ALICE IN WONDERLAND MOVIE REVIEW: NOT SUFFICIENTLY GOTHIC, NOR TIM BURTON’S BEST. COSPLAYING AS WONDERLAND CHARACTERS FOR OPENING NIGHT.
It’s too bad there wasn’t a star-studded premiere in LA for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland — but we made do by dressing up (with a group of Mad Hatters) for the midnight opening. I did a tribute to the Queen of Hearts. Yukiro went as the love-child of Goth Alice and the White Rabbit.
Our friends were the only other movie-goers who wore costumes — boo!
I’m glad I didn’t have high expectations, or I would have been sorely disappointed. If a regular Hollywood director made this movie, I’d give it a B or B+: Alice in Wonderland was entertaining, with adequate CGI/3D and a decent narrative (until the very end).
But I expect more from Gothic genius Tim Burton — especially after seeing his retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art. Alice didn’t take me away to a whimsical, twisted new world (like Corpse Bride or Edward Scissorhands). I wasn’t moved by the graphics (Avatar’s glowing jungle is far better). And I didn’t feel for the characters. In fact, the animal design and human makeup were pretty lousy.
There were shining moments, especially when the Red Queen held court. I laughed when she called for Tweedle-Dee and Dum: “Say something. Speak! Whee-hee-hee, I love my fat boys.” And the part when she liked “Um” because “anyone with a big head is welcome in this court!”
Your blogger commands: “Off with his head!” I didn’t feel I wasted money on the ticket — the movie is satisfying enough for a night out — but considering that Burton was at the helm, it could have been better conceived and executed. Let’s just say a shaky YouTube version starring the J-Goth spooks and Adventure Team would be more of a mad tea party, in my humble opinion!
What did you think of Alice in Wonderland? What are your expectations for the film?
Song of the Day #320: Carol Channing’s song and dance in the 1985 version of Alice in Wonderland. Now THIS is brilliance! (You must watch this clip…)
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LA CARMINA
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I didn’t think it was bad at all. I agree with what you say, but I actually like the more fantasy “not-so-goth” -touch to the film. The backgrounds were also pretty and the acting was almost flawless. Although what’s going on with the Make-up????!!!
I liked it! Didn’t expect much of a gothic factor as Alice is a fantasy movie after all. I loved the dresses Alice wore though :3
THE CHESHIRE CAT WAS MY FAVORITE :D
http://lycheemilktea.wordpress.com/2010/03/06/curiouser-and-curiouser/
I liked how her dresses kept changing with her sizes. :)
yes! the costume design was really pretty :DD
I just got back from a Lolita meet-up where we saw the movie and went out for tea. I’m assuming y’all got mobbed by people at the theatre wanting pictures just like we were. (Does it really not occur to people that Alice in Wonderland+Tim Burton provides a great opportunity to dress up?)
For me, the movie is what my friend would call “bubblegum for the mind” – sweet and sugary but not a lot of substance. While it was pretty to look at and the acting was great (loved Helena Bonham Carter), I felt like Mr. Burton was being reined in by Disney execs. There were subtle hints of darkness and complexity, especially with the White Queen, that I would have liked to see developed further. I enjoyed the movie, but I definitely expected something darker…or at least trippier.
HB Carter was my favorite in this film. We loved the way the White Queen pranced around with fingers aloft!
I didn't think it was bad at all. I agree with what you say, but I actually like the more fantasy “not-so-goth” -touch to the film. The backgrounds were also pretty and the acting was almost flawless. Although what's going on with the Make-up????!!!
I liked it! Didn't expect much of a gothic factor as Alice is a fantasy movie after all. I loved the dresses Alice wore though :3
THE CHESHIRE CAT WAS MY FAVORITE :D
http://lycheemilktea.wordpress.com/2010/03/06/c…
I just got back from a Lolita meet-up where we saw the movie and went out for tea. I'm assuming y'all got mobbed by people at the theatre wanting pictures just like we were. (Does it really not occur to people that Alice in Wonderland+Tim Burton provides a great opportunity to dress up?)
For me, the movie is what my friend would call “bubblegum for the mind” – sweet and sugary but not a lot of substance. While it was pretty to look at and the acting was great (loved Helena Bonham Carter), I felt like Mr. Burton was being reined in by Disney execs. There were subtle hints of darkness and complexity, especially with the White Queen, that I would have liked to see developed further. I enjoyed the movie, but I definitely expected something darker…or at least trippier.
