Burton's 'Alice' 'curiouser and curiouser,' Depp still hot
I've got to admit that I’ve never been a big fan of the "Alice in Wonderland" story. There — I said it. It was just too weird and nonsensical to keep my attention.
I’ve seen several versions of "Alice" over the years, each more "curiouser and curiouser," but still, none of them made much sense — until now.
This may be the genius of Tim Burton’s version — that the darn thing actually flows from beginning to end. Now I know it mixes and matches several of the Alice stories into one — and I have no problem with that — but story purists may bristle. Let ’em.
In this version, Alice Kingsley (Mia Wasikowska) is now 19. She is practically being forced to get engaged to this snobby son of nobility and, frankly, she’d rather not. She just doesn’t have the guts to say, "I’ll pass, thanks."
So she wanders off, leaving Lord Gasbag to his utter humiliation before their assembled family and friends. She’s off to chase after a white rabbit in a waistcoat and carrying a large pocket watch, who keeps pointing at it like she’s late for an appointment. Who wouldn’t be curious, right?
Well, of course, she falls down the hole, lands in "the room" and enters "Underland," but thinks she’s dreaming. All of the creatures quiz her, wanting to know if she is the REAL Alice, suggesting she’s been there before, but she has no recollection of a previous visit.
She meets the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) at the March Hare’s Unbirthday party and learns she has a vital function to perform so that Underland can live in peace once again.
Let me just say this about Johnny Depp. This guy is so hot right now, I heard a collective sigh from all of the women and a few of the men when he appeared onscreen for the first time. Not as the suave Capt. Jack or the steely-eyed John Dillinger, but as a goofy-looking, demented Carrot Top with pasty-white skin, uneven yellow eyes and a gapped-tooth grin. Are you kidding me? And STILL the audience fawned?
The supporting cast members were exceptional, too, from Alan Rickman’s nonchalant blue caterpillar to Helena Bonham Carter’s spoiled-brat Red Queen, and from Stephen Fry’s vaporous Cheshire cat to the usually annoying Crispin Glover as Stayne — Knave of Hearts (who actually wasn’t annoying).
There’s humor (loved the frogs), some frightening moments (the Bandersnatch and the Jabberwocky), but ultimately this is a female-empowerment movie that says it’s OK to be a little off-the-wall.
I liked that, but I’m worried that little kids (say under 6) might find some of this a little too dark and terrifying. After all, it is Tim Burton and he does make grown-up fantasy. So be forewarned.
Other than that and a silly little CGI dance near the end that seemed out-of-place, I quite enjoyed this "Alice in Wonderland" — maybe for the first time ever.
