Back In Wonderland

Yes people, yes. We cambe back to Wonderland last Friday, and I’m sure you know why. Of course, I’m talking about Tim Burton‘s Alice In Wonderland (2010) which hit theatres last weekend and its success is no surprise.

I’m quite glad to say that after I left the cinema, I was delighted. The movie is not only well written and acted, but also strongly structured and with gorgeous special effects. Burton’s film does not tell us the original story written by Lewis Carroll. Actually, it is an extension of the two novels: Alice In Wonderland and Through The Looking-Glass and combines elements from both stories and plots. Let’s begin with our review of this charming film.

Alice Kingsley is now 19 years old and she is taken by her mother to a party at a Victorian manor shortly after the death of her father. There, she realizes that the formal event is her engagement party with the Ascot’s family son, who know own her father’s company. She begins to see the White Rabbit, Nivens McTwisp, around the mansion’s gardens and, unsure of how to reply to Hamish’s proposal, she follows the rabbit and falls down a rabbit hole into Underland, a bizarre world she previously visited as a child, although she has no memory of it.

We learn that during Alice’s absence, Iracebeth, The Red Queen, stole the crown of Underland from her younger sister Mirana, The White Queen; and that according to the Oraculum (a sort of Bible), Alice is supposed to slay the Red Queen’s guardian, the Jabberwocky, on the Frabjous Day using the Vorpal Sword, but thanks to a misunderstanding of words from Absolem the Caterpillar makes everyone believe that Alice is the wrong one. So, Alice begins with her journey of trying to find who she really is, and to understand what she has to do.

Basically, Underland is full of colours, tastes and magical characters which means: lots and lots of visual and special effects. The acting is quite good but somehow it still makes you want something more. Mia Wasikowska is the young woman in charge of portraying our heroine, and she perfectly fits the role of Alice with her pale face and her distant voice. Something funny about her is the number of dresses she uses throughout the entire film, with each dress worse than the previous one.

Famous actor Johnny Depp plays the Mad Hatter and offers us one of his most bizarre performances, although not as humourous as some others we have seen from him. Helena Boham Carter plays the Red Queen, and her head is increased in size by three times on screen. Her personality is quite moody and some of her scenes are really, really funny. Anne Hathaway is the White Queen, who is very excentric and dramatic and moves with exaggerated court manners. Her scenes are fantastic and introduce you to a world where white is the main colour (be careful with your eyes).

Stephen Fry plays the voice of Chessure, the Chesire Cat. Alan Rickman is Absolem, The Caterpillar. Tweedledum and Tweedledee, are both played by Matt Lucas and Crispin Glover is Stayne, the Knave Of Hearts.

We can say that this film acomplishes its objective, which is: to entertain. It has some really good scenes, and unforgettable moments, as well as memorable characters, like March Hare and Bayard. I do recommend you to see the movie, because it will tell you a tale you don’t really know. Some visual effects are dark, odd and even scary, while some others are full of joy and colours. Still, I do not recommend the 3-D version for those who (like me) use glasses, haha, you’ll end up dizzy, really dizzy.

And by the way, its funny that some actors that appear in this movie, appear too in Harry Potter films, did you notice that? Check it out: Helena Boham Carter, Alan Rickman, Tymothy Spall, Imelda Staunton and Frances de la Tour.

The Ryder gives Alice In Wonderland (2010) a 4.5 ranking out of 5.

Say, "Chessuuuuuuuuuuuur"