I love Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, but I feel they are becoming so predictable in what they do..i mean they still do what they do very well, just so predictable …really, all in all, for me the best Alice in Wonderland will always be the old old animated Disney version that I watched obsessively as a kid..just doesn’t need improved upon for me…”if I had a world of my own everything would be nonsense” preach it true Alice, preach it true! :)
I heard Burton might tackle Sleeping Beauty next, from the perspective of Maleficent. Sigh… if he does, he better not screw it up!
I just saw the film last night at around midnight, and I loved it so much!
It had that Tim Burton feel to it, definitely. It was a great contrast to the original, while still keeping to the original. The only thing that made me kind of @_@ <— was the make-up (as Yukiro said). I liked the Mad Hatter's Make-up and the White Queen, but… the Queen of Hearts? She looked so funny with large head xD
I "cosplayed" as "Dark Alice" a.k.a. just gothic lolita with a Tim Burton inspired look for my make-up. It was so much fun!
Ohhh sounds like you had an incredible costume! <3
I loved it and didn’t want to come out of the make believe world at all, and was so disappointed when she went back in the tree cos I knew she was going back to the normal world. I thought Depp was superb – including his make-up and attire.
I was a bit disappointed in the White Queen – Hathaway was just being a white Morticia Adams, and I think someone else could’ve done her role better, and it was HER make-up that was bland, not the Queen of Hearts, who was amazing. Although, Bonham Carter was clearly chanelling Miranda Richardson’s Queenie from Black Adder – perhaps she should have done the role. But Helena always makes me laugh. So many other characters who played their parts wonderfully. I will definitely see it again.
*** Spoiler alert…. **** Yukiro and I thought the ending was pretty wacky, but at least she made the right decision — she went away and got herself an Asian boy!
“– she went away and got herself an Asian boy!” so true haha!!! :P xoxo caro
tee hee! was fun seeing you.
In an interview Tim Burton had stated that he never really connected with Alice in Wonderland. Perhaps that’s why the movie wasn’t so good.
Depp had issues finding ground for the Hatter as well. I did, however, enjoy the fact White Queen was obviously holding back her darker side.
Ahh, that sounds right to me… I didn’t think he really put his soul into this one.
Ahh, that sounds right to me… I didn’t think he really put his soul into this one.
well a B is fair. it was good but just good. it was lacking body and the makeup couldve been better. it felt like BC and Depp carried it with their moments onscreen; more so BC honestly. that being the case the rest of the time it felt lacking that… “umph” ya know? and arghhhhhh white queen=fail. it being Burton I honestly expected a bit more. and 3d just didnt even matter really
I hope to be able to see it soon!
& in Avatar they had 14 years to work on the graphics & such…with more time on Alice in wonderland like that I’ll bet the graphics coulda been amazing *haha* but then I’d have to wait longer =( lol
I love Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, but I feel they are becoming so predictable in what they do..i mean they still do what they do very well, just so predictable …really, all in all, for me the best Alice in Wonderland will always be the old old animated Disney version that I watched obsessively as a kid..just doesn't need improved upon for me…”if I had a world of my own everything would be nonsense” preach it true Alice, preach it true! :)
I just saw the film last night at around midnight, and I loved it so much!
It had that Tim Burton feel to it, definitely. It was a great contrast to the original, while still keeping to the original. The only thing that made me kind of @_@ <— was the make-up (as Yukiro said). I liked the Mad Hatter's Make-up and the White Queen, but… the Queen of Hearts? She looked so funny with large head xD
I “cosplayed” as “Dark Alice” a.k.a. just gothic lolita with a Tim Burton inspired look for my make-up. It was so much fun!
I loved it and didn't want to come out of the make believe world at all, and was so disappointed when she went back in the tree cos I knew she was going back to the normal world. I thought Depp was superb – including his make-up and attire.
I was a bit disappointed in the White Queen – Hathaway was just being a white Morticia Adams, and I think someone else could've done her role better, and it was HER make-up that was bland, not the Queen of Hearts, who was amazing. Although, Bonham Carter was clearly chanelling Miranda Richardson's Queenie from Black Adder – perhaps she should have done the role. But Helena always makes me laugh. So many other characters who played their parts wonderfully. I will definitely see it again.
In an interview Tim Burton had stated that he never really connected with Alice in Wonderland. Perhaps that's why the movie wasn't so good.
