Tim Burton’s continuous foray into children’s tales yields another winner. Alice in Wonderland is more than an adventure through the rabbit hole of Burton’s mind, it is a creative and visual achievement that will excite and delight audiences.

Alice hits in one place where Burton’s 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory missed; it serves as a compendium to the Walt Disney cartoon classic, not a replacement.

Alice’s adventure begins at the age of 19 and marks her return to Wonderland; walking the path she walked years earlier as a young girl in her, would-be, dreams. This time, though, the mystery and delight is beset by the self-doubt and apprehension of a girl on the verge of womanhood.

Burton’s adventure is magically haunting – never frightening, as he crafts an elegant fable complete with all the necessary creatures and characters. Johnny Depp, as the lovable Mad Hatter, shines but never outshines an amazing ensemble cast including Mia Wasikowska (Alice), Helena Bonham Carter (Red Queen), and Anne Hathaway (White Queen).

The true strength of the film lies in its ability to allow the visuals to tell the story and let possibility run the show. The 3-D is elegantly immersive and invites audiences to join Alice (and Burton) on the enchanting ride through Wonderland. It’s a don’t-miss movie for inner children of all ages.

View the trailer below:

Neil Truglio is the writer and director of We Are the Sea, a new film from Modest Films