After waiting for more than a year, it's finally here. Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. Naturally, I immediately watched it the 1st weekend after it opened. Because of this and that, I watched it twice, two days in a row. First in 3D, and then in the usual 2D.
I'm having mixed feelings on the movie, but I'm so not in the mood to write a decently-composed review. So, I'm gonna do pros and cons.
WARNING: The pro-con list might CONTAIN SPOILERS
Here goes.
Pros
1. The cool visuals, especially in 3D. When Alice first entered the Wonderland, the creatures, the colors, and the fireflies! Beautiful. Of course there's the dependable Burton's haunting swirls on the trees.
2. Burton's version of the characters. Ultra cool make-up (Red Queen, Mad Hatter), and fluorescently cool CGI (Hookah-smoking Caterpillar, Chesire Cat). The Nigella Lawson-inspired White Queen. And Alan Rickman as the Caterpillar! The Chesire Cat is charming too.
3. Mad Hatter. This character needs a special mention. He's the life of every tea party in all of us. Burton's Hatter is also mad, but in a darker, schizo way. People say that there are better days for Johnny Depp, but I actually like him as the Mad Hatter because there's a sad, lonely, Edward Scissorhands quality to it. I definitely like Depp as Hatter better than as Willy Wonka (not crazy about it).
4. No unnecessary romancing. I know the now-grown-up Alice shows a sparkly chemistry with the Hatter in this movie. But I praise the lord so much I sing gospel, for not making the two characters kiss, or show any obvious romancing. Because it would be beyond lame. And I would sue.
Cons
1. The CGI. I did say it's cool. However, I miss the vintage Burton. I want to see the Wonderland done in real life set. I don't care if it looks unreal, it'd still be more original, yet fairytale-esque than CGI. I do admit the magic of CGI is pretty sophisticated, but it's boriiiiing.
2. The plot. So this new Alice movie takes place 13 years after the original Alice. While I appreciate the effort to expand the story, but, come on. Never try to improve on perfection. True, the new one is more understandable and less quirky. But if I want to see something understandable, I'll go watch Shrek. Just like my friend Sisie said, "Why would i wanna watch Alice and felt that i was watching Narnia?"
3. This is Tim Burton we're talking about. Then how come I didn't feel enough haunting quality watching his Alice? The score and the cinematography were too epic, too Hollywood summer movies for me. Especially when Alice was about to slay the Jabberwocky.
4. The scene where Mad Hatter do the futterwacking dance. Totally jump the shark plus nuke the fridge for me. Overdone. The unnecessary effect, trying-to-be-funny music. Earlier in the movie, when the March Hare shows a bit of what futterwacking is all about, I thought it must be cool when Hatter does the jig. Not so.
5. The soundtrack at the end of the movie. Godawful. Come on! We're talking about Alice. And Tim Burton! Haunting, quirky music is needed. Not Avril Lavigne's angsty voice blaring from the speakers.
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So all in all, I feel like Tim Burton is compromising by being more current. For a movie, I'd say Alice in Wonderland is good and entertaining. For an Alice and Tim Burton movie, it's disappointing. Of course that's just me. I better go now, because
"I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!"
