space
head
head head head
Home Contact RSS Feed
COMICS   •   MOVIES   •   MUSIC   •   TELEVISION   •   GAMES   •   BOOKS
Movie Review: Alice in Wonderland 3D
space
The Rub   |  

Alice In Wonderland 3DAlice in Wonderland 3D
Directed by Tim Burton
Starring Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter
Rated PG
Release date: March 5, 2010

Tim Burton has spent the bulk of his career adding films to his resume that should have made us all rejoice in the idea of seeing his version of Alice in Wonderland. His imaginative style had the potential to lend itself to a classic version of the Lewis Carroll books. Technology and animation has caught up to Carroll’s imagination which should have provided an open canvas to bring the cherished story to life. Even in the able hands of someone who should be able to pull it off, it turns out that isn’t such a good thing.

Somewhere in the last few years filmmakers have become clouded with this notion that 3D is some kind of art form and it seems like every other movie is being converted to 3D, even ones that have no business being in the discussion. For the life of me I cannot figure out why they have yet to realize it is just a gimmick. There is no doubt Avatar changed our perception of what is possible but everybody else is light years behind the curve and until they figure it out, 3D will remain a joke that brings nothing to the table. Just because the glasses are a little cooler than they were 20 years ago doesn’t mean we should all hop back on the bandwagon. It went away before for a reason and it was brought back without really fixing the problem.

Even in a movie like Alice in Wonderland , where 3D should work, it is used as nothing more than a tiring sequence of things flying at the screen. Not because it adds depth to the story, but because some idiot in the back row will “˜ooh’ and “˜ahh’. Even the quieter moments without action weren’t impressive. It always seemed clunky and out of place. As soon as you can point out the technology, it becomes a distraction. I realize there is the option of choice in viewing formats but Alice in Wonderland was always intended to be a 3D vehicle. When one of the main selling points of a movie ends up taking you out of the story, it might be time to rethink your process. Plus, I am growing tired of saying and hearing the phrase, “Well, it looks cool but”¦”

So I should have just seen it in regular 2D, right? Maybe, but the same argument can be said for the performances. The big names, mostly Burton staples, were intended to realize what appeared to be inspired casting. Unfortunately, rather than asserting themselves seamlessly into the vision Burton created, they all take turns trying to be the court jester until it turns into the Which-Character-Can-Be-More-Annoying Hour. Johnny Depp is on the shortlist of actors I would have liked to see play the Mad Hatter, but he has appeared in so many Burton movies that singularity between his characters is starting to blur. They are all becoming the same character. It plays out like Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter imitating Johnny Depp in every other Tim Burton movie. It’s like a lifetime achievement award montage if you put in all the average parts. Helena Bonham Carter is in the same boat. She was given the freedom to shriek and chew her way through every syllable of dialogue and she took full advantage. A lot of people will like her as the Red Queen but I thought it was unbelievably grating.

There have been many adaptations of the Alice novels. I give credit to Burton for trying to make a definitive version (why else would you make it if not to be the best version available?) but from where I am sitting, something got lost in the shuffle. The often erratic structure of the books are restricted to a plot-pointed story barreling towards a joyless climax. Burton should have been able to hold it together but there isn’t enough of his imprint on the movie to make it work.

4 Comments »

  1. I have never been more in agreement with a review. The more I think about this movie the more I get angry. The plot is so linear that makes me think about Frodo or the kids of Narnia. And please stop with this bs about the “chosen one”. We have enough Neos! Alice in Wonderland was a very good animated movie (and book) because it had no linear plot, with really funny and complex characters. Now we have a Mad Hatter that is no longer mad (only irascible and somewhat paternalistic), a shouting but unfunny red queen and a feminist Alice. Come on! Stop it already! :P

    Comment by Akira — March 6, 2010 @ 8:32 am

  2. Good review. The only thing I disagree with is 3d being just a gimmick. In this movie it is, but in Avatar and Tron Legacy (preview), it is the future offilm making.

    Comment by Ja — March 6, 2010 @ 12:41 pm

  3. Tim Burton should stay way from remakes.
    He really needs to make Geek Love into a movie.
    Katherine Dunn’s novel is the perfect material for him.

    Excellent review.

    Comment by Jerry — March 6, 2010 @ 6:47 pm

  4. From what i keep hearing the reason the studios are back on a push for 3D, is to force all theaters to go digital. Digital means no more expense in both producing actual film and then shipping the heavy stuff around. So the more they push 3D, the more people want to see films produced in it and in turn theaters will have to keep up with the demand by changing their projectors to digital ones.

    Comment by Josh — March 6, 2010 @ 9:11 pm

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment

space
space
Previous Article
space
Next Article
«
»
space
space
space
Amazon.com
space
You may have noticed that we're now AD FREE! Please support Geeks of Doom by using the Amazon Affiliate link above. All of our proceeds from the program go toward maintaining this site.
space
Geeks of Doom on Twitter Geeks of Doom on Facebook Geeks of Doom on Instagram Follow Geeks of Doom on Tumblr Geeks of Doom on YouTube Geeks of Doom Email Digest Geeks of Doom RSS Feed
space
space
space
space
The Drill Down Podcast TARDISblend Podcast Westworld Podcast
2023  ·   2022  ·   2021  ·   2020  ·   2019  ·   2018  ·   2017  ·   2016  ·   2015  ·   2014  ·  
2013  ·   2012  ·   2011  ·   2010  ·   2009  ·   2008  ·   2007  ·   2006  ·   2005
space
Geeks of Doom is proudly powered by WordPress.

Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press

Geeks of Doom is designed and maintained by our geeky webmaster
All original content copyright ©2005-2023 Geeks of Doom
All external content copyright of its respective owner, except where noted
space
Creative Commons License
This website is licensed under
a Creative Commons License.
space
About | Privacy Policy | Contact
space