Probably the best thing you could say about Disney's very lavish production of "Alice In Wonderland" is how amazing Wonderland and its strange inhabitants look in 3D. Throw in a memorable performance from Helena Bonham Carter as the bulbous-headed Red Queen, (Off with their heads!) a quirky appearance by Johnny Depp as a not so Mad Hatter, and some fine acting by the lovely Mia Wasikowska as a demure but emerging Alice, and you've got a film that's lots of fun.

Director Tim Burton and screenwriter Linda Woolverton have created a tale that is a loose adaptation of the nonsensical Lewis Carroll classic. This time, Alice is 19, and has been forced to attend a party given by her shrewish aunt, where a foppish snob named Hamish has been selected to ask for her hand in marriage. By extreme coincidence, Alice suddenly spots a white rabbit in an overcoat with a pocket watch in its paw scurrying through some hedges, and, just like in the old days, she elects to give chase, leaving the party behind.

Many of the book's best parts are there: Alice's nightmarish fall down a rabbit hole that is bigger than the Caldecott Tunnel; the "drink me-eat me, bigger-smaller" scene; and an encounter with a hookah- smoking caterpiller. In this version of the story, the caterpiller gives Alice an ancient scroll that contains a prophetic drawing of a lithe, long- haired young woman, battling the fearsome Jabberwocky, and ending the reign of the Red Queen, who has turned Wonderland into a place similar to North Korea.

Thus now, Alice is on a mission, and on her way, she receives assistance from Depp as a sweet, kindly Mad Hatter, who sports flaming copper hair, big green eyes and bad teeth, the portly Tweedle Twins, the Cheshire Cat, and a Bandersnatch, which resembles a gigantic hamster in need of orthodontics. Alice also receives nominal help from the goofy White Queen, played (quite forgettably) byAnne Hathaway. And at the end, you must decide if Alice is really quite mad, or is she?

With a touching, amazing 3D effect in the movie's final scene, Alice In Wonderland is an enchanting sight to see.

"Alice In Wonderland" ( four of five Suns) Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway. Director: Tim Burton Rating PG ( Giant hamsters with bad teeth, violent scenes, stoned, smoking caterpillars) Running time: 1 hour, 50 minutes. Where: Alameda Theatre And Cineplex.