Movies

When the news broke that Tim Burton was remaking Lewis Carrolls classic, Alice in Wonderland, his fans must have been wringing their hands with pleasure, anticipating an altogether dark and gothic version of the popular tale something that resembled other typically Burton works like Corpse Bride or The Nightmare Before Christmas. But after watching the movie, although thoroughly entertaining and complete with the visual richness that weve come to expect from Burton, the film falls short by some way of being one of his masterpieces.

From the outset, it was clear that Burton was not interested in going into detail about Alices childhood and her connection with Wonderland. After a short scene which involved the child Alice having the bad dream about falling down the hole, it cuts to the teenage Alice, played by Mia Wasikowska, on her way to her surprise engagement proposal. It is here the she follows the rabbit and falls down the hole. Once in Wonderland (Underland in this case), we meet Burtons typically cruel, insane and grim characters. The Red Queen, played by Helena Bonham Carter, is obsessed with decapitating people and given to strange whims (such as using a live pigs belly as a footrest). The Mad Hatter, played by Johnny Depp at his quirky best, often overshadows Mia Wasikowskas, somewhat dull presence.

The 3D visuals impress in Wonderland, bringing to life Absolem, the caterpillar and one of the most enjoyable characters in the film, the Cheshire Cat. Burton reinvents the fairytale landscape of Wonderland to resemble a strange mix between Avatars Pandora and the misty, typically Gothic woodlands of Sleepy Hollow. The narrative is inter-cut with action scenes, some which thrill and others which fall flat. Alice chasing the rabbit and being chased by what looked like a mutant bulldog make the cut, but the final battle that plays out on the chessboard plain at the climax is wholly unconvincing and laboured.

Alices battle with the Jabberwocky is reminiscent of the pseudo-epic battles in The Chronicles of Narnia neither Alice nor the kids in Narnia look ready to fight anything, let alone a fire breathing dragon. The White Queen, played by Anna Hathway glides and tiptoes from pillar to post in a fashion that gets to be annoying after a point. Her role is forgettable and does not impact the movie in any way.

Of the main cast, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, seasoned Burton-heads, manage to hold their own and dish out good performances but its the animated characters that steal the show. Tweedledee and Tweedledum, Bayard the bloodhound, White Rabbit, Dormouse and as mentioned before, Cheshire Cat and Absolem, hold the movie together and fit the fantastic world of Wonderland (or Underland) perfectly. They add the touches of humour without which this movie would be incomplete and something of a bore. But all said and done, Burton adaptation of this classic is entertaining. Even if it falls short in certain areas, one cant help but enjoy the ride.

But heres the real question Is it up to Burtons high standards The answer is no. Where this movie goes wrong is that its neither here nor there neither convincingly dark nor convincingly light. Burton seems to only take a half-step in the direction of the former, as if trying to forcibly retain some of the core elements of the original story while feeding in little episodes of darkness and cruelty. It would probably have been more memorable if he went all out with it and turning the story on its head. That being said, this movie is a big step up from his previous offering, the insufferable Sweeney Todd.