Alice in Wonderland

Burton didn't tell a story, he simply narrated. The most frequently asked question by me was why the film is not fully animated, since everything is as artificial as the interior of a Chinese car. In the overload of "Burton-esque visuals," completely in CGI, everything is lost... except for Mia Wasikowska, who carries the whole confused (!!) mess to the end. This time, that’s liberation. It’s sterile, boring, kitschy, plastic... the perfect repellent for viewer empathy. (05/16/2010)

It's very hard to review this film because a five-star scale is too narrow in this case to express feelings. On one hand, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland is certainly mainstream, as the strong influence of Walt Disney Studios is indisputable in shaping the final form of the film. This Alice is simply much more epic than its literary predecessor and corresponds to the classic model of the battle between good and evil, with stereotypical fairy tale characters. The studio has already tried this pattern many times and will definitely not change it because of Lewis Carroll's fans. So Alice fights a dragon and cannot avoid a romantic motif. On the other hand, it is unnecessary to blame Tim Burton for succumbing to commercial temptations and selling his artistic vision to Walt Disney Studios. In the American concept, the director is merely a craftsman, the owner of the work, and the actual creator is effectively the producer, who can dictate. We do not know what Alice would have been if it were made as an independent film, but it would probably be much less elaborate and might not even exist. Tim Burton might be able to produce it if it were exclusively an animated film. Even in this studio version, there is plenty to see, as the visuals are not bad at all, and there are several excellent special effects. Most likely, children will like it, as it was written by Lewis Carroll as a fairy tale for children. Those who seek artistic depth and an adult version will have to look elsewhere. If I were to criticize Burton for being too Disney-like, then I would discard the Disney version from 1951 altogether. The fact is that intellectual depth and ambiguity are missing in the newest adaptation of Alice, but it is still a grand and enjoyable spectacle. Overall impression: 75%. (03/11/2010)

The renowned king of bizarre worlds finally embarked on the most famous journey, and although he couldn't live up to the huge fan expectations, he certainly pleased with a trip with slight modifications of the classic story. However, surprisingly, everything depends on how much attention Johnny Depp attracts. His Mad Hatter is not just a supporting character, but an equal protagonist who almost outshines the amazingly furious Red Queen or the likeable Alice herself. 75% Spoileroid PS: Even I was surprised by how much I was saddened until the confirmation of the second part, that Burton didn't completely go against the rules and didn't let Alice stay with the Mad Hatter. That unspoken romantic bond was screaming for it. (03/05/2010)

When the most likeable character in a fairytale is the main villain, it’s impossible to avoid the feeling that something went bloody wrong. Alice in Wonderland is a run-of-the-mill film in every aspect, though some people may appreciate Burton’s signature, even if here it’s neutered. Not me, though. Kids will probably like it, it’s not utterly bad. (06/01/2010)

The movie excited me in the cinema, but mainly because of the colorful orgies. Yes, who wouldn't like a bit of kitsch here and there. But then the film got stuck in my head and personally, I consider it one of the worst that Tim Burton has made. Depp has found the right role for himself again here. And he is great, he is funny. And he is the same as in his recent films, although the mask is different. The visual orgies are beautiful, but the main Alice did not find the right performer in Mia. Actually, she quite successfully opposes me. This is simply something that didn't sit well with me. Great actors, interesting role, but why does it have to be an adaptation of "Alice"? In terms of plot, it's just another Hollywood spectacle. (01/06/2014)