MMA MOVIE REVIEW: ALICE IN WONDERLAND
At the risk of repeating myself, I go to the movies to be entertained. Some movies entertain “lightly,” like Avatar, and others entertain “darkly,” like The Hurt Locker. I much prefer to be entertained “lightly” and Alice in Wonderland, with its extraordinary cast and special effects, including 3-D and the Imax experience, is one of those movies.
Now the 3-D is not as good as that offered by Avatar, and even the glasses speak to that as Alice’s are cheesy while Avatar’s were hardy and well built. My research tells me that Alice’s technology is more similar to the “old” 3-D where Avatar was a brand new James Cameron 3-D invention. Regardless it really doesn’t take anything away from this delightful visual journey.
Now the critics, for the most part, have scorned this movie for all of those elitist reasons that only movie critics can articulate, such as blocking issues (?), cinematography, not faithful to the original story, hating Tim Burton, not liking Johnny Depp, did I mention hating Tim Burton…blah, blah, blah. I recommend you ignore that pompous nonsense and go see it, and take your kids, your grand kids, or anyone who can just enjoy some happy, albeit scary at times, fun!
This movie is delivered to us by Walt Disney Pictures and visionary director Tim Burton. It is an epic fantasy adventure and a magical, imaginative twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time. The inimitable Johnny Depp stars as the Mad Hatter and newcomer Mia Wasikowska as 19-year-old Alice, who returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks on a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen’s reign of terror. The all-star cast also includes Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter and Crispin Glover; Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay. Capturing the wonder of Lewis Carroll’s beloved “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (1865) and “Through the Looking-Glass” (1871) with stunning, avant-garde visuals and the most charismatic characters in literary history.
It cost $200M to make and has already grossed almost $130M in the United States and close to $100M in foreign markets. That’s not bad for the first weekend!
My rating: Four out of Five stars primarily for the cheesy 3-D glasses and for using technology that was not quite up to par with Avatar, the trend setter for 3-D technology for years to come.
Holte I am with you on Shutter Island. I actually nodded off at one point, and admitting that puts me a great risk for “age” jibes and etc., but this movie had its best moments during the previews. Alice, on the other hand, made sure my eyes stayed open…
Dinners: Depp is great in this flick.
Ahhhh! It must have been the technological thingummybob the other day that had Alice as the header.
As a huge fan of The Deppmeister I’m well looking forward to seeing it. Never do listen to critics.
My wife and I go to the movies whenever we can, so I have seen the previews for Alice In Wonderland for months, even seen 3D previews when we saw Avatar, big fan of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton and when I was a kid loved the Alice stories, but the previews didn’t draw me in. We went to the movies the weekend, it was a toss up between Alice or Shutter Island, saw the latter. Wish I’d have stayed home.
LOL! You can find the wolf, Englander, at http://howlingwolfgermanshepherds.com
In 10 days everything changes my limey friend…SO get used to it 🙂 🙂 🙂 By the way if you resign I will withhold your final check:-)
And hey the new logo is a WOLF….
Bloody Hell!!! Calm down man!!! Put the wolf back!
Alice In fuckin’ Wonderland? Gimme a break. Put the Wolf back or I resign!!!!
Glad you liked it HB!!
Not a movie buff at all — 2 or 3 films a year are good enough for me but I certainly will include this in my sked of movies to watch thanks to this clear, straightforward, honest review.
I guarantee Miss W. will love this. So will you I think…
Meant to go see it last weekend, but got delays with all the usual crap involved with yard work.