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| Movie Review: Alice in Wonderland Alternate Title: Muchness
Story: 3D sucks. Not only does
it suck, but imagine our horror when we stepped up to the box office
and discovered that our choices were either 3D or IMAX. "But I
do not want to see it in either of those methods" I cried. "I
want to see it in 2D. Alas, like Alice, we were destined to fall down
the 3D dung hole (more on 3D below). Our attitudes were not good at
this point and we were determined not to like this latest film by director
Tim Burton. The film was written by Linda Woolverton
and was based on “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”
and “Through the Looking-Glass” by Lewis
Carroll. Attitudes luckily can change and before long,
after adjusting the annoying 3D glasses, we became enchanted. Tim Burton's
style is singular. His vision has been consistent and in this, his 14th
film, he lets it all hang out. He essentially sticks to the main storyline
of Carroll's Alice with some tweaking here and there. Only purists will
balk at his artistic license - but let's face it, that's what purists
tend to do. In Burton's Alice, she is 19 years old and is
escaping an arranged marriage to one very toady man. This Alice is brave,
faithful and super heroic (in a Joan of Arc kind of way). All of the
expected charming characters are present including the Mad Hatter, the
Dormouse, the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, Absolem the caterpillar
and of course the Queen(s). Burton's world is filled with details that
welcome us into Alice's and his vision. The problem with 3D is that it gets in the way
of enjoying Burton's world. 3D is nothing but a mooney grabbing ploy
by the studio to get each and every viewer to pay $3 more to see the
film. The 3D glasses are clumsy and most important they mute, at times
blur, always darken the palette and most importantly interfere with
with detailed world up on the screen. Should you see this film? I would wait until
it comes on your big ass HDTV screen at home and not have to be annoyed
by the 3D gimmickry. Acting: Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter plays this
role with ease. In his seventh film with Burton he has this quirky character
down pat. Mia Wasikowska as Alice Kingsleigh is charming
and easy to watch. Anne Hathaway as the White Queen
was fine but frighteningly skinny. Helena Bonham Carter
as the Red Queen was deliciously wicked, funny and the best thing about
the film. Crispin Glover as Stayne-Knave of Hearts
was fine. Matt Lucas as Tweedledee and Tweedledum was
my second favorite character(s). Alan Rickman as Absolem
the Caterpillar was terrific as usual. Timothy Spall
as Bayard the Bloodhound was perfect. The voices of these actors were
fine as well: Michael Sheen (White Rabbit), Stephen
Fry (Cheshire Cat), Barbara Windsor (Dormouse),
Christopher Lee (Jabberwocky), Michael Gough
(Dodo) and Paul Whitehouse (March Hare)
Trivia: Helena Bonham Carter is the great-granddaughter
of H.H. Asquith, British Prime Minister (1908-1916). She is the granddaughter
of Violet Bonham Carter, a Life Peeress in her own right, and the niece
of Mark Bonham-Carter, who was created a Life Peer in his own right
as well. Her half-Spanish mother 'Elena Propper de Callejon' is niece
of Baroness Liliane de Rothschild, née Fould-Springer. She became
romantically involved with her director Tim Burton after their Planet
of the Apes (2001) wrapped. Instead of moving in with her in her Hampstead
home in London, Burton bought two next-door houses which the couple
both share today (2010).
Predilection: I like Tim Burton films.
Critters: All manner of critter.
Food: All food eaten has major consequences for Alice.
Sex Spectrum: Gads, no.
Blatant Product Placement: None
Soundtrack: Danny Elfman loud and over the top.
Opening Titles: All credits at the end.
Visual Art: A Tim Burton festival.
Theater Audience: We were alone eating our egg salad
sandwiches for half of the film until a mother and her way too young
child came in to watch.
Weather: Delightful in Wonderland.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: Eyeball gouging is squirmy and that
happens three times.
Drift Factor: I was attentive throughout. My Wednesday
movie buddy, Sunjt said he drifted a bit.
Predictability Level: High
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: I guess a technical nod here and there
would be in order.
Big Screen or Rental: For the sake of your eyes wait
until it is on TV.
Length: Under two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 7 |