Tim Burton's interpretation of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" was executed in an unexpected and wonderful way.
Unlike the other versions of "Alice in Wonderland", the plot takes place when Alice is 19 years old. Since the film takes place during the 19th century, Alice has been set up for an arranged marriage and her betrothed is a brown-nosing dream killer named Hamish. Alice, who is unaware of this arrangement, arrives to a garden party with her mother, where trapped in a world of proper etiquette and high expectations, