“Alice in Wonderland,” opening in theaters this Friday, certainly isn’t set in the Wonderland you remember from the animated Disney classic you likely saw as a kid. Rather, it promises a new take on the story, transporting the viewer into another world in what will doubtless be the next 3-D blockbuster of the year.

It seems like the darker aspects of Lewis Carroll’s original novels will lend themselves nicely to director Tim Burton’s trademark balance between the darkly comic and visually captivating. Utilizing a technique meshing live-action and animation, Burton hopes to lend a somewhat disturbingly surreal visual atmosphere to the film, without being forced to sacrifice relatable characters for the visual freedom which animation allows. As with most of his projects, “Alice in Wonderland” will use the original story as a template by which Burton will set the stage for the telling of his own story.

Those familiar with his 2005 retelling of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” are aware of the artistic liberty he takes in filming his adaptations of time-honored fables. In “Alice,” Burton steers away from the dreamlike meandering of the original story, having a somewhat grown-up Alice returning to Wonderland for a new and slightly more plot driven adventure. Expect the comical insanity of the original characters to take on a slightly more psychologically distressing feel; Burton’s propensity for a jarring hint of instability in his portrayal of characters is well known.

In “Alice,” Burton again teams up with long-time comrade in film Johnny Depp, who, cast as the Mad Hatter will surely grant the film a confusingly interesting performance, if nothing else. Though his recent work with Burton in 2007’s “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” and the previously mentioned “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” may pale in comparison to their earlier collaborations, such as the brilliant “Edward Scissorhands” and “Ed Wood,” one cannot deny that Burton always manages to coax performances from Depp, which at the very least challenge the viewers’ imagination. And the very presence of an actor of Depp’s caliber makes any movie a more interesting endeavor.

Joining Depp in “Alice” is a laundry list of actors, from romantic comedy staple Anne Hathaway as the White Queen to British multimedia icon Stephen Fry as the Cheshire Cat. Playing the title role of Alice is Australian-born actress Mia Wasikowska, fresh from a 2009 marked by her best supporting actress nomination in the Independent Spirit Awards, for her role in “That Evening Sun”. Also joining in are Crispin Glover, missing from live-action since 2007’s “Beowulf,” and Helena Bonham Carter, recognizable from her role as Bellatrix Lestrange in the “Harry Potter” series. If the cast is any indication, this film is a must-see.

“Alice in Wonderland” promises to be a refreshing new look at an old favorite. With a stellar cast, high-profile director and unique visual style, it has all the ingredients of a good movie. Put on your mercury-treated top-hats, and prepare yourself for sensory overload; Burton’s “Alice” will take you as far down the rabbit hole as you could possibly imagine. Mark it on your calendar tomorrow; it will certainly be a very important date. Don’t be late; it’s about to get a little darker in Disneyland.

Matthieu Decker can be reached at [email protected].