Alice In Wonderland

[deliasherman]

Or, more accurately, Tim Burton's riff on Alice in Wonderland.  Because if you try to watch, think about, or review this movie as if it were an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's book, 1) you will probably hate it; 2) your head will explode.  And that would be a pity on both counts.  Because, judged strictly on its merits as a fantasy movie inspired by

Comments

[themaskmaker]

Thank you for this review. Your observations let me know what I'm getting into when I go see this.

[ellen_datlow]

You're the very first person I've heard who liked it --and what you say makes me want to see it! I will put all preconceptions of Alice aside when I go see it.

[movingfinger]

The Wall Street Journal described the White Queen as (I paraphrase but as accurately as possible) abstracted, as though wandering around a salon aimlessly waiting for her nails to dry. And I thought, But that's perfect.

[deliasherman]

Well, yes and no. Of all the cast, my sense was that Ann Hathaway got Burton's aesthetic the least. She was always Ann Hathaway dressed up and looking faintly embarrassed, as opposed to HBC and Depp and Crispin Glover, who threw themselves into their roles with abandon and sincerity. You gotta believe, or the magic doesn't work.

[lareinenoire]

Well, having read several reviews, including this one, I've decided I will probably enjoy this and that I don't need to shell out extra for the 3D version. Thank you!

(Also, did Ellen tell you about seeing Thomas Jefferson's library at the LoC? It was magical.)

[deliasherman]

Good call.

Yes, she did. At length--making me even sorrier than I already was that I hadn't come with. I got a lot of work done, though, and that was the important thing. Clearly, we'll have to go back to DC--and see you!

[lareinenoire]

Yes, you should visit! I had promised to show her the Folger but we got there right as they were closing, so we'll need to plan for sometime in the middle of the day next time. And I do know the Curator of Books...;)

[carbonel]

So you're saying that Tim Burton's take on Alice in Wonderland is essentially fan fiction?

[deliasherman]

Well, I suppose that's one way of looking at it.

[keestone]

Nah. Fan fiction tends to have enough respect for the source material to at the very least choose a different title while playing with the universe and characters.