Alice in Wonderland

I welcome stories derived from the stories embedded in the Disney portfolio that bring something new to the table (such as Snow White or Maleficent, in addition to Alice). That's how Disney came up with their version of Alice in Wonderland in 1951, and almost 60 years later they expanded the story with a sequel. Now we meet Alice, who is no longer a little girl, but a nineteen-year-old girl about to be married. She is once again lured by the white rabbit into the world of the Queen of Hearts, the Hatter, and other strange creatures. Lewis Carroll would probably have been surprised if he had been told in 1865 how inspirational his Alice would be. I don't particularly enjoy Burton's films, some I like more, others less, in the case of Alice in Wonderland I'm satisfied that his group is spot on: Elfman in the recording studio, Depp and Bonham Carter in front of the camera. (08/24/2019)

Alice in Wonderland is undoubtedly one of the weaker efforts from the workshop of the master of imagination Tim Burton. On the one hand, it actually seems quite paradoxical: a work like this, when rewritten as a film, certainly offers considerable avenues for portrayal, plenty of room for self-expression, and is directly built for directorial exhibition. Unfortunately, the whole film leaves a rather faint impression in terms of directing and inevitably gives the impression that Burton had the whole process of filming very precisely mapped out in advance and thus left his authorial imprint only to a very limited extent (though hints of Burtonian poetry and humor thankfully do appear here and there). The bright side of the whole project for me remains the fabulous performance of Helena Bonham Carter and a few funny moments. Even Danny Elfman's music is not as impressive as usual this time around. Burton's most divisive film in the last ten years of his career. (10/27/2011)

Tim Burton is hands down the most interesting director of our time and every one of his films is worth watching at least once. While some of them didn't do much for me (Mars Attacks, Beetlejuice), others are among the best I've seen so far (Sleepy Hollow, Ed Wood). This one is somewhere in between, it didn't impress me, but given the premise it was a pleasant surprise. The story is a bit secondary anyway, the main thing are the amazing sets, the make-up effects, the music and of course the performances led by Depp and Bonham Carter (hats off to the great dubbing). If it all formed a traditional, Burton-esque unconventional whole, I'd give it four stars without blinking an eye, but Alice is mostly overstuffed with that uninhibited, sterile form that any filmmaker who isn't afraid to break free from his chains, even though he doesn't have much to say, would produce, and in this case, that’s a disappointment... (01/03/2012)

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)

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)