Depp had issues finding ground for the Hatter as well. I did, however, enjoy the fact White Queen was obviously holding back her darker side.
well a B is fair. it was good but just good. it was lacking body and the makeup couldve been better. it felt like BC and Depp carried it with their moments onscreen; more so BC honestly. that being the case the rest of the time it felt lacking that… “umph” ya know? and arghhhhhh white queen=fail. it being Burton I honestly expected a bit more. and 3d just didnt even matter really
I hope to be able to see it soon!
& in Avatar they had 14 years to work on the graphics & such…with more time on Alice in wonderland like that I'll bet the graphics coulda been amazing *haha* but then I'd have to wait longer =( lol
“I agree, I thought it was going to be a bit darker”
It wasn’t one of Burtonss best.
That makes me sad in the face. Tim Burton has made a few flops, in my opinion. Big Fish, for instance. However, Sweeny Todd was just so perfect, I had hoped that this would be too. Oh well, I”m still going to go see it in the cinema!
I haven’t seen it.. Not sure I want too.
I like the IDEA of Alice In Wonderland but I don’t like the Disney movie, got a bit bored with the boom, and the ad for Tim Burton’s really turned me off! It’s all cheesy, ugly, 3d/cgi.
I enjoy parodies and fanart/comics though..
that’s the problem with expectations it’s awfully hard to full fill them :( tho I’m a huge fan of Burton and I did enjoyed the movie badly!!! not to mention that I totally drooled over the Mad Hatter ♥ , it could have been much better… true…
xoxo,
I liked it but I expected it to be a darker interpretation I have the strangest feeling Disney set too many rules on what to do. It was good but it could have been better
by boom I mean book, and by Disney movie I mean the cartoon version.
I don’t like the character design, make-up or cgi from the pics I’ve seen.
Mad Hatter isn’t hot enough… I like scruffy, not pastey with bright pink lips and crazy ginger hair.
I thought the movie was quite good; it did a good job of seaming the two separate stories into one and giving an explanation as to what happened to Alice after her first tumble down the rabbit hole. However, I was disappointed that the beautiful scenery we saw in the first moments of Wonderland weren’t carried through the film and Anne Hathaway’s White Queen fell flat because of how she chose to present her character; the queen forces herself into a mold but this comes off as the actress doing really bad acting. I think you should look at the film as a stand alone project and not compare it to Lewis Carroll’s work because it isn’t an adaption, it’s an interpretation.
With that being said, I thought the Mad Hatter worked quite well for this film.
It seems like most people didn’t like the White Queen’s acting (we hated her eyebrows!). I thought the girl who played Alice did an excellent job, as did HB Carter and Crispin Glover. I think as a new interpretation of Alice, the movie is not bad at all (B or B+). But considering the levels Tim Burton is capable of reaching… :|
Ahh, that sounds right to me… I didn't think he really put his soul into this one.
Ahh, that sounds right to me… I didn't think he really put his soul into this one.
I liked it!!!! my favorite dress Alice wore was the red dress. I think for Halloween this year I’m going to make the dress!!!! ^^
Oooh, that would be a fun dress to make… maybe with different types of handkerchiefs!
*** Spoiler alert…. **** Yukiro and I thought the ending was pretty wacky, but at least she made the right decision — she went away and got herself an Asian boy!
Ohhh sounds like you had an incredible costume! <3
I heard Burton might tackle Sleeping Beauty next, from the perspective of Maleficent. Sigh… if he does, he better not screw it up!
HB Carter was my favorite in this film. We loved the way the White Queen pranced around with fingers aloft!
I liked how her dresses kept changing with her sizes. :)
:( I so wanted it to be good…
totally agree.. just saw it
still to see it. i work in the cinema so will see lots of it today
Hey, don’t spoil it for me, I’m going to see it with the MTL lolitas tomorrow night! Too bad my dress isn’t ready! (son’s bday)
“– she went away and got herself an Asian boy!” so true haha!!! :P xoxo caro
just saw it, have to agree with you. I felt it was more Disney than Burton.
“I agree, I thought it was going to be a bit darker”
It wasn't one of Burtonss best.
tee hee! was fun seeing you.
That makes me sad in the face. Tim Burton has made a few flops, in my opinion. Big Fish, for instance. However, Sweeny Todd was just so perfect, I had hoped that this would be too. Oh well, I”m still going to go see it in the cinema!
I haven't seen it.. Not sure I want too.
I like the IDEA of Alice In Wonderland but I don't like the Disney movie, got a bit bored with the boom, and the ad for Tim Burton's really turned me off! It's all cheesy, ugly, 3d/cgi.
