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Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

Tim Burton (Edward Scissorhands, Sweeney Todd) seems the perfect director to bring Lewis Carrol's trippy children's fantasy to life. A combination of live-action and computer animation is used to tell the story of a young girl named Alice (Australian newcomer Mia Wasikowska), who falls down a rabbit hole into a strange world full of strange characters.

Those characters include Johnny Depp (in his sixth collaboration with Burton) as the Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen, Anne Hathaway as the White Queen, Little Britain's Matt Lucas as both Tweedledee and Tweedledum and Crispin Glover as Stayne – Knave of Hearts.

Also screening in 3D at select theatres.

Starring Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Michael Sheen, Alan Rickman, Christopher Lee, Stephen Fry, Crispin Glover, Timothy Spall, Marton Csokas, Noah Taylor, Matt Lucas, Paul Whitehouse

Directed by Tim Burton ('Beetlejuice', 'Batman', 'Edward Scissorhands', 'Ed Wood', 'Mars Attacks', 'Sleepy Hollow', 'Big Fish', 'Sweeny Todd')

Written by Linda Woolverton (based on the novel by Lewis Carroll)

Fantasy, Family, Adventure, Adaptation | 1hr 48mins | Rated (PG) | contains frightening fantasy scenes and violence | Origin: USA

Flicks review

  • Initial glimpses of this film had us worried about a CGI overload. Luckily, this proves irrelevant once immersed in Wonderland, which is so oddball and wacky that it bears little resemblance to photo-reality anyway. Although traces of recognisable Tim Burton style remain (the twisty foliage gives him away), he extends his visual vocabulary, drawing inspiration from sketches in the original publication.

    Nothing is too scary for younger children (sans the disembodied heads floating in a castle moat), although the creepy look of strangely proportioned characters may unnerve some. This is, in fact, a more mature adventure – Alice is now about ten years older (it’s her second trip down the rabbit hole) and the theme touches on leaving childhood behind.

    The film sags, however, when the plot's momentum falters. Mia Wasikowska’s Alice is an empathetic character, a perfect companion for this trip into lunacy, but her purpose in the story isn’t clear enough. Added to the mix are a forgetful performance from Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, and a gleefully tantrum-prone turn from Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen.

    In the end, Burton’s Alice in Wonderland falls somewhere between an interesting, melancholic look at a faded wonderland and a more straightforward Disney blockbuster. The story, whilst awash with visual splendour, doesn’t have the guts to stray too far from formula, leaving the end product more style than substance (or, if the substance is there, it’s lost in a very beautiful wonderland).

    By Andrew Hedley, Flicks.co.nz

 Our Rating       3

The Peoples voice

  • awesome!

     5

    it is a good movie!

    By Blake

  • Way better than you'd think...

     5

    Granted, I went in with low expectations given Burton's recent output. But I loved this - its a children's film that I'd say is awesome for kids and very good for adults. Compare it to Narnia, and countless animated kids film - it's darker, emmersive and much more aligned with traditional fairy tales. I love that there's a lot to read between the lines. Whoever plays Alice is wonderful, and Depp is fantastic - almost Edward Scissorhands-like, Buster Keaton-like.

    There are few aesthetic things I didn't like, such as the playing-card army, and at times the CGI was naff. Also, I saw in 3D which I didn't like, I'd see it regular-D.

    But, I highly recommend.

    By Paul

  • Flat and dull

     2

    I fell asleep through this movie a couple of times. Jonny Depp plays second fiddle to the rest of the cast so isn't allowed to shine, and the rest of the cast just doesn't shine except helen bc who is ok, but can't really pull the excitement from a lacking script. maybe ok for kids, but not for adults.

    By Mr G

  • brilliant

     5

    not only does it have my name in it, it was a great film to watch i loved it!

    By alice

  • Enjoyed It

     5

    Go and see it and make up your own mind :-)

    By ElectricLemon

  • very gd

     5

    By annoymus

  • Watered down Burton

     3

    It's FINE. But to be honest. Burton has lost his muchness. I find it really frustrating that, Edward Scissorhands managed to bring out more darkness, more whimsy, more emotional weight - and make suburbia seem like more of a freakshow than wonderland. I think a lot of Burton's sense of humour is missing from this film. It feels very slick, but at the same time, very empty. To me it was Batman, and not Batman Returns. Hands of Disney, please. I'd also suggest ditching the overuse of CG for his next film. Apparently Danny Elfman scored the film from green screen footage, so - go figure.

    By Marshall

  • Watered down Burton

     3

    It's FINE. But to be honest. Burton has lost his muchness. I find it really frustrating that, Edward Scissorhands managed to bring out more darkness, more whimsy, more emotional weight - and make suburbia seem like more of a freakshow than wonderland. I think a lot of Burton's sense of humour is missing from this film. It feels very slick, but at the same time, very empty. To me it was Batman, and not Batman Returns. Hands of Disney, please. I'd also suggest ditching the overuse of CG for his next film. Apparently Danny Elfman scored the film from green screen footage, so - go figure.

    By Marshall

 Collective Voice    0000000000004.50

Your review has been posted, you have spoken, and for that we thank you. – Ed.

Tell us all that is right or wrong with this flick:

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Press Reviews

  • Empire (UK)

    3 3 out of 5 stars

    Sadly Lewis lite and not without flaws but this is as Burtonesque as one could wish for, a real treat for fans of his twisted imagination and great British character actors.
    Click to read the full review

  • The Hollywood Reporter

    A fantastical romp that proves every bit as transporting as that movie about the blue people of Pandora, his "Alice" is more than just a gorgeous 3D sight to behold.
    Click to read the full review

  • Variety (USA)

    For all its clever design, beguiling creatures and witty actors, the picture feels far more conventional than it should; it's a Disney film illustrated by Burton, rather than a Burton film that happens to be released by Disney.
    Click to read the full review

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