I approached this move with skepticism because I have loved the book(s) all my life. The production was terrific because the writers dramatized the story and preserved the essence of the characters--Rickman voicing the Caterpillar, Fry the Cheshire Cat, Depp sweeping through the picture as the Mad Hatter--of course it isn't the same as the books but it stands out as marvelous entertainment in its own right.