Ryan McNeil
The eight year old inside of me felt it necessary to re-read Lewis Carroll’s books before sitting down to watch ALICE IN WONDERLAND. While I finished my reading believing the story to be precious more than nonsense, I also found myself in a state of curiosity. What did a Bandersnatch look like? Just how loony was The March Hare? And what did this world on the other side of the rabbit hole look like?
While it might not have been the film I expected, I have to give this movie credit – it certainly gave me an experience far wilder than my own imagination.
Alice (Mia Wasikowska) is now 19 years old, and convinced that her experiences in Wonderland were just a dream she had thirteen years ago. One afternoon, she is brought to a lavish garden party where she is proposed to by Hamsih – a young Lord who looks like he could be knocked over by a particularly violent sneeze. Before she can tell Hamish if she will marry him or not, a familiar white rabbit goes scurrying by…and he’s tapping his watch.
Chasing said rabbit down his rabbit hole, Alice finds herself back in Wonderland, or “Underland” as the locals call it. Convinced she’s merely dreaming, Alice goes through the early stages of her journey very nonchalantly. So much so, that many, including Absolem the caterpillar (Alan Rickman) seem convinced she isn’t the right Alice. She isn’t convinced herself, until she stumbles back to a familiarly mad tea party.
It’s here that The Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) informs her that much has happened since she left; to wit, The Red Queen (Helena Bonham-Carter) has taken over Underland from The White Queen (Anne Hathaway). He’s still prone to fits of complete madness (but as we’re told, the best of us are), but in between moments of lunacy, he convinces Alice to take up action against The Red Queen. She has a destiny you see, and it’s to do battle with The Jabberwocky, and return peace to Underland.
Deciding what to say about ALICE IN WONDERLAND was admittedly difficult. For starters, I wasn’t wowed by the film, but a lot of that is on me – and not the fault of the film. The movie geek in me started doing the math months ago…Alice + Burton + Depp + 3-D = Holy moly awesome! The problem is, that my tempered reaction to the film isn’t really a reaction to the film, it’s a reaction to expectations versus reality.
The reality is that we have been given a Wonderland that truly brings Lewis Carroll’s imagination to life. From the lush garden of talking flowers to the regal intimidation of The Red Queen’s palace, the set pieces of this film are rich with lavishness, whimsy, and indeed – wonder. Making it all the more complete are the tiny details, like the frantically flapping birds holding chandeliers aloft, and flamingo croquet mallets that apologize to the de facto ball before whacking him into play.
Where the set pieces leave off, the actors come in and take over. Mia Wasikowska is an understated Alice. Some have reacted by saying that she seems to play things a little too subtle, but I find the slightly muted delivery more befitting of a 19-year old. When Alice first goes to Wonderland, she’s wide-eyed with curiosity. Befitting a girl who has had thirteen years to stew on what she thought was a dream, she wanders through this great unknown with a bit more steely temperament.
Alice being understated isn’t such a bad thing this time around as it basically keeps her out of harm’s way when she’s in a scene opposite Helena Bonham Carter’s Red Queen or Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter. Both were characters that left me hesitant in still images, but when brought to life on the screen they thrive in this nonsensical world. Bonham Carter tears through every scene she’s in with a reckless abandon, and Depp brings a nice duality to The Hatter. the temptation must have been great to play him like a raving loon. Happily, Depp instead plays him with a nice mix of fear and oddity. Suffice to say – he made me proud of my handle.
If I do have a great disappointment with the film, it’s the afterthought attitude towards the 3-D rendering. It comes into play very sparingly, and really isn’t utilized nearly enough in this fantastical story – one that seems like it was written for a 3-D treatment. I have mentioned on more than one occasion that 3-D is by and large a gimmick, and ALICE did nothing to change my mind. Further, it’s lack of use of the technology was one thing that disappointed me.
In the years since I first heard this story, I’ve had many daydreams about what a Cheshire Cat’s smile looks like, or how an army of playing cards might move. the way ALICE IN WONDERLAND brought these visions to life alone were enough for me to recommend this film. And while I will openly admit that I found the overall narrative wanting, I can forgive it for distracting me with visual delights that I have only been able to imagine since I was eight.
"I have mentioned on more than one occasion that 3-D is by and large a gimmick, and ALICE did nothing to change my mind."
I really want to see this film and the nearest 3D screening is 45 minutes away. I figured if I wanted to see it properly I should probably make the effort but now I'm wondering if maybe I just just head down the road and see the 2D version
I stand by my initial reaction: Bleh.
I chuckled once or twice, but I can't remember why. And as for my namesake, there was absolutely none of the cryptic nature that makes the Cheshire Cat so cool and mysterious. Just smoke and "I really like that hat".
I felt the climax was incredibly anti-climactic. There was absolutely no sense of urgency or sign that it could potentially go south. Oh look, Alice is fighting the Jabberwocky. Pardon me while I watch this beige paint dry. Curds and whey without the curds, indeed!
