Alice in Wonderland

Released: 2010
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Matt Lucas, Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall
Director: Tim Burton
Produced by: Walt Disney Pictures, Roth Films, The Zanuck Company, Team Todd
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Rated: PG (UK – PG)

“We Are All Mad Here.”

In 2010, two of my favorite things came together; Tim Burton and Alice in Wonderland! When I heard about the film I couldn’t wait to see more of Burton’s famous style. I thought “Finally, a creepy Alice in Wonderland!” I adore Burton’s visual aesthetic and I loved the thought of seeing Wonderland through his eyes. When I finally watched the film however I did not get what I was hoping for. But I wasn’t disappointed.

A child when she first visited the magical world known in this version as “Underland”, Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska) is now a teenager with no memory of the place — except in her dreams. While at a garden party for her fiance and herself, she spots a white rabbit and tumbles down a hole after him. Alice is then reunited with her friends the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), the Cheshire Cat and others. At first, she believes she is stuck in a dream soon Alice realizes she is mistaken and learns it is her destiny to end the Red Queen’s (Helena Bonham Carter) reign.

The film does not contain the thin, long-bodied, animated creatures I had come to love but instead an interesting cast of actors and major CGI. Live-action and CGI are tough to blend flawlessly in my opinion but luckily actors such as Johnny Depp, Alan Rickman, and Helena Bonham Carter helped draw me into the digital world. The visuals are beautiful and not as dark and dreary as I had anticipated. “Underland” is a colorful world filled with most of the Alice in Wonderland tale’s main characters. The only character that stood out as being “odd” even for “Underland” was the Red Queen. The Red Queen, played by Helena Bonham Carter, is pretty standard except for the fact that her head is 3 times the normal size. This might have been fine if all the characters or at least humans had large heads but I wasn’t a fan of it just for the one character.

Alice, played by (Mia Wasikowska), is constantly distracted by marvels all around her. She is stubborn and brave despite thinking most of her time in “Underland” is a dream. Her wardrobe is interesting throughout the film. She wears a pretty blue dress in the beginning and then as she shrinks and grows in Underland her dress is restyled to fit her. You would think this would be impossible but the film does such a great job of making it seem possible. I do like the different dresses she wears throughout the film but I felt there was a missed opportunity there for some really awesome styling. Her makeup in the film was barely existent but they did seem to intentionally give her dark circles under her eyes. Perhaps in an attempt to give her a Victorian look? Her acting was good enough however I felt the true stars were the other actors in the film.

Johnny Depp made a very interesting Mad Hatter. He was just the right touch of Mad while still managing to have viewers feel for him and what he has been through. His wardrobe is one of my favorite Mad Hatter looks although the bright colorful makeup wasn’t necessary. I would have rather seen his face. Yet his character is still a popular costume to emulate to this day. His tea party scene is one of my favorites.

Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen was both entertaining and iconic. Despite the strange large head her portrayal of the character was one of my favorite performances. She was more comedic than intimidating but she is also ruthless. I also like the way she screams “Off with his head!” By changing where the emphasis is she has made the famous line uniquely hers. Her wardrobe suited the queen and her makeup has become almost as popular as the Mad Hatter’s. I am sure you will see it this Halloween, almost 10 years later.

Alan Rickman as the blue caterpillar was a real treat. At first, it was a bit strange hearing the voice of one of my favorite Hogwarts Professors come from a blue caterpillar, in the end, it was one of my favorite things about the film. His soothing voice was a great choice for the hookah smoking insect. Another fun character was the Cheshire Cat, played by Stephen Fry. He was one of the characters that really held a Burton-esque feel. His smile and green eyes were just the right amounts of creepy and odd for you to see the director’s influence. His voice was another favorite of mine.

The composer, Danny Elfman, once again works his magic on a Tim Burton film. At this point, it seems the two complement one another flawlessly and Elfman’s work is never a disappointment. One of the best things about Tim Burton films are the soundtracks. In this film, Danny Elfman did a wonderful job with incorporating some absolutely beautiful vocals into the score, such as in Alice’s Theme. It event debuted at #89 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart.

Overall, this film is a fun and quirky take on a classic story. It may stray a bit from the original storyline but I believe it did a good enough job making the story more enjoyable for an older audience. It is easier to relate to a teen who no longer believes in all things impossible than it would have been to an innocent young girl. This film could have gone down the same dark path Burton normally thrives in but instead it is a colorful example of the director’s creativity and diversity. It is also a stunning example of the magic of film and how far the film industry has come. After seeing this, I will definitely be watching the next film Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass.