Movie Review: Alice in Wonderland

by Justin Velasquez
March 25, 2010

Whether you like Tim Burton or not, you have to admit that the man is one of the most visually creative directors in Hollywood.  His trademark offbeat vision was seen early in 1988's Beetle Juice, and he carried that torch with more recent releases, 2003's Big Fish and 2007's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.  Burton now has tackled the classic Alice in Wonderland and many wondered how his vision would translate onscreen.

This interpretation is more of a sequel rather than a re-imagining and is based on a script by Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast, co-wrote The Lion King).  Picking up a few years later, Alice (Mia Wasikowska, Defiance) is now in her late teens and her future already looks to be planned out for her.  Repulsed by the certainty of an arranged marriage to an incompatible suitor, Alice, who is very absent-minded and aloof, suffers from interesting and unforgettable dreams.  Her dreams become reality when she accidently arrives in Underland, the incredible world that she once visited many years ago.  She learns that she is to play an important role as she is the key to helping the inhabitants of Underland overcome the evil rule of the Red Queen (played masterfully by Academy Award nominee Helena Bonham Carter).  But having grown so much, Alice has trouble regaining the confidence and memory of her younger self that roamed this strange land so long ago.

As Alice makes her way she begins to remember those past experiences that seemingly eluded her memory.  But even while she tries to remember the actions of her past visit, a battle to find Alice wages between the Red Queen and her younger sister, the White Queen (Academy Award nominee Anne Hathaway).

Like the recent release, Avatar, Tim Burton's Alice is made to be  seen (and actually begs to be seen) in 3-D.  Underland looks everything like the world one may remember from the animated film, but with this version being live-action this incredible land looks fresh and new.  Alice, when she arrives, is aided by many of the same interesting characters that she has seemingly forgotten about.  Academy Award nominee Johnny Depp, a mainstay in Tim Burton films, pops up as the Mad Hatter.  He's actually a bit more "subtle" here than in previous roles, but he's perfectly cast and much more memorable than his role as Willy Wonka in 2005's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Caterpillar (voiced by Golden Globe winner Alan Rickman, Die Hard), Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry), White Rabbit (Michael Sheen, Frost/Nixon), Dormouse (Barbara Windsor), March Hare (Paul Whitehouse) and Tweedledee & Tweedledum (Matt Lucas) round out the group of characters whom Alice has shared past experiences with. 

Overall Burton's vision for Alice in Wonderland is surprisingly accessible for people of all ages.  Considering that this is a Disney film it has to be, but with Burton's track record he could've easily made it much darker than the final product.  It still seems a little too dark for young children, but based on my limited knowledge of youth nowadays, they have already seen worse when flipping through the television.  There is a great disparity between this version and the 1951 version, though, and that can either be abhorred or lauded, depending on what you take away from both films. 

The biggest drawback may lie in the film's conclusion which involves a fight scene that personifies the ageless battle of David versus Goliath.  It shouldn't be surprising since this film is more action-based, but with so many colorful characters here it seems out of place to adhere to such a trite finale. 

But under the watchful eye of Tim Burton, this Alice in Wonderland accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do - it sent the viewer to another world.  No one relies more on visuals than Burton and because of that this is as stunning as Sweeney Todd.  It's also more ambitious, and since it's based on familiar material it means that it has a lot more to live up to.  I personally don't feel it lives up to the 1951 film's legacy but it's still very enjoyable.  Burton does do a better job here compared to Chocolate Factory so he gets points for resilience.  But when one thinks of the word classic many will think more fondly of the animated film rather than this still-impressive version from the inventive director.

Three out of Four Stars