 "Photo: Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures")
“Alice in Wonderland” is director Tim Burton’s take on the classic stories of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” as well as parts from “Through the Looking-Glass,” both written by Lewis Carroll.
This would seem like a perfect story for Burton, since Carroll’s stories feature imaginative settings and strange characters, which would easily adapt to the twisted and creative mind of Burton. Although there are plenty of beautiful visuals and amusing characters, the film does not come across as magical or as exciting as it could have been.
The movie is an amalgamation of Carroll’s two books, which focus on Alice (Mia Wasikowska), a young woman in England who is not looking forward to the lavish life that her mother has chosen for her. In the middle of an engagement party, Alice sees the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen) and proceeds to follow him down the rabbit hole. She finds herself back in Wonderland, the world she had visited before in her dreams since childhood.
There she is greeted by a motley crew of characters, including the White Rabbit and Abosolom the Caterpillar (Alan Rickman). The two inform her that it is written in their historic scroll that on Frabjous Day, Alice would return to vanquish the Red Queen’s (Helena Bonham Carter) evil Jabberwocky; this would end the Red Queen’s evil reign over Wonderland and give power back to the good sister: the White Queen (Anne Hathaway).
However, Alice insists that she is not who they are looking for, and continues to believe the experience is just another one of her dreams. But, after a few intense chase scenes and some nonsensical wise words from the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), Alice realizes the truth of the situation and decides to do what it takes to stop the Jabberwocky and put an end to the Red Queen’s harsh reign.
The tone of Carroll’s writing makes Wonderland seem sublime and dark yet beautiful. Burton, being an imaginative director, successfully captures the world that Carroll created. The vivid colors of the costumes and sets illustrate metaphorical conflicts in the story, such as the contrast between the bright flower garden and dark and creepy house of the Mad Hatter. It is eye catching and all of the characters look truly remarkable.
In addition, the computer graphics and animation were monumental and well worth the hype. Watching Alice shrink and grow throughout the movie provided an interesting effect as her worldly perspective changed with her height. The epic battle sequence between the Mad Hatter, Stayne (Crispin Glover), Alice and the Jabberwocky was both surreal and trivial as the characters battled on a gigantic chessboard.
Considering the twisted and expressionist visions in Burton’s previous films, “Alice in Wonderland” could have had a little more personality. Though each character had their own magical screen presence, quirks and mannerisms, “Alice in Wonderland” was not nearly as loveable or as mind-bending as Burton’s previous films “Beetlejuice” or “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
Depp and Wasikowska bring a heavy-hearted depth to their characters, shaping the personality throughout the film. The chemistry between the Mad Hatter and Alice evolves like a kindred spirit as the duo fight to end the reign of the Red Queen. It’s almost impossible not to laugh when Carter delivers the Red Queen’s infamous and antagonistic line, “Off with their heads.” The pacing of the film is too fast for any prolonged interest. Whenever there is a conflict, it is almost immediately resolved; this lack of surprise is a big letdown considering the beauty of the imagery.
Critic’s Conclusion: Despite a subpar level of excitement, humor or surprise, “Alice in Wonderland” is a creative adaptation. It is like a hallucinogenic version of the original animated adaptation by Disney (1951). Johnny Depp and Mia Wasikowska are as comical as they are dreamlike, fueling the movie with strong performances reminiscent of Jack and Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Although the foreshadowing in the screenplay ruins some of the elements of surprise, “Alice in Wonderland” is rich in almost every other aspect, which is nothing less than expected from the Edgar Allen Poe of contemporary cinema, Tim Burton.
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