Director Tim Burton modernizes the beloved Alice In Wonderland story by returning Alice back to Wonderland 13 years older, and, with special effects from 3D technology. This updated adventure also delivers a cautionary tale about the personal cost from “living your life to please others”.
Johnny Depp plays a rather subdued Mad Hatter, but Helena Bonham Carter is wickedly delightful as the “off with their heads” spewing Red Queen. Crispin Clover’s return to the big screen was a pleasant surprise. Yet, the most charming character is the floating, turquoise-striped feline, Chessur, who fortuitously disappears ahead of trouble.
Losing Your Way
Alice (Mia Wasikowska), now a rebellious 19 year-old young woman, arrives at a garden party held at a country estate. Her mother and all the guests are in on the secret that its actually Alice’s engagement party. Just as her repellent admirer, a wealthy Lord, proposes marriage, a rabbit running through the bushes distracts the reluctant bride.
Impetuously, Alice chases after the furry hare, leaving her suitor without an answer. The grown-up Alice once again comes across the rabbit’s hole, yet has no recollection of her past adventures in Wonderland. Nevertheless, she tumbles downs the deep opening.
Finding Your Muchness
Alice's old friends, the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, the March Hare and the Mad Hatter (Depp) have all conspired her return to the whimsical Underland aka Wonderland.
Underland has now fallen under the evil rule of evil Red Queen (Bonham Carter). The head-chopping monarch and her faithful Stayne-Knave of Hearts (Crispin Clover) has banished her sister, the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), from her rightful throne.
A magical calendar foretells that Alice will slay the Red Queen’s monstrous, dragon-like Jabberwocky. This brave act will lead to the White Queen’s restoration. But, this older Alice has lost her “muchness” claims the Mad Hatter, as she refuses even to consider killing the creature.
The Mad Hatter and friends must challenge the raging queen’s reign without her, if they cannot help Alice regain her courage.
The Cast and Crew of Alice In Wonderland
Alice In Wonderland stars Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean films, Public Enemies) as the Mad Hatter, and Mia Wasikowska (Amelia) as 19-year-old Alice.
The cast also includes Anne Hathaway (Get Smart, The Devil Wears Prada) as the White Queen, Helena Bonham Carter (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Terminator Salvation) as the Red Queen, Crispin Glover (Beowulf, 9) as Stayne-Knave of Hearts, and Matt Lucas (Little Britain) as Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
Additional talent providing the voices include Michael Sheen as the White Rabbit, Stephen Fry as the Cheshire Cat, Alan Rickman as Absolem the caterpillar, Timothy Spall as Bayard, Barbara Windsor as the Dormouse, Sir Christopher Lee as the Jabberwocky, Michael Gough as the Dodo, and Paul Whitehouse as the March Hare.
Directed by Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). Screenplay written by Linda Woolverton, based on the writings of Lewis Carroll. Cinematography by Dariusz Wolski. Edited by Chris Lebenzon, A.C.E.,.
Visual effects supervised by five-time Academy Award® winner Ken Ralston. Costumes designed by two-time Oscar® winner Colleen Atwood (Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago, Public Enemies).
Produced by Oscar® and Thalberg winner Richard D. Zanuck, Joe Roth and Suzanne and Jennifer Todd. Executive producers are Peter Tobyansen and Chris Lebenzon.
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, and presented theatrically in Disney Digital 3D™, RealD 3D and IMAX® 3D.
(Running Time: 108 min)
(Rated: PG for fantasy action/violence involving scary images and situations, and for a smoking caterpillar.)
