By Angela Ortiz/reporter
Three legends in storytelling influenced the latest re-creation of Alice in Wonderland.
Walt Disney, Lewis Carroll and Tim Burton view the story in very different ways, leading to why the recent film is less than spectacular. Burton’s Gothic tendencies, Carroll’s zaniness and Disney’s wholesome family values in the end leave the film disengaging and a let down for such high expectations.
The film was not a total disappointment. It was quite entertaining and told a different story than we are used to.
The story begins with Alice trying desperately to get out of an unwanted engagement party. Her spontaneous, adventurous side gets the best of her, and she curiously follows a rabbit into a hole. She finds herself in the middle of a dark, dangerous world called Underland instead of Wonderland.
Alice runs into many wild characters along the way, mostly played by large-name actors. The most recognized Alice characters are the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), the evil Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) and the innocent White Queen (Anne Hathaway). Because the film is the seventh partnership between Depp and Burton and because Bonham-Carter and Burton have been in a nine-year relationship and share a child, these gifted actors knew exactly how to portray their parts on screen to complement Burton’s vision. Newcomer Mia Wasikowska was the perfect fit for Alice.
The 3-D effects did not reflect Burton as an artist. Prior to Avatar, the 3-D effects would have impressed children and adults alike. But if one has seen Avatar, the comparison is inevitable. The inferiority can be blamed on not filming with 3-D cameras. The process of converting 2-D to 3-D was added in post-production.
None of the negative factors of the film kept it from being in the No. 1 spot opening weekend. Alice in Wonderland is the biggest hit of the year so far. The film has earned $293 million in the U.S. alone. It broke box office records and has its moments of delight, humor and suspense.
It still is a must-see at the movies. You would be mad not to go. As Alice’s father always said, “All the best people are.”
