Depending on who you ask, it’s either a pity or a blessing that my memories of Alice in Wonderland are muddy and vague. Though I’ve read both Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, I was quite young when I read them and I’ve never had a desire to revisit the text. I’ve also never been a fan of the animated Disney adaptation.
That being said, around nineteen, I became infatuated with the notion of twisting the characters. I’d often work older versions of Alice or slightly more… ahem… dashing… versions of the Mad Hatter into illustration projects. And I was all over American McGee’s Alice (Chesire Cat pictured left) when it hit the shelves. My friends couldn’t understand the appeal in playing a video game where wonderland was a perfect nightmare. Meanwhile, I couldn’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to play such a game.
And so I walked into Burton’s adaptation/quasi-sequel fully prepared to leave all loyalty to Lewis Caroll at the door.
Two hours later, I was pouting because the credits were rolling and I wasn’t ready to leave Wonderland behind yet. Burton’s visual interpretation of wonderland was lush and balanced and not nearly as dark as I would have expected. I loved most of the characters. Though a few of the Hatter’s quirks irked me, it was relative easy to overlook these—especially when he tells Alice that it’s so very crowded inside his head. The designs of the white and red queen’s armies were inspired.
Oh heck. I could list all of the things I loved about it but it’s after midnight. I felt much the same way I did when I first saw Labyrinth as a kid. Much ooohhhing and ahhhhhing,
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March 10, 2010 at 5:08 am
Debra Driza
Ah, but Labyrinthe had David Bowie’s junk…hey, does the Mad Hatter wear tights????? Lol! I’ll totally go see it now. I also haven’t read Alice in *ages* and wasn’t sure, but I’ll willing to give it a try–I’m a sucker for cool visuals.
Thanks! 😀
March 11, 2010 at 12:45 am
stopdropandplot
lol no tight but, oddly, I can live with that 🙂
The visuals were very cool and there was something heart-breakingly sweet about Depp’s Mad Hatter.
March 10, 2010 at 5:37 pm
lmpreston
I also loved this lovely twisted movie. It wasn’t too bad. I was just angry at the 3D version because it seemed like they threw it in at the last minute. Total waste of my money for the 3D.
March 11, 2010 at 12:43 am
stopdropandplot
I didn’t find the 3D added much, to be honest BUT it at least wasn’t a distraction. With Avatar, I felt like they relied on the 3D to gloss over a weak story.
March 11, 2010 at 12:45 am
Kirsten Lesko
I can’t wait to see this movie! The previews make it look really dark – I’m happy to see it’s not all doom & gloom like so much of his other stuff.
March 12, 2010 at 12:56 am
stopdropandplot
I think this is one of those instances where working with Disney probably helped. I love Tim Burton but sometimes I think he needs someone to keep him gently reigned in (Batman vs Batman Returns, if you will).