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2.5/5
You heard me. Think that I’m positively bonkers? I’ll explain.
What does Tim Burton + Johnny Depp + popular intellectual properties equal? The highest grossing opening weekend in march, beating out 300. It also means that it doesn’t really matter how good your movie is, people are going to see it. And this movie? Way overhyped.
First, the plot…. which was all over the place. Basically, Alice stumbles back into Wonderland, and they expect her to slay the jabberwocky, the Red Queen’s champion. But that honestly tells you nothing about the movie. The Red Queen keeps going on about her jealousy issues, the Mad Hatter is upset over Alice leaving (there are some awkward moments that imply some sort of attraction here that I can only describe as creepy), and various other happenings occur that also have almost nothing to do with the movie. Things that could have been expanded upon would have possibly given this movie an interesting plot.
Instead, we follow Alice as she rediscovers Wonderland, much like the intended audience. Wonderland itself is actually quite nice looking, the parts that aren’t war-torn. I’d say the CG was top notch – that is, if it weren’t for the existence of another movie dealing mostly in CG, Avatar. With Avatar setting the bar so high, (It’s still in theaters for a reason, people) it’s difficult not to compare them, and Alice loses. I’ve also been told that watching the movie in 3D is a painful experience, as the graphics weren’t meant for it.
There are some good things too, though. The acting is rather good, though Johnny Depp truly does swing between being Captain Jack and Willy Wonka. Imagine those two fused together, and you get his portrayal of the Mad Hatter. The voice acting is great, and there are a few big names lending their voices to Wonderland’s creatures, with the wondrously monotone Alan Rickman voicing the hookah-smoking caterpillar. Overall though, I think Helena Bonham Carter steals the show as the Red Queen. She makes the bulbous headed queen simultaneously ridiculous and frightening, silly and dangerous, and is probably the most amusing character in the movie.
Thematically, the movie really suffers. There’s been a trend in movies lately where the themes are just far too heavy handed, and Alice is an unfortunate victim. The movie has a strong “girl power” tone, with two queens vying for power, and Alice leaving her oppressive Victorian life behind to become the champion that saves Wonderland. Hope that’s not a spoiler by the way; it should be pretty obvious. Sadly, the children that would benefit most from that message probably shouldn’t see this, and everyone else will probably be put off by how in your face it is. Honestly, the strongest theme is the most underplayed, that of facing your responsibilities. Alice realizes that she has things she has to do, and that’s the turning point in the movie.
Before I sign off, I do have one admission to make. I’ve never seen the original Alice in Wonderland. I imagine that that plays a large part in people’s enjoyment of the movie, since this is basically one big fanservice movie. So if you’re gunning for the nostalgia factor, bump that score up to a 3 or 3.5. Truth be told, I wish he had delivered for you guys, because he had a lot to work with, and made a pretty place, but just couldn’t tell a decent story. One last thing though – Why is a raven like a writing desk?
Posted in Arts and Entertainment
Intriguing. Despite the less than favorable review, you’ve peaked my curiosities with this in depth review.I really want to see how bizarre and disconnected it is now, but perhaps will forgo my own subsequent confusion and pick something else instead.
Hmm, interesting. Thanks for this. I’m still planning to see it, but maybe at a matinee, thanks to your review. One thing that I’m wondering about: you’ve never “seen” the original Alice? What do you consider the original? (I just checked Wikipedia: Alice was made into a musical play in 1886, and first adapted to film in 1903. Both of those were the 1st of many – and I don’t think that’s only because it’s public domain.) Have you read the book? If not, you really can’t judge. What do you mean “couldn’t tell a decent story”??! It’s never been out of print since 1865 for a reason, people. Alice “losing” to Avatar also surprised me: I haven’t seen Avatar, but I’ve heard from many who have that the CGI is amazing, but the story doesn’t come close to that level. “Pocohontas with blue faces” is the review that sticks in my mind. Maybe this Alice has been tickered with, but I’ll be interested to see how it compares with the book, and the gazillion adaptations I’ve seen over the years.
By “original,” I mean the animated Disney movie of the same name, as I expect that’s a large part of the targeted audience. As for the story, It’s very “this happens, then this happens… and oh by the way, this happens too.” There isn’t a whole lot connecting the scenes, and the overall story is rather weak. The Avatar comparison was more towards the CG in particular. About the story, I’ll just say that Avatar was engaging, while Alice was kind of boring. Alice just didn’t have that entertaining factor.
Having seen Alice in Wonderland, I would say that although it doesn’t live up to all the hype it is still a great movie to watch. The movie does tend towards the awkward for viewers not familiar with the either the story or the previous movie(s). It is similar to watching the newer Harry Potter movies without having read the books, you are not getting the full experience. I would give this movie 3.5 stars.
The answer to your question from the movie” how is a raven like a writing desk” was addressed in the jacket of the 1896 edition of the book by Lewis Carroll after getting many requests from readers. He says,
“Enquiries have been so often addressed to me, as to whether any answer to the Hatter’s Riddle can be imagined, that I may as well put on record here what seems to me to be a fairly appropriate answer, viz: ‘Because it can produce a few notes, tho they are very flat; and it is never put with the wrong end in front!’ This, however, is merely an afterthought; the Riddle, as originally invented, had no answer at all.”
It was supposed to be a nonsensical joke:) This is why people need to read the book(s) that movies are based on:)
Yes, I was posing the riddle to the audience
. I even looked it up to make sure I was phrasing it correctly