Alice in Wonderland

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

Opening in theatres this Friday from author Lewis Carroll, director Tim Burton and Disney is the highly anticipated “Alice in Wonderland”.

This film tells the story of Alice Kingsley (Mia Wasikowska) who, at 19 must return to the world of magic from her childhood to help her friends. Since Alice left, the Red Queen (Helen Bonham Carter) has taken over Wonderland.

Here she reunites with her friends the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen), Tweedle Dee and Dum (Matt Lucas), the Dormouse (Barbara Windsor), the Caterpillar (Alan Rickman), and the Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry).

She is also befriended by the White Queen, Mirana (Anne Hathaway), the younger sister of the Red Queen whose motives are questionable.

Alice must save Wonderland from tyranny and, with the unselfish and dedicated friendship of the Mad Hatter they move onward to save this special and unique world.

FINAL WORD: This was a delightful trip down the rabbit hole! Waskiowska is delightful as Alice. She captures the curiosity and ferocity of the young woman who must remember who she is.

Depp is – well – Depp. In role after role from “Edward Scissorhand” to his off-beat re-creation of Willy Wonka; the world loved Depp. Once again he is given the opportunity to pull of a little insanity with color, imagination and loyalty.

Carter is deliriously and deliciously evil as the Red Queen. She is also a repeater with Burton having worked on four films together. Of course it doesn’t hurt when you live with the director and have a family!

The entire cast play their roles (vocally or otherwise) extremely well. This is definitely an ensemble cast. With the amount of CGI it is in their talent alone they are able to make these characters come to life.

Other characters include: Crispin Clover as Stayne the Knave of Hearts, Paul Whitehouse as the March Hare, Timothy Spall as Bayard, Marton Csokas as Kingsleigh and Tim Smith as Lord Ascott.

Depp says of his character “it’s a completely new story with Alice returning back to Wonderland and doesn’t look like any Alice in Wonderland that’s ever been before. When you combine these wild characters with Tim Burtons’ brilliance and his vision – it’s a dream come true”.  Perhaps that’s why they’ve worked together in seven films!

Burton says “the prospect of doing it in 3-D excited me and the animation just added another great element”.  From Alice herself, “your seeing so many different wild characters and locations coming together and I can’t wait to see it in 3-D”. 

Danny Elfman is responsible for the music and is rejoining Burton since working on “The Corpse Bride”. His resume also includes television with the music for “Desperate Housewives”.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give “Alice in Wonderland” three and a half tubs of popcorn. This is a colorful and in your face run for your money! Its twisty, curvy, and a tad delightfully insane.

Burton fans will be delighted with his take on the Carroll classic. In the end…don’t be late for this very important date!