Tim Burton's "Alice In Wonderland"

We didn’t know what to expect when we went to see “Alice In Wonderland” in the theater in 3-D. Immediately it became apparent this movie was not like the earlier Disney version that followed the storyline of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland. The intriguing screenplay for this film was written by Linda Woolverton. The opening scene shows a six-year old Alice in bed talking to her entrepreneurial father about a dream she had. Then Alice is presented as 13 years older on her way to an aristocratic party that turns out unbeknown to her to be her engagement party to a snob.

Tim Burton’s movie version is really the story of an older Alice who returns to Wonderland where she learns more about her self and what she is capable of becoming. This is a great movie for older children and adults, and is especially inspiring for teenage girls to be true to themselves, to do what is right, and to broaden their horizons. They will enjoy seeing all the different dresses and costumes Alice gets to wear during the unfolding of the story. There is no cursing or sexuality in the movie which is a big plus. On the other hand, there are some very violent scenes along the lines of a “Chronicles of Narnia” or “Lord of the Rings” that might make some squeamish.

The cast in Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” is superb. Johnny Depp stars as the Mad Hatter, a minor character in the original Disney version, but the main character besides Alice in this new telling of adventures in Wonderland. The Hatter has been waiting at his Tea Party the past 13 years for Alice to return so she can be their champion to end the Red Queen’s rule in Underland (what those who live there call it). Depp does an excellent job in his portrayal, sometimes mad, sometimes melancholy, and sometimes wise. It is the Hatter who helps Alice succeed in her mission more than anyone else. And it is only the Hatter and the White Rabbit who really think Alice is the real Alice upon her revisit.

Unlike other Burton movies which have dark backgrounds and scenery, “Alice in Wonderland” is one of the most colorful movies made to date. This is a movie you have to see multiple times to catch all that is being presented because it is so rich in detail and texture. As usual, Danny Elfman’s original soundtrack carries the audience effectively into the world of make-believe. His “Alice’s Theme” song pleasantly lingers in the mind long after the movie is over (to hear it click here "Alice's Theme"). We also watched “Alice in Wonderland” in 2-D and enjoyed it just as much. Its two-hour length goes by quickly.

Mia Wasikowska is perfect as the 19 year old Alice. Michael Sheen does the voice of the White Rabbit (we wish the White Rabbit had a bigger role - oh well, you can’t have everything). The animation for the Cheshire Cat (voice by Stephen Fry) and the Smoking Blue Caterpillar (voice by Alan Rickman) are phenomenal. And to add humor besides the Hatter and the buck-teethed March Hare who’s madder than the Hatter (voice by Paul Whitehouse) are Tweedledee & Tweedledum (voices by Matt Lucas), and the Dormouse (voice by Barbara Windsor), plus the scene where one of the toads is exposed as the one who ate the Red Queen’s pastry.

The dark side of the movie is played by Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen ( who was the Queen of Hearts in the original story) who rules Underworld with fear of her champion the Jabberwocky (a giant dragon taken from the poem of that name in Lewis Carrol’s Through the Looking Glass). Her accomplice in ruling Underworld is Stayne played by Crispin Glover.

The light side of the movie is the White Queen (the Red Queen’s sister) played by, who else, Anne Hathaway. Both queens have their armies of cards and the final battle is quite violent and visual. It is in this part of the movie Alice realizes confidence in herself and saves the day as the White Queen’s champion who slays the Jabberwocky. And then there is the Mad Hatter’s “Futterwack” dance after the victory.

The movie concludes with Alice’s ascent to “reality” where she turns down the offer of marriage and sets her course to be an entrepreneur who like her father imagining six impossible things each day before breakfast. Alice definitely proves her “muchness” in the end and sails off into history.