I, too, have been looking forward to this movie. I expected it to be visually stunning, which it was, but also to have Tim Burton's wonderfully skewed, dark new take on the story. Unfortunately, there really was no story, and no surprises. We learn nothing new about these characters, and what little plot there is is foretold within the first 20 minutes and then we simply watch it unfold. Burton brings no point of view to the material and seemingly uses it just as an excuse for sumptuous art direction. I was bored halfway through, as were the adults and children around me. A miss.