Tim Burton’s 3-D version of Alice in Wonderland literally takes one down the rabbit hole.
Artwork by Danny Mardirosian
Director Tim Burton has created many original films: The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorshands, and Big Fish. However, now many loyal Burton fans are slowly distancing themselves from his latest films: Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, because they are based on previous works (novels and Broadway plays). However, regardless of how many times the story of Alice in Wonderland (written by Lewis Carroll) has been told, I highly recommend Tim Burton’s rendition. While we all may know the story, chances are none of us has seen Alice in Wonderland like this, as the special effects and CGI are beyond impressive, especially in 3-D.
Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is a bit different from the story we all grew up with and know today. While the characters and basic idea for the most part seem unchanged, there are some new ideas and elements Burton has added to this current version. Instead of taking place by a riverbank like in the novel, the film begins at a garden party attended by a large crowd of people including 19-year old Alice Kingsleigh (newcomer Mia Wasikowska, Defiance) and her mother. To Alice, this party seems rather boring, as while she is dancing Alice wonders what it would be like to fly with the birds. However, it comes as a shock to Alice when Lord Ascot’s (her late father’s business partner) son, Hamish, proposes to her in front of the entire crowd. Needing some time and space away from everyone, Alice decides to follow a clothed white rabbit… all the way down a rabbit hole. I am glad Tim Burton did not spend much time focusing on the “real” world and garden party because, like Alice, I too found the ambiance dull and boring.
The rabbit hole: this is where the 3-D begins. As Alice is falling down, various household objects such as clocks, tables, framed pictures, and even a piano, seem to be flying in front of the audience. After falling down the rabbit hole, Alice is in the familiar round hall with tiny doors. To assist her with getting the key that opens the correct door are the “Drink Me” bottle of liquid (which shrinks her) and “Eat Me” cake (which enlarges her). Once she is finally able to unlock the door, Alice is astonished with the ambiance of green woodlands, massive mushrooms, and giant talking flowers (that have human faces). Burton did an amazing job bringing Wonderland to life, as the scenery was so breathtaking only computer animation and the Green Screen technique (which is what was used) could create it so amazingly.
However, Alice does not have much time to marvel at this strange world, as the White rabbit, McTwisp (Michael Sheen, The Queen), along with the Dodo (a blue bird with a walking stick), and the short, egg-like Tweedledee and Tweedledum (both Matt Lucas, Shooting Stars) must take Alice to the philosophical caterpillar, Absolem (Alan Rickman, Harry Potter series) who shows Alice the ancient parchment, the Oraculum (which explains Alice’s destiny). Absolem is sure to be a favorite among the audience, as Alan Rickman (who plays Snape in the Harry Potter movies) was the perfect voice for the philosophical caterpillar.
After meeting Absolem, Alice finds out she is the Alice who must defeat the evil Red Queen’s Jabberwocky (a black dragon) and if she succeeds, the good, peaceful White Queen (Anne Hathaway, The Devil Wears Prada) will rule again. When the Red Queen hears, “Alice has returned to Wonderland (although everyone else remembers it, Alice has no memory of visiting Wonderland when she was a little girl),” she sends her right-hand henchman, The Knave of Hearts (Crispin Glover, Hot Tub Time Machine), her Bandersnatch (giant vicious fur-ball-like dog with sharp teeth) and Jubjub bird after Alice and, although she is able to escape, McTwisp, the Dodo, and the Tweedles are captured.
One of Burton’s go-to actresses (who is also his wife), Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) plays the Red Queen, and she does an amazing job, as no other actress could don that temperamental personality the way Bonham Carter did. The moment she looked anyone straight in the eye, I knew her words would be “Off with his/her head!”
After Alice’s new acquaintances are snatched by the Red Queen’s enslaved creatures, Alice is introduced to even more friends, including: Chessur, the evaporating Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry, V for Vendetta) with mesmerizing eyes and a smile; Thackery, the March Hare who twitches and throws teacups (which come flying at the audience in 3-D); Mallymkun, the small but feisty Dormouse (Barbara Windsor, East Enders) who doubts Alice is the Alice; and finally (get ready to scream ladies) JOHNNY DEPP (Pirates of the Caribbean series) as Tarrant the Mad Hatter who, although a bit mad, is the one with whom Alice forms the best relationship.
Not only did I find the Cheshire Cat to be one of the best and coolest characters (his evaporating skills were beyond impressive and when he was not disappearing, his appearance made me want a cat like him), but the Mad Hatter was a great character as well. Johnny Depp donned the makeup (the wild, orange hair and green contact lenses on his digitally enlarged eyes), wore the eccentric top hat and suit, and did an amazing performance (as always) acting mad. It seemed that Burton used Depp’s name as a way to market the movie since the name “Johnny Depp” is the most noticable on the posters, advertisements, and end credits. Depp however, truly deserves the credit because while newcomer Mia Wasikowska and box-office favorite Helena Bonham Carter give great performances, it is Depp who gives the best performance as the Mad Hatter, as he makes the entire audience (both males and females), mad or not, fall in love with the Mad Hatter. As Alice’s father told her, “All the best people are mad,” and after seeing Johnny Depp’s performance as the maddest of the mad, I have to agree; all the best people are in fact, mad!
It seems most people either liked Tim Burton’s version of Alice in Wonderland or they hated it. I did not like it or hate it, I loved it! Tim Burton created a breathtaking fantasy world and amazing characters, CGI or not. Burton’s usual musical composer, Danny Elman, did a great job at writing a score which consists of not only the usual background music heard in most fantasy films, but also beautiful hymn-like songs that seem to talk about Alice’s adventure. While Johnny Depp led an amazing group of people consisting of live actors and voice-overs, the entire cast gave phenomenal performances and each character had about an equal amount of screen-time. For a 3-D movie, I can honestly say Alice in Wonderland is by far the best, as like in all 3-D movies, the depth is really good and there are many objects seen popping right in front of the audience (rabbit hole debris, teacups, leaves, evaporating Cheshire cats, etc.).
If I could, I would give Alice in Wonderland a rating far beyond five stars, as it is high on my list of all-time favorite movies, because after I saw this Tim Burton updated version I really wanted to journey down the rabbit hole and begin a new life Wonderland, helping the Mad Hatter host his tea parties. In a way, the 3-D allowed me to do this, but after the film was over, I was a bit sad, as I wanted more Wonderland adventures. After seeing Alice in Wonderland (hopefully in 3-D to get the whole effect), chances are all will love it because if they do not… “OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!”
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
