Alice in Wonderland, 2010 – Movie Review

Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover, Matt Lucas, Stephen Fry, Paul Whitehouse, Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Alan Rickman

Score: 8 / 10

This review by Pamela Fruendt

What’s there to say about ALICE IN WONDERLAND? Certainly not “off with their heads!” Kudos to Linda Woolverton’s script which took the best of Lewis Carroll’s ideas and wove them together with our favorite characters into a reworked story that gave Tim Burton something to run with and run he did. Burton has created an absolutely magical, vibrant, dazzling world in ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Forget those critics who brand parts of the film too dark. Underland has been at war which, as the Mad Hatter shows, leans towards destruction. There is much light to this ALICE IN WONDERLAND. And muchness too.

Mia Wasikowska is perfect as 2010’s sweet, but nobody’s fool Alice Kingsleigh. Mia’s someone to keep your eye on in the future. Johnny Depp gives another finely nuanced performance as the Mad Hatter. His portrayal is especially poignant in that the Hatter knows something is terribly amiss with him yet carries on as best he can. As an aside…despite Depp’s protestations to the contrary, his dancing ability seems more than adequate. Futterwhacking, anyone?

Helena Bonham Carter nearly steals the film as the unloved petulant Red Queen. Anne Hathaway plays a quietly powerful Underland version of a valley-girl-type White Queen while Crispin Glover’s Knave of Hearts maintains just the right amount of distaste and admiration for the Red Queen. And I mustn’t forget Tweedledee and Tweedledum – Matt Lucas has taken such a tiny role and made it so memorable.

The animated characters from The Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry) to the screaming March Hare (Paul Whitehouse) to Bayard, the adorable Bloodhound (Timothy Spall) and all those not mentioned are exquisite both in design and execution.

But what’s wrong with ALICE IN WONDERLAND? For me it was the 3D technology which I found distracting and superfluous. Avatar needed 3D…ALICE doesn’t. I’m actually looking forward to the early DVD release so I can see the film on my 42″ Sony 1080p…then I’ll be able to concentrate on the story and not 3D. But I will admit it could just be me. I may even try to find a theater without 3D to check myself.

So, go see ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Expect to see a good film with great performances. And don’t forget your futterwhacking shoes…

Have you seen Alice in Wonderlan? What did you think of it?