Alice in Wonderland
Rating: B-
Watched it: 3/5/10
I thought it would be typical Tim Burton-esque creepy. And...it really wasn’t. There were certainly some eerie elements, as well as a healthy dose of the macabre, but the overall tone (and animation style) was actually rather cheerful and light, even considering the darker tones of the plot. While the awesomeness of this movie DID match my expectations (although, fairly, it may not have exceeded them), I was pleasantly surprised in most areas. All of those big-name, Tim Burton-y actors lived up...and Mia Wasikowska far surpassed my initial impression. In the trailer, I thought she maybe looked the part, but seemed much too somber and dull. Boy, was I wrong. I honestly can’t think of anyone better to have played Alice Kingsleigh (anyone else think that was spelled “Kingsley” when they heard it?).
The costumes, while touted as spectacular, were indeed innovative and ingenious. Alice’s dresses, particularly, fit the character, the story, and the mood perfectly. Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter was appropriately batty, but managed (somehow) to be wholly un-annoying. I’ll admit I got sick of the Red Queen, but I think only because Helena Bonham Carter played the part so convincingly--“Off with their heads!” has been taken to new heights. As a fan of Lewis Carroll, I delighted to see the winks and nods set into the film, as well as the more overt inclusions of all three of his Wonderland stories.
As far as dislikes... The poem “Jabberwocky” (which originally appeared in Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There) tells the story of a Jabberwock. Explicitly, in the poem, the beast is referred to not as a “Jabberwocky” but as simply a “Jabberwock.” In this movie, however, they use the title of the poem to refer to this beast, which, as I understand it, is an incorrect term for Carroll’s poetic creation.
Aside from my soapbox, however, there was little to truly dislike about the film. I saw it in 3-D, which was good but probably not a necessity (so if you’re looking to save a few bucks, you’re not missing horribly much). The land was imaginative and beautiful, the creatures likewise (with the help of talented [voice] actors such as Alan Rickman, Imelda Staunton, and Stephen Fry), so visually I couldn’t find fault. It was hard, though, to imagine how Alice could have possibly forgotten about “Wonderland” after only 13 years--such a vivid experience (which she admits lingers in her dreams) is not easily dismissed.
I would recommend renting Alice. Not such a bad family movie if the kids are, say, over 10.
You may like Alice if you like:
- anything else by Tim Burton
- live-action fantastical Disney
You may not like Alice if you like:
- cerebral thrillers
- substance-free chick flicks
(Basically, Alice is kind of middle-of-the-road fantasy: pretty fun, most people wouldn't hate it. Except my dad.)
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