Great effects.   Loved the 3-D.  Thought the hookah-smoking blue caterpillar needed a movie of his own.  But that’s about where my love for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland ends.

We caught the 3-D non-IMAX version of the movie at a sold-out showing in Del Mar last night.  The horde of entitled and self-absorbed high schoolers texting and walking in and out of the showing just reinforced my reaction to the movie: there was little to hold the attention for more than a quick jolt of eye candy.

Maybe my expectations were too high.  Whatever the reason, it just didn’t work for me.  Some great lines and fascinating visual takes on the individual characters just never found their way into a coherent story worthy of the hype and the assemblage of proven talent.

On the plus side, I did get to see the trailer for the upcoming Tron Legacy.  I’m feeling very good about that one.  I suspect that while the kiddies will be wearing Mad Hatter costumes at ComicCon this summer, the vendors will be pushing Tron for all they can make.