As the number one box office draw two weeks running, there is something to be said for the profitable, not to mention creative, combination of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton – especially when one considers that this film, like most of Burton’s films, are produced by Disney. ‘Alice in Wonderland’ is one of those stories that people are familiar with but not a lot of people read – at least on this side of the Atlantic (maybe it is because we are more partial to Dorothy and her friends in Oz). As for myself, I never quite got past the ‘Drink Me’ and ‘Eat Me’ bit in the book. Although I am one for the surreal, it just seemed a bit too trippy for me – even at a young age when I didn’t know what the term ‘trippy’ meant.
Many films have delved into the Lewis Carroll classic, starting in 1903. Through the era of its conception to the present a lot the interpretation of the novel, in the Victorian century pop culture way, has been lost to modern film audiences, if not readers. Back when children were advised by most of the adults to be seen and not heard; Alice was a forward thinking and straight talking girl. At times, she almost seems to have an upper class bratty snob persona. Further, some folks don’t understand why the Mad Hatter is crazy (assuming, perhaps, that the issues might be more based in heredity) but the term ‘Mad as a hatter’ predates the Carroll’s classic, because many hatters lost their senses due to mercury poisoning. Mercury was used in the curing process for the animal pelts, which the hats were made from. Blame it on the fashion of the day. Suffice to say, that no matter if the cinematic interpretation of ‘Alice’; be it sanguine made for American TV interpretations or BBC efforts that had almost a Freudian nightmarish quality, the story itself leaves viewers and readers alike asking what was Carroll smoking? One more indulgence, ‘Dreamchild’ (1985) was interesting movie examining the life of the real Alice (Alice Liddell whose married name was Hargreaves) as she goes on a tour of America as an elderly woman.
This newest incarnation of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ has Alice as a grown up lass of 19 who is about to be proposed to by her ginger-headed ‘don’t make a spectacle of yourself’ mama’s boy with dietary issues. I know that he sounds like a catch, but Alice has to really think if she wants to commit herself so young to a man she doesn’t love even with her mother and sister are urging her to do so. Her beloved father is dead and she doesn’t want to be a burden, but yet, could there be more to life than this? And down the rabbit hole she goes.
I think people pretty much know from the time they decide to see ‘Alice’ if this is their cup of tea – because you don’t want the March Throwing a tea cup at your head if you are tardy for the party. Johnny Depp is, as he always is, terrific; thus in my book earning the title of the most consistent actor. Helena Bonham Carter is perfection as the spoiled murderous Queen of Hearts with an exaggerated head and lovely crayon applied blue eye shadow. I’m declaring right now that whoever is responsible for the costumes is winning the Oscar for their efforts. I loved the look of all of the characters. I guarantee that we are going to see Halloween versions of Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatters for the next hundred years. Who would have thought that a character with bright bushy eyebrows and yellow eyes could come off as so likeable? Also noteworthy were Matt Lucas who played Tweedledee and Tweedledum, I expect to see more of him in films. Lastly, Anne Hathaway was enchanting at the White Queen.
For many pop culture enthusiasts, much was riding on this film and the reality is that no filmmaker could meet such exacting standards and still make a film that appeals to the masses. I liked that Burton took the story of ‘Alice’ and changed bit of it to make it his own. Mia Wasikowska who plays Alice has the look of someone who could be either a small girl or, as she is in the movie, a young woman. In fact, I imagine if you judge her for how she appears in the film’s advertising you would assume she was a young girl. Suffice to say that the storyline is both traditional and not. I liked it, but others might not be so pleased.
I don’t know if suddenly I’m jaded about 3-D (3-D films are already getting some Hollywood backlash) but it the 3-D effects didn’t stand out that much for me. Further, I don’t know if it was necessarily the theater I was in, or if it was the film itself, but the cinematography seemed so dark at times that I actually took off my 3-D glasses, which were tinted like sunglasses, in order to see the movie better.
Overall, I enjoyed ‘Alice in Wonderland’. I thought it had enough of Burton magic, but not over the top, to bring a smile to most viewers. I warn you, it had some horrifying scenes which makes it a big DO NOT TAKE YOUNG CHILDREN unless you want to give them nightmares and a lifetime of therapy. There were children in the audience when I was watching it and I heard many of them laugh and giggle in the sort of way that one hopes they are never in a real life ‘Children of the Corn’ situation. Therefore I advise that if you have older children, 8 and up, then ‘Alice in Wonderland’ would be a good choice for a family outing. I also think it is a good movie, if you like the genre, to see as a date movie or with friends.
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