Poster artwork for the fantasy adventure film Alice In Wonderland. |
Wonderless Wanderings by Linh
Director
Tim Burton’s visually stunning film adaptation comes courtesy of author Lewis
Carroll’s beloved novels Alice’s
Adventures In Wonderland and Through
The Looking Glass. For his adaptation of Alice In Wonderland, Burton has combined both the novels into a
film that at first generates sparks of interest but soon fizzles out. The
performances from the live action and voice casts range from brilliant to average,
which is a shame as there are plenty of excellent actors in the film whose
talents are under-utilised.
MAGICAL MEANDERINGS: Alice (Mia Wasikowska)
is in awe of her surroundings in the film Alice
In Wonderland. Image: Walt Disney Pictures.
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The
3D effects do little to support the muddled story which seems to have lost its
own plot. Perhaps Alice has been
enlisted to retrieve the missing plot? The sketchy narrative appears and
re-appears as often as the smiling Cheshire Cat, making Alice’s wanderings and
encounters with anthropomorphic characters insignificant and a leisurely way to
pass the time. These characters have so much potential to contribute and assist
Alice, yet they are given little opportunity to shine.
MASTER MILLINER: The Mad Hatter (Johnny
Depp) checks his timing in the film Alice
In Wonderland. Image: Walt Disney Pictures.
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Alice In Wonderland has been filmed many
times before with better results. Tim Burton’s version is not a complete disappointment,
and it is saved by the lead cast’s strong performances, and the nostalgic
memories of reading the novels as a child. Thankfully, Johnny Depp’s
few-and-far between appearances bring enough mad-cap eccentricity to his role
as the Mad Hatter to make the film watchable. Other stand-out performances
include Helena Bonham Carter’s self-indulgent, tempestuous and cruel Red Queen
whose sense of humour is deadly; Anne Hathaway makes the most of her minor role
as the deposed ruler, the White Queen; Matt Lucas of Little Britain fame drew a few laughs from the audience as the
tubby twins Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee; Crispin Glover is Stayne the Knave of
Hearts and he has some great moments as the ‘go-to-guy’ for the Red Queen;
Australian actress Mia Wasikowska is suitably cast as the naïve and curious
Alice whose sweet innocence is believable but her performance is not enough to
carry the film.
REGAL RAGE: The Red Queen (Helena
Bonham Carter) lashes out at those who stole her tarts in the film Alice In Wonderland. Image: Walt Disney
Pictures.
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Interestingly,
Tim Burton has family-friendly Walt Disney Pictures distributing this film, which may account
for its lack of darkness in themes and poor depth in story-telling. In the
books, there are the darker tones facing Alice the child but in this film
adaptation, it seems to be about the young adult Alice’s decision to marry or
become an independent single woman ready to embark on adventures.
KIND QUEEN: The White Queen (Anne
Hathaway) concocts a special potion in the film Alice In Wonderland. Image: Walt Disney Pictures.
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Director: Tim Burton
Writers: Linda Woolverton (screenplay),
Lewis Carroll (books Alice's Adventures
in Wonderland and Through the Looking
Glass)
Live Action Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham
Carter, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover, Matt Lucas, Leo Bill, Tim Pigott-Smith,
Frances de la Tour, Lindsay Duncan, Jemma Powell , Marton Csokas , Eleanor
Gecks, Eleanor Tomlinson, Mairi Ella Challen
Voice Cast: Stephen Fry, Alan
Rickman, Christopher Lee, Imelda Staunton, Barbara Windsor, Michael Sheen, Paul
Whitehouse, Timothy Spall, Michael Gough
Producers: Tim Burton, Richard D.
Zanuck, Linda Woolverton, Joe Roth, Suzanne Todd , Jennifer Todd, Peter M.
Tobyansen, Chris Lebenzon, Katterli Frauenfelder, Mark L. Rosen, Derek Frey
Cinematographer: Dariusz Wolski
Original Music Composer: Danny Elfman
Film Editor: Chris Lebenzon
Production: Robert Stromberg
(Production Designer), Andrew L. Jones, Christina Wilson, Todd Cherniawsky,
Mike Stassi, Stefan Dechant (Art Directors), Karen O’Hara (Set Decorator)
Costume Designer: Colleen Atwood
Running Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes
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