabberwocky (Christopher Lee). The plot is laced with not-so-subtle references to Alice’s past adventures in the land as this film is considered an “extension” of the original story, but not a remake.

Any version of “Alice in Wonderland” should remind viewers not only of their own childhoods, but also what it is like to be a kid.  Movies such as “Where the Wild Things Are” and “Toy Story” bring viewers along on a nostalgic journey back to things that we all loved as children. However, Burton is unable to connect with audience members on this level as he becomes far more concerned about creating a CGI fantasyland for Alice and her friends.

Burton’s effort is worth noting because even when the plot is dwindling, it’s hard to turn away from the screen as he creates an underland that is vivid and imaginative. He develops a place of boundless possibilities for Alice to explore. However, it is still no world for a child as Alice’s new adventures are often dark and intense. Burton also could have done more with the technology at his fingertips. He filmed the movie in 2-D and later converted the movie into a 3-D experience leaving this technology underutilized and at times ineffective.

Despite the film’s shortcomings, Johnny Depp gives another iconic performance as the unforgettable Mad Hatter.  Depp brings an unexpected charm to the role although it is reminiscent of his past work with Burton especially as Willy Wonka in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

Mia Wasikowska also shines as Alice. She plays the character with naiveté and grace. She reminds viewers of the Alice that they have come to know over the years but also fits into Burton’s new vision of the story.  Along her journey, Alice meets a supporting cast of characters that bring depth to the film. Anne Hathaway is especially enjoyable to watch as Queen White.

“Alice in Wonderland” will never loss its sentimental value to those who loved it as children. However, this version of the tale may leave those fans wanting to take off their 3-D glasses just to escape from Alice’s new world.