ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Written by Joseph B. Mauceri   
RELEASING: WALT DISNEY PICTURES
SYNOPSIS: A 19-year-old Alice, on the verge of her accepting a marriage proposal, returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks on a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen’s reign of terror. (Provided by studio)


CREW: Director - Tim Burton; Screenplay - Linda Woolverton; Based on the novels “Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland” & “Through The Looking Glass” - Lewis Carroll; Producers - Richard D. Zanuck, Suzanne Todd, Jennifer Todd, & Joe Roth; Cinematography - Dariusz Wolski, ASC; Music - Danny Elfman; Production Designer - Robert Stromberg; Editor - Chris Lebenzon, A.C.E.; Costume Designer - Colleen Atwood; Senior Visual Effects Supervisor - Ken Ralston; Visual Effects Supervisors - Sean Phillips & Carey Villegas; Visual Effects - Sony Pictures Imageworks INC., CafeFX, Matte World Digital, In-Three, INC., and Sassoon Film Design.

CAST: Mad Hatter… JOHNNY DEPP; Alice… MIA WASIKOWSKA; Red Queen… HELENA BONHAM CARTER; White Queen… ANNE HATHAWAY; Stayne – Knave of Hearts… CRISPIN GLOVER; Tweedledee/Tweedledum… MATT LUCAS; White Rabbit… MICHAEL SHEEN; Cheshire Cat… STEPHEN FRY; Blue Caterpillar… ALAN RICKMAN; Dormouse… BARBARA WINDSOR; March Hare… PAUL WHITEHOUSE; Bayard… TIMOTHY SPALL.

OFFICIAL WEB SITE: www. disney.com/wonderland
**"REEL" Value:
Story:                       
$12.49
Direction:                 
$12.50
Acting:                    
$12.50
Editing:                   
$12.50
Production Design:
$12.50
Special Effects:     
$12.50
Score/Music:         
$12.50
Costumes:
$12.50
VALUE:
$12.50
- The only fault for me with Burton’s ALICE IN WONDERLAN is the title. It is a tad of a misnomer as this film is not a new adaptation of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” nor is it a combination of that novel with “Through the Looking Glass.” Linda Woolverton’s screenplay is a hybrid of author Lewis Carroll’s elements, with a slight dramatic feel reminiscent of Frank Beddor’s series “The Looking Glass Wars.” While the film carriers a PG rating there is an underlying darkness to Underland, aka Wonderland, another modification on the original tale. Woolverton turns Alice’s third adventure to Carroll’s mythological world into an epic that feels like it has more in common with Lewis’s Narnia or Baum’s “Wizard of Oz.” Alice must save Underland from the tyrannical rule of the Red Queen, defeat the ferocious Jabberwocky, and help the White Queen regain her rightful throne. A well thought out and constructed plot, yet not as inventive or original.

Lifting ALICE IN WONDERLAND beyond the limitations of the plot is the excellent dialogue, the superb performances, and the unique direction and visual styling of Tim Burton. I was excited to see ALICE due to the prospects of Burton and Depp’s work. With a performance enhanced by visuals and an amazing new character creation, Depp takes the Mad Hatter into new realms of lunacy with a character that channels Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs meets William Wallace. However, Depp reigns in the character from the precipice of “PG-13” rating. Next on the ladder of strangeness, Helena Bonham Carter has wicked memorable moments. Add Crispin Glover into the mix and you’ll know you’re not in Disney’s original Wonderland!

Tim Burton applies his unique vision to Carroll’s universe, pushing the envelope of the artistically bizarre. He remolds these iconic images into spectacularly perilous things, from the plants to the inhabitants of Wonderland. The Cheshire Cat’s smile has pointed teeth, The Red Queen’s moat is stocked with the head’s of her victims, a deranged look to the hatter’s eyes, and menacing element of the foliage to Underland. Burton balances equally parts richness and the bizarre that comes to life in breathtaking and glorious 3D. The technical 3D wizardry employed to bring Wonderland/Underland off the screen is as good as “Avatar.”

Of his body of work thus far, ALICE IN WONDERLAND is one of my favorite Burton films, counted among “Sweeny Todd,” Batman,” “Ed Wood,” and “Big Fish.” While I admire his other films, cinematically beautiful works of art they are emotionally distant. ALICE IN WONDERLAND is the quintessential Burton film. Burton is at the helm of this ship and talented award winning filmmakers are in the riggings setting course for an emotionally charged and visually arresting exotic land. ALICE IN WONDERLAND is unique among Burton’s credits because at the center of this tale is a gawky heroine with an inner strength. For all its strangeness and beauty, ALICE IN WONDERLAND has a strong character arch that possesses a strong and empowering message for young girls.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND draws to a close as Alice begins her own journey, fully in charge of charting her own course. There is a hint that should this film perform well Alice could be called back to Wonderland/Underland. I’m just concerned that as with Tim Burton’s “Batman,” art will give way to commerce and Wonderland/Underland will become just another soulless franchise. Fortunately, like a true Disney classic Burton’s work will forever be preserved for audience in the Disney vaults, and sometime in the not too distant future available for 3D at home.
** Based on the regular $12.50 ticket prices at a Manhattan theater Mar. 5th, 2010.