Alice in Wonderland mashes together the original fairy tale and sequel Through the Looking Glass in combination with Tim Burton’s own imagination in a 3D adventure that is whimsical and charming.
New Alice, Same Great Story
3D was not necessary, but was much appreciated for Tim Burton’s rendition of the late 19th century fairy tale Alice in Wonderland. In Burton’s rendition, Alice is older and is proposed to by a boring red haired man who could resemble the Mad Hatter (Almost. Of course, that is minus the makeup and bushy eyebrows). Alice takes a moment to think before saying yes, and falls down a rabbit hole and into “Underland.”Alice must have misunderstood as a child and thought the characters were saying “wonderland” instead.
Underland Under Attack
The creatures of Underland know Alice, and this taller, older girl before them is not Alice. Even though she had visited Underland in her childhood, she had no clear memory of the place; her adventures had seemed like a dream to her. Alice, who is convinced throughout the movie that she is dreaming, but sets out to try to help save Underland from the Red Queen’s (Helen Bonham Carter) wicked rule. Alice’s adventures in Underland re-introduce favorite characters from the original like Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum as well as the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) and the Cheshire Cat. Only the Mad Hatter seems to believe she is the real Alice and can help save them from the Red Queen.
The Mad Hatter is Madder than Ever
Johnny Depp’s portrayal of the Mad Hatter is not as animated as that of the original tale and previous films. Depp’s version of the Mad Hatter is a bit darker and undoubtedly insane with his bright red-orange hair and bushy eyebrows. Depp's Hatter possibly suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (from his previous employment with the Red Queen) and has a slippery accent that is on-again off-again. All of these things make the Mad Hatter seem, well, mad. Johnny Depp has succeeded in bringing new depth and interest to a character readers of all ages have loved.
Overall, Alice is a stunning success. Purists may be displeased because it is not “true” to the original. However, Tim Burton’s rendition breathes new life into the story and brings Alice into the 21st century. Alice in Wonderland will be a fun adventure whether seen in 2D or 3D, but 3D adds a little something extra. No matter which dimension chosen to watch Alice in, it is worth the trip.
Chassity Beals - I am currently a Communications major and MAJOR movie enthusiast. I have been writing articles as well as short stories and poems since ...
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