Movie Review - 'Alice in Wonderland'

Alice in Wonderland Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Mia Wasikowska Directed by Tim Burton Rated PG

Perhaps it's the heavy expectations or perhaps it's just not that great, but Alice in Wonderland has about as much lasting impact as a late-innings home run by a team down by about a half-dozen runs. Yes, this is a very attractive movie to look at. The trouble comes when you actually watch it. In defense of director/ringleader Tim Burton, there are certainly things this film does well, but it's also a collection of mostly minor miscalculations that really it at arm's length. Let's address the expectations, because they're a little unfair but hard to ignore. There hasn't been a theatrically released Alice in Wonderland to come from Hollywood since this same studio - Disney - made the classic animated version, which probably has more mainstream recognition than Lewis Carroll's book. That film came out nearly 60 years ago, so as technology catches up to Carroll's imaginative creation, a new Alice in Wonderland movie has been talked about for some time. There are also expectations because it's another Burton/Johnny Depp production, and they have quite a track record. And it's Burton's first 3-D movie (A Nightmare Before Christmas was converted many years later, and he didn't even direct that). So that's a lot to live up to. And Disney probably deserves some credit for not begging its director to make the most palatable, family-friendly Alice you'll find. Instead of the standard story we've grown up with, Alice (Mia Wasikowska) is not only older, she's called upon to be heroic. Not in the sense that the story is about her, either - Alice learns very early into her trip down the rabbit hole that she has to slay the evil jabberwocky to save Underland (as it's known to its residents) from the evil Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter). The characters in this place are not very well drawn; they're contrasts of each other with very few colors in between. But there should be greater attention to their details beyond the costumes and makeup. Depp, in particular, seems adrift as The Mad Hatter, bouncing from one personality to another. Mad? Maybe. Schizophrenic? Definitely. Bonham Carter fares best. What a fun role: She gets to play the meanest bitch and the world and call for the heads of anyone who angers her, which happens about once a scene. But between her evil and Alice's good, the other characters are really murky. Wasikowska is not brand new, but Alice in Wonderland is her first major role. So much of this film, though, is not about performances but rather the visuals. If the 3-D functioned within the story in a more interesting or noticeable way, that might be enough to recommend it even with the shortcomings. But for as meticulously as each scene is designed, you don't need to wear glasses to get the full effect. But it's a gorgeous production, almost from beginning to end. To redirect his story to provide Alice a more dramatic arc, Burton starts Wonderland with an uninspiring above-ground scenario that the young woman with her in the clouds has to contend with or run from. Naturally, she runs down the rabbit hole. But it's a long ten minutes to get there, to get us to the beginning of the tale we know by heart. And then it gets much darker than you remember. Burton combines elements from Carroll's Alice and Through the Looking Glass, which explains the jabberwocky as well as the bandersnatch and Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Alice in Wonderland definitely makes a huge effort, but it might be trying too hard. There's a lot to take in, which is fine, if it's all necessary. But it isn't. There are an awful lot of sprinkles on top of this donut.

Comments

[anybody]

"Yes, this is a very attractive movie to look at. The trouble comes when you actually watch it."

Pretty much sums up all Tim Burton for me... save a few standouts (The two Eds, BeatleJuice and maybe Batman) his work has always been take it or leave it and I tend to do the latter. I wasn't impressed by the trailers and will certainly be putting this one in the leave it pile.

[Nethra]

Mia Wasikowska, Matt Lucas, Johnny Depp, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen join in the cast of this new movie and what a fine movie appearance it made for us kids too can enjoy the tale of it and wow it was amazing stuff made at the end of the movie I used to see it and what a fine movie make rather for every one

source:
http://www.80millionmoviesfree.com

[scott hopkins]

you were generous with your apes Colin, I would have only given it 2. Yes, it's great to look at but, alas, it ain't a trip to a museum, it's a MOVIE. I don't think Hollywood has ever had such an amazing art director who is also, equally, inept as a storyteller. Tim Burton is that really hot chick in the bar who, when she opens her mouth, goes from a 10 to a 2 in 60 seconds. He never fails to dissapoint.

[Get The Big Picture]

I was between a two and three for a while, but I did think there was a novel attempt to do something different with the story.

[is cameron paying you???]

It's always the UNSUCCESSFUL WANNABE FILMMAKERS, that give bad reviews on SUCCESSFUL FILMMAKERS. Bite it!

BIG PICTURE??? YOU WISH YOU WERE BURTON, Not writing about him.

[anybody]

Hahaha. You know how they say ignorance is bliss? Well it's also quite amusing to read...

[Nelson]

a good review, sounds like many many films I know

[Jeremy]

I think Tim Burton is at his best when he is not "re-imagining". All too often lately he is doing exactly that ,though. Other than Big Fish (which I LOVED) I can't think of anything in the last decade that wasn't a remake of some kind (even Sleepy Hollow and Sweeny Todd were remakes). He's even remaking one of his own movies soon (Frankenweenie). Colin's right, they're all great to look at, but they seem to be missing something inside. Kinda like the donut that was referred to at the end of the review!

BTW, ignorance IS funny to read!