Gamertell Review: Alice in Wonderland (the movie)

Title: Alice in Wonderland
Release Date: March 5, 2010
Company: Disney
Rating: “PG”
Length: 109 min (1 hour, 49 minutes)
Pros: Interesting characters you could watch for hours, moved at a steady pace, gorgeous costumes and environments, great casting and clever script.
Cons: Complicated and massive battle at end felt out of place, some of the CG effects seemed unnecessary and there were moments that seemed like they were thrown in just to make the 3D version of the movie have more 3D moments.
Overall Score: Two thumbs up, 96/100, A, * * * * 1/2 out of 5

Tim Burton and Alice in Wonderland is a winning combination, that much is clear without even seeing the movie. Burton is a master of surreal and otherworldly endeavors, and a movie inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass is the perfect opportunity to create another masterpiece. And it only gets better when you factor in a winning cast that includes stars like Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Stephen Fry, Alan Rickman and Crispin Glover.

Down the rabbit hole and returning to Underland

Alice in Wonderland begins with a young Alice coming to her father, as he’s meeting with some potential business partners. He asks her if she’s had the nightmare again, and he excuses himself to escort her back to bed. She confides to him that it was the same one again, with the blue caterpillar, disappearing cat and strange world. She asks if she’s going mad, and he checks for her a moment, admits that yes, she’s bonkers, but that all the best people are.

We then are taken to the present day. Alice is 19 years old now, and about to attend a party at the Ascot family’s home. She learns there that it’s not just any party, but an engagement party. For her. Apparently, her mother and the Ascots have determined that she should marry Hamish Ascot, their son. When she’s put on the spot by his proposal, she sees a white rabbit in a tailcoat, like the one in her dreams, running around, and she chases after it. The race leads her to a hole near some tree roots, and she falls into Wonderland once again.

However, things are complicated. The White Rabbit is unsure if he’s found the correct Alice, and the doormouse, dodo bird and Tweedles aren’t sure whether she is or isn’t Alice. Also, Alice herself is convinced that the whole affair is a dream. And once Absolem the Caterpillar declares she is “hardly Alice” and the Red Queen’s forces set down upon all of them, Alice finds herself alone and bewildered.

Great characters and concept, but the CG and 3D pandering sometimes go too far

Alice in Wonderland is primarily focused on its story and characters, which is perhaps why the movie is so enjoyable to watch and seems to move so quickly. Alice, marvelously portrayed by Mia Wasikowska, has plenty of personality and “muchness” which makes her both admirable and a joy to watch. You’ll find yourself rooting for her and for Depp’s Mad Hatter, who is a far more engaging and sympathetic character than he has been in any other Alice adaptation. Helena Bonham Carter makes the Red Queen delightfully conniving and devious, and Anne Hathaway acts as her perfect foil. Even smaller characters, like Tweedles, Dormouse and Cheshire Cat have a way of stealing your heart, and some scenes.

There was only one moment where the story seemed to falter. There’s a confrontation scene that occurs in about the last 20 minutes of the movie that just feels unnecessary and out of place. Yes, there is a need for a confrontation, but it didn’t need to be so frenzied, involving what felt like the entire population of Underland. Personally, I think it would have worked much better if it had been a solitary moment and altercation between the White and Red Queens’ champions.

There were two visual matters that bothered me. The first seems to be a common affliction among movies that are released in 3D enhanced versions. It seems like specific sequences or moments are created soley for the purpose of giving 3D viewers a quick thrill. In a movie like Alice in Wonderland, which focuses more on character development and story rather than cheap embellisments, these moments feel awkward and out of place. It’s especially more noticeable if you choose to watch the standard version of the movie.

Also, in some places it seemed as though CG effects were overdone. Take, for example, Stayn. Whenever he’d be on horseback, his whole appearance seemed awkward and off-balanced, and as though it would have been more practical and visually appealing if they hadn’t used CG effects to try and make it seem more outlandish. This didn’t happen too often, thankfully, but there were times when the abundance of CG alterations seemed overwhelming.

A delightful excursion you’ll wish had lasted longer

Alice in Wonderland is a whimsical delight. Whether you’re a fan of Tim Burton, the original literature or even just fantasy stories, it’s the sort of movie that will grab your attention and hold it for the entire running time. The movie will fly by without your even realizing it, and you’ll be left wanting more. I found that I couldn’t get the story, images and characters out of my head, even hours after leaving the theater. Burton’s latest work leaves a definite impression on the viewers and encourages creative thinking.

I would recommend leaving children at home for this Alice in Wonderland adaptation. Yes, it’s a Disney film and has a PG rating, but it is also quite dark and filled with more mature themes and concepts that children probably won’t appreciate or grasp.

Site [Alice in Wonderland]