Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Walt Disney Pictures
Directed by Tim Burton
Starring Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway

There have been several film versions of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland since the birth of film. The earliest version was from 1903, directed by Cecil Hepworth. In 1951, Walt Disney released their original animated classic, Alice in Wonderland¸ to mixed reviews. The film was strange and even Disney himself, apologized for the mishap, which is not considered a masterpiece. Now over one-hundred years later, Walt Disney Pictures and gothic director Tim Burton is applying his twisted vision to the classic tales. Using segments from both the original book and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass, the new version is neither a sequel or reimagining. Instead it is something completely different. It is a dark tale filled with strange creatures and psychedelic imagery. Alice in Wonderland is the story of Alice Kingsleigh (Wasikowska) who believes that she does not belong. She has a higher calling in this world than just living the norm. Since she was a young girl, she has had strange nightmares of a world with white rabbits, dodo birds, and other unearthly creatures. When she is proposed to by Lord Ascot, she runs off with the White Rabbit and finds herself in the magical world she calls Wonderland. She discovers that it is her destiny to save Wonderland from the evil Red Queen and slay her beast, the Jabberwocky.

Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is very surreal and poetic. The background is completely computer generated and truly a feast for the eyes. But looks alone will not create a great film. This film has many flaws with the script and characters. When the film opened, it was not known that it was a semi-sequel, semi-reimagining of the classic tale. This confused audiences and made them question the events taking place on screen. Burton changes many details in his version including changing Wonderland to Underland, and giving bigger roles to smaller characters. The Mad Hatter is the true character of the Underland heroes. Played by the talented Johnny Depp, this Mad Hatter is a twist between Edward Scissorhands and Jack Sparrow with a Scottish accent that disappears from time to time. He is very twisted and bizarre, but adds some humor and depth to the character. Burton and Depp have teamed up together for several films, and this time around, Depp’s character does not have the fan approval as other characters he has portrayed. We’ve seen this routine before, but never to this extent. Depp was wonderful as Willy Wonka, but just alright as Hatter.

The best performance in Alice in Wonderland is Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen. She is ruthless, powerful, evil, and pathetic as a person. Her portrayal is must different from the classic Disney cartoon in that the Red Queen has a humongous head. The Red Queen is the true villain of this film, and she adds a sense of evil and humor to Underland. Newcomer Mia Wasikowska portrays the iconic Alice wonderfully for a first time performance. Though this Alice is not the best portrayal, the character works for the film and fits into Burton’s Underland mythology.

Besides the strange plot setup and rushed storylines with too many characters, the biggest flaw of Alice in Wonderland is the amount of CGI used. The film looks amazing, but there is too much just like in Avatar. The Jabberwocky looks like a left over creature from some cheesy sci-fi film. It fires out purple lightning and prances about with the menacing voice of Christopher Lee. Absolem, the caterpillar, does not have the muse power as in the cartoon. Instead he is the actual size of a caterpillar and does not have the wow factor of the classic imagery, though he is voiced by Alan Rickman, so that does help with the lackluster incarnation. The best CGI character is the Cheshire Cat. He is wonderfully animated and the voice of Stephen Fry suits him. Besides Chesh, the others look sloppy and rushed.

As with the other countless versions of Alice in Wonderland, the film is about finding yourself. Everything happens for a reason, and because of those events, we are who we are. Alice is at a crossroads in her life, and she needs to decide what to do with her life. This is a major event in almost everyone’s life. Alice teaches us that no matter what strange or bizarre events occur in our life; that we need to stay true to ourselves and choose the right path. In Alice’s case, it was her destiny and path to slay the Jaberwocky. She chose the right path and helped protect her friends.

Alice in Wonderland is a very bizarre film that cannot decide whether to be a sequel or a reimagining of the classic tale. Because e of this, the film suffers for identity crisis as does the characters. Alice, Chesh, and the Red Queen are wonderful in this film, but the major star, Depp as the Mad Hatter, is mediocre and a Jack Sparrow want-to-be. It is a Salvadore Dali world with much more childish creatures and characters that feel rushed. Besides all its flaws, Alice in Wonderland, is a good fantasy film that tells us to stay true to ourselves, not matter what happens to us.

Rating: C+


June 15, 2010