IN THEATERS
ALICE IN WONDERLAND 3D
Director Tim Burton and screenwriter Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King) team up to deliver this visually-dazzling take on the classic Lewis Carrol tale. Nineteen year old Alice (Mia Wasikowska) is attending party at a lavish country estate when she sees a White Rabbit with a pocket-watch dart into the bushes. Curious, she follows the rabbit to an enormous tree, and tumbles down a hole that takes her to Underland, a strange world inhabited by anthropomorphic creatures in search of someone to save them from the dreaded Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), who has assumed control of the kingdom by decapitating anyone who dares disagree with her. According to a scroll detailing a historical timeline of Underland - including events that have not yet taken place - it is Alice who will set the kingdom free by defeating the Jabberwocky, a powerful, dragon-like creature under the control of the Red Queen. But is this Alice the same Alice who appears in the scroll? While some of the creatures of Underland have their doubts, the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) and his friends are certain she's the same girl who previously visited them years ago. When the Red Queen kidnaps the Mad Hatter, Alice attempts to free her friend and locate the one weapon with the power to slay the Jabberwocky, thereby restoring the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) to the throne, and bringing peace back to Underland. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Matt Lucas.
Release Date: ..Mar 05, 2010..
Rated PG for scary situations, scary images, fantasy action violence and a smoking caterpillar
Runtime: 1 hr. 49 min.
Genres: Fantasy
Review:
Alice in Wonderland and Tim Burton should be a match made in creative head trip heaven. Sadly, Burton’s adaptation comes to the screen feeling terribly inert and unoriginal. Visually, Burton adds his usual flair to the proceedings and occasionally the film has some inspired moment. Those moments keep you hoping the film will find its stride but it never finds its footing. The story, written by Linda Woolverton, borrows pieces from Alice in Wonderland and its literary follow up Through the Looking Glass feels uninspired and derivative coming off closer to The Chronicles of Narnia than something original. Mia Wasikowska does well in the lead role providing the necessary curiosity and strength. Johnny Depp is surprisingly one note as the Mad Hatter and is probably the biggest disappointment on the acting side. Helena Bonham Carter is good fun as the Red Queen but the character, like the Mad Hatter, is terribly underwritten. Anne Hathaway suffers a similar fate with the White Queen but she does provide some fun moments especially how she moves around. Crispin Glover feels very comfortable in his role as Stayne the Knave of Hearts bringing his usual oddness. The voice talents for the CGI creations are adequate with Stephen Fry making the best impression as the Cheshire Cat. Once the film’s climactic battle comes and goes you can’t help but be left feeling a tad under whelmed. The film’s use of 3D was equally unimpressive with Burton only using it for the occasional trick scenes, something popping towards the audience, and nothing more. Sadly, it’s a symptomatic of the general state of this film. The subject matter could have been a treasure trove for Burton to add his typical spin on but the execution never achieves anything above mediocre.
C-
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