I enjoy parodies and fanart/comics though..
that's the problem with expectations it's awfully hard to full fill them :( tho I'm a huge fan of Burton and I did enjoyed the movie badly!!! not to mention that I totally drooled over the Mad Hatter ♥ , it could have been much better… true…
xoxo,
I liked it but I expected it to be a darker interpretation I have the strangest feeling Disney set too many rules on what to do. It was good but it could have been better
by boom I mean book, and by Disney movie I mean the cartoon version.
I don't like the character design, make-up or cgi from the pics I've seen.
Mad Hatter isn't hot enough… I like scruffy, not pastey with bright pink lips and crazy ginger hair.
I thought the movie was quite good; it did a good job of seaming the two separate stories into one and giving an explanation as to what happened to Alice after her first tumble down the rabbit hole. However, I was disappointed that the beautiful scenery we saw in the first moments of Wonderland weren't carried through the film and Anne Hathaway's White Queen fell flat because of how she chose to present her character; the queen forces herself into a mold but this comes off as the actress doing really bad acting. I think you should look at the film as a stand alone project and not compare it to Lewis Carroll's work because it isn't an adaption, it's an interpretation.
With that being said, I thought the Mad Hatter worked quite well for this film.
It seems like most people didn't like the White Queen's acting (we hated her eyebrows!). I thought the girl who played Alice did an excellent job, as did HB Carter and Crispin Glover. I think as a new interpretation of Alice, the movie is not bad at all (B or B+). But considering the levels Tim Burton is capable of reaching… :|
I liked it!!!! my favorite dress Alice wore was the red dress. I think for Halloween this year I'm going to make the dress!!!! ^^
yes! the costume design was really pretty :DD
:( I so wanted it to be good…
totally agree.. just saw it
still to see it. i work in the cinema so will see lots of it today
Hey, don't spoil it for me, I'm going to see it with the MTL lolitas tomorrow night! Too bad my dress isn't ready! (son's bday)
I haven’t seen it yet, but I think (judging by trailers and official images etc.) the make-up looks like it’s just supposed to be super exaggerated. Personally I think it fits with the image that they’re trying to create, it all fits together and makes everything that bit more wacky. It’s so flashy and exaggerated, overdone, in so many colours. It works for me, from what I’ve seen.
The movie does, sadly, also seem like “another Disney movie”, on some level… but I will have to wait and see for myself.
I’d be interested to hear what you think. It’s certainly more Disney and less Burton… very little Burton, imo…
I haven't seen it yet, but I think (judging by trailers and official images etc.) the make-up looks like it's just supposed to be super exaggerated. Personally I think it fits with the image that they're trying to create, it all fits together and makes everything that bit more wacky. It's so flashy and exaggerated, overdone, in so many colours. It works for me, from what I've seen.
The movie does, sadly, also seem like “another Disney movie”, on some level… but I will have to wait and see for myself.
I haven’t seen the movie yet so I can’t really say anything lol
Interesting. I haven’t seen it but I went to the MOMA exhibit yesterday so I started to form expectations… Oh well!
I also went to the MoMA exhibit and LOVED it – http://lacarmina.com/2010/01/tim-burton-retrospective-at-nyc-museum-of-modern-art-exhibit-of-goth-drawings-costumes-from-edward-scissorhands-director/
which is why I was disappointed!
Ah, Crispin was so fantastic… Of course, he always is. Excellent comedic timing and he makes the funniest faces.
I had a lot of fun meeting up with everyone. Until next time~~ ;___;
We’ll see you soon!! Crispin, sigh… :)
We’ll see you soon!! Crispin, sigh… :)
I haven't seen the movie yet so I can't really say anything lol
Interesting. I haven't seen it but I went to the MOMA exhibit yesterday so I started to form expectations… Oh well!
I also went to the MoMA exhibit and LOVED it – http://lacarmina.com/2010/01/tim-burto…
which is why I was disappointed!
Ah, Crispin was so fantastic… Of course, he always is. Excellent comedic timing and he makes the funniest faces.
I had a lot of fun meeting up with everyone. Until next time~~ ;___;
Oooh, that would be a fun dress to make… maybe with different types of handkerchiefs!
We'll see you soon!! Crispin, sigh… :)
We'll see you soon!! Crispin, sigh… :)
I'd be interested to hear what you think. It's certainly more Disney and less Burton… very little Burton, imo…
Oh, okay. I’m going to have think twice before watching this in the theaters…. I thought it would AWESOME.
Oh, okay. I'm going to have think twice before watching this in the theaters…. I thought it would AWESOME.