Alice in Wonderland

I had a great time. The film was off the rails just like the book on which it was based. Mia Wasikowska was extremely convincing, Anne Hathaway was hilarious, and I’m not exactly a fan of hers, Johnny Depp was at his wackiest, Helena Bonham Carter was fantastic ("I need a pig here!” and "Off with their heads!" – brilliant) and Crispin Glover was sleazy to the core. Except for a few minor details, I was satisfied. (11/20/2016)

When the most likeable character in a fairytale is the main villain, it’s impossible to avoid the feeling that something went bloody wrong. Alice in Wonderland is a run-of-the-mill film in every aspect, though some people may appreciate Burton’s signature, even if here it’s neutered. Not me, though. Kids will probably like it, it’s not utterly bad. (06/01/2010)

In the movie theater, the film captivated me, but it was mainly due to the vibrant color spectacle. Who doesn't enjoy a bit of kitsch now and then? But then the film settled in my mind, and I consider it one of the worst that Tim Burton has ever made. Depp found the right role for himself again. He's great, and he's funny. And he's the same as in other recent films, although the mask is different. The visual spectacle is nice, but the titular Alice didn't find the right representative in Mia. In fact, she quite successfully repels me. This is simply something that didn't work for me. Great actors, interesting roles, but why does this have to be an adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland?" Plot-wise, it's just another Hollywood spectacle. (01/06/2014)

I welcome stories derived from the stories embedded in the Disney portfolio that bring something new to the table (such as Snow White or Maleficent, in addition to Alice). That's how Disney came up with their version of Alice in Wonderland in 1951, and almost 60 years later they expanded the story with a sequel. Now we meet Alice, who is no longer a little girl, but a nineteen-year-old girl about to be married. She is once again lured by the white rabbit into the world of the Queen of Hearts, the Hatter, and other strange creatures. Lewis Carroll would probably have been surprised if he had been told in 1865 how inspirational his Alice would be. I don't particularly enjoy Burton's films, some I like more, others less, in the case of Alice in Wonderland I'm satisfied that his group is spot on: Elfman in the recording studio, Depp and Bonham Carter in front of the camera. (08/24/2019)

Burton didn't tell a story, he simply narrated. The most frequently asked question by me was why the film is not fully animated, since everything is as artificial as the interior of a Chinese car. In the overload of "Burton-esque visuals," completely in CGI, everything is lost... except for Mia Wasikowska, who carries the whole confused (!!) mess to the end. This time, that’s liberation. It’s sterile, boring, kitschy, plastic... the perfect repellent for viewer empathy. (05/16/2010)