In Cinemas This Week

Alice In Wonderland - Tim Burton (Sweeney Todd, Edward Scissorhands) finally realises his big-screen green-screen laden adaptation of the Lewis Carroll classic that many fans have been drooling with anticipation over. Relative newcomer Mia Wasikowska is Alice alongside usual Burton regulars Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and Helena Bonham-Carter as The Red Queen with a host of major talent embodying the rest of the roles on offer - Anne Hathaway as The White Queen, Alan Rickman as Blue Caterpillar and especially Stephen Fry as The Cheshire Cat. This looks to be an absolute visual feast (or at least tea-party), especially since it is being screened in 3D (and even IMax!) on many screens. Burton also looks to have infused this with his signature dark sense of humour which I think will translate wonderfully to the dreamlike logic of Carroll's original intent.

Mao's Last Dancer - True story of Li Cunxin and his rise from folk dancing in rural China to his explosion on the scene as one of the greatest Chinese male ballerinas of all time. His auto-biography on which this is based is, by all reports, a fascinating rags-to-riches story and this cinematic adaptation looks richly shot and quite meditative. If you hold any interest in ballet, Chinese history or culture, go see it.