New adventure in Wonderland ‘a feast for the eyes’

This is what the fans have been waiting for. “Alice In Wonderland” may not be quite as flawless as some of his other projects, but it is by far Tim Burton’s best example of a film that applauds the essence of a true craftsman. All the magic, all the visual wonder, and all the gaudy costumes make it feel like a living, breathing piece of art. And with a little help from his long-time companion Johnny Depp, the master of gothic cinema has turned this beloved classic into an epic fantasy. The result is simply a feast for the eyes and the imagination.

We already know the original story of sweet little Alice and how she stumbled into the magical realms of Wonderland, but that’s only the first half. Now we see her ten years later at the age of 19. Her father has recently passed away, and a young son of royal family is about to propose to her at the eve of a special celebration.

In the first reel, we see Alice (Mia Wasikowska) flee the party without answering his big question, and as she follows a white rabbit through a maze (her backyard, I assume), it’s only a matter of time before the curious angel stumbles into a world she could only remember in her dreams. I guess I don’t even need to hint on the fact that this rabbit was wearing a waistcoat with a pocket watch in his hand. But anyway, upon her return to the magical kingdom, Alice soon realizes that much has changed, and not for the better. Apparently she misheard her friends when they were pronouncing the name of the place a decade earlier. She thought it was called “Wonderland,” and while most of the inhabitants still refer to it as such, it’s actual name is “Underland.”

As soon as Alice arrives, she is reunited with a couple of familiar characters who are just as delightful as they were ten years before. There’s Dormouse (Barbara Windsor), Absolem the caterpillar (Alan Rickman), a Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry), and of course the ever-so-funny Mad Hatter (Depp) who must convince Alice that she is the only one capable of challenging the evil Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), and her Jabberwock.

Even when they’ve gone their separate ways between projects, Depp and Burton have both always maintained a certain niche of quirkiness that makes them such a perfect match. Burton never fails to make an impression with his style, and Depp never ceases to amaze us with his ability to embody any character that awaits his portrayal.

Using the same unique form that makes all of his characters stand out, Depp brings a special “outsider” approach to the Mad Hatter. On paper it probably would have been a simple supporting role for anyone willing to spend two hours in the make-up chair every morning, but this goes way beyond having shiny green eyes and flashy red hair. Depp sells the Hatter as a friendly victim of the past who now suffers from mercury poisoning. This disease goes hand-in-hand with being a “hat-maker,” but to see a man physically change his appearance as a reflection of his own shattered mood is an aspect that only Depp could serve as sweet as it looks in 3-D.

Now, when I saw the first teaser for Burton’s reboot, I have to say, I was a little skeptical about how the film would turn out. My thought was that this is supposed to be a film about a young girl lost in a fantasy world. So then why is the Mad Hatter covering all the posters and magazines? Hollywood marketers are such scroungers when it comes to money, but even if it was meant to be a reputation strategy, Burton still has plenty to surprise you with. Her name is Wasikowska, and after seeing her play a suicidal gymnast in a few episodes of “In Treatment,” my only thought at this point is that if playing a matured version of Alice is any indication, then this young actress is well on her way … enough said.

Amidst all of its visual glory, the remaining parts to this adventure play out on a typical note that pretty much obeys the formula of any film sponsored by Disney. If it’s garnered mostly towards children, older viewers can’t be too disappointed with a generic ending, and it’s through this obligation that “Wonderland” loses a slight edge of steam. You see it, and you cherish every last moment of it. But once it’s over … it’s over. Oh well; if Burton ever had to make a choice between “astonishing” and “moving,” I don’t think (based on his resume) the first of the two ever came second on the priority list. And that’s perfectly okay when you are the master of your own craft.

Grade: A-

Posted by Chris Moskaly on Mar 5 2010. Filed under Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry