AC17: Random Movie Series Review - Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

There are a lot of problems with Tim Burton's take on the classic fairytale. But I wanted to address something that a lot of people keep thinking about; no the first film is not a remake of Disney's animated film of the same name. The first film is actually what many could call a spiritual successor to the animated film as well as the books. The story is different and it largely takes place in Underland instead of Wonderland. I guess the reason why it has the same name as the animated film is possibly a marketing ploy by Disney who I guess were worried that this wouldn't work out and wanted to give it a name that would make it be as successful as it ended up doing. But anyway let's look at what I like to call these CGI overkill of a film series:



In Wonderland

Following a reoccurring dream of her dearly departed father (played by Marton Csokas), Alice (played by Mia Wasikowska) attends a garden party at the estate of Lord Ascot (played by Tim Pigott-Smith who you might remember from V for Vendetta and the first Johnny English film). There she gets an unwanted marriage proposal from Ascot's son Hamish (played by Leo Bill), but after hearing this and seeing for herself the society that she lives in, she then pursues a giant white rabbit who leads her into you guessed it, the world of Underland (though many may believe it to be Wonderland all the same). Upon arrival and going through the whole shrink and grow scenario, she is soon greeted by an unusual cast of characters who believe she is the one that can fulfil a prophecy of sorts. Believing it to be nothing more than a dream, Alice tries to wake up but must quickly evade a group of playing card soldiers. Before long though, she goes on a journey to try and wake up or to accept her fate and take on the role of "The Right Alice". As visually good as the film is, it has a few problems. I already addressed the big problem of it not being a remake of an old Disney film despite sharing the name. In addition to that, as I mentioned also its a CGI overkill film. There's just too much of it. Also with Johnny Depp's take on the Mad Hatter, its definitely a good take but gets a bit creepy when he keeps changing accents. So overall, the story is fine, the film is a visual spectacle and the cast are good. I just wish the CGI wasn't this big, the film have a more accurate name and people stop thinking its a remake. Its not. 8/10

Through the Looking Glass

So its been three years since Alice (reprised by Mia Wasikowska) was in Underland and has since followed in her father's footsteps to sail the high seas. With trouble brewing at home thanks to her old fiance Hamish (reprised by Leo Bill), Alice then follows a butterfly she recognises as Absolem (reprised by the late Alan Rickman in both films and this film was his last one so it pays tribute to him at the end) who brings her back to Wonderland (this time it is actually Wonderland) through a mirror. There she is greeted by familiar faces who reveal to her that the Mad Hatter (reprised by Johnny Depp) has gone madder than normal due to his family gone missing. With her friends believing the only way to save him is by saving them in the past, Alice is sent to meet a time bending character called Time (played by Borat himself, Sacha Baron Cohen) and begs him to change the past of which he says isn't possible. Alice soon finds a way however and goes back in time where she comes across friends and enemies at different points in time but to ultimately have the Mad Hatter back to his old self. Although it does take place in Wonderland and has more visuals to awe at, the overall film isn't all that great. The idea of time travel isn't at all original and can only be done right in a certain way of which I give credit for the film trying to do so, but not doing a good job of it. It ultimately feels like an attempt for Disney to use the characters again with a story or script that just doesn't live up to the standards of the books of which these films are loosely based on. So yeah, great visuals and a good cast once again. Just not a very good or well thought out story. But hey at least the title is more accurate. 7/10

So yeah in my personal opinion, its not a fantastic pair of films. But I give them credit for at least trying to bring Lewis Carrol's books to the big screen in a live action way, even though neither is as good as those books. Well I guess there's always Tim Burton's Dumbo that we can look forward to and that is actually a remake and not using the same title for the sake of it. 7/10