Seriously, for a fantasy film, with such great source material, it failed to deliver on the story-telling end, which to me is the most vital part of anything on TV or film. If the story isn't there, then why am I? Look at some of the best, if not technologically inhibited, fantasy films that still get their hooks in you – DARK CRYSTAL, THE NEVERENDING STORY, WILLOW, just to name a few – none of them are genre-defining like LORD OF THE RINGS, but they still deliver the epic battle of good vs. evil in a way that has held up for years. ALICE IN WONDERLAND will be forgotten in a year or so.
Nothing about the Knave of Hearts?
I saw the 2D version and though I had watched the original Disney version growing up, I have to say that this version was definitely a big improvement. I love the special effects and the way the Cheshire Cat was done was great. Though Alice was almost not that convincing I still enjoy the film. Johnny Depp did a good Mad Hatter and Helena Bonham Carter was a good Queen of Hearts. Tim Burton definitely put the old Disney movie to shame. I give it 4 stars! Look forward to the DVD.
@ Filmgeek… Indeed, do not waste time and money tracking this down in 3-D. Unlike AVATAR, there is nothing added to the theatrical experience.
Can't wait to read your thoughts on it once you do see it!
@ Cheshire… Part of me wonders if the four of us just fell victim to expectation. I'm still impressed enough with the way it centered its story around the poem of The Jabberwocky.
As soon as we have a chance, I wanna talk about this one over a pint.
@ Anon… The Knave was interesting, but in the shadow of such characters as The Red Queen, Hatter, The March Hare, and the Tweedles, he seemed…slightly 'incidental'.
@ Gackt… Indeed, as a continuation of the story, I do believe that it succeeds.
Didn't care for it as much as you did, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I was think about your blogger handle while watching this! Nice to see Depp played you appropriately…
I'm with you, MH — 3D has a time and a place and not every director should feel like he or she has to use it. I felt it wasn't right for this film, and so I saw "Alice" in 2D.
I agree with Cheshire that the battle scene was anticlimactic — nothing exciting, nothing new. What kept me in there were the characters, particularly the Red Queen (LOVE Helena Bonham Carter), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway impressed me) and the Cheshire Cat. Try as I might, I couldn't warm to Johnny Depp. Mad Hatter felt too much like a mish-mash of all the loopy characters he's played previously.
Also, I wonder how many people *got* the humor in this film. While watching "Alice" I was painfully aware that I, for the most part, was the only one laughing. Can people not get subtle humor anymore?
I was with Meredith on this one about the humor. I was laughing regularly and so was my six year old son.
Overall I really enjoyed it, loved the characters, the performances were lovely, and the vision was extraordinary.
Only complaints were actually Danny Elfman's score, which seemed too much of a hybrid of other Tim Burton scores. And some of the shots of the scenery felt reminiscent of other movies of his as well as well.
The 3D was unecessary, but at some points was cool. From an adult perspective I could have done without, but from a kids, they were getting a kick out of it. So 3D for kid movies? I guess it makes sense for them, just not for me. I have a hard time thinking anything is going to compare to Avatar's 3D and therefore I'm still convinced it's an overrated gimmick.
Totally dug the review Hatter, and agreed with you for the most part. I shall have my own review up sometime tomorrow. I want to let it settle overnight before I get too enthused.
I was not a big fan of this movie. It was nice that they made it a continuation instead of telling the same story for the umpteenth time. It was indifferent about this movie.
@ Daniel… He did make me proud!
@ M… I think a lot of the subtle humour was lost (Hatter whimpering "Fez" made me the only person giggling). I wonder if the battle scene would have been less anti-climactic if they hadn't started talking about it ten seconds after she arrived in Underland?
@ Heather… Look for the video on collegehumour.com about Tim Burton's creative method…Danny Elfman's score comes up.
Glad you and the kidlets enjoyed it, can't wait to read your review!
@ Branden… Sorry to hear it didn't do much for you. But I agree – the choice of a new narrative did the movie a lot of good.
I saw Alice last night and I really enjoyed it. I agree that a lot of the subtle humor of the movie was lost-I also cracked up at the "Fez" line and no one else did. It's a fun and enjoyable movie. I'm glad I didn't see it in 3D though. 3D is just a gimmick and I cannot get on board, not for this movie at least.
I enjoyed this movie, as well, and your review of it is insightful and worthwhile. The fight does seem a bit anticlimactic, but I would argue that it's there because the whole movie is about the idea that Alice, having lost her "muchness," has to face her fears and stand up for herself.
@ Cinefile… YES! Finally i'm not the only person who laughed out loud at "Fez"!
That's happening way too often to me these days, so thanks for making me feel like less of a freak.
@ Alyce (restricted profile Alyce???)… Glad you enjoyed it. I think the story they chose to tell caught a lot of people off-guard as they might have been expecting something more fanciful.
Sorry about the "restricted profile." You know me as alycewilson from the moviebuffs group at Livejournal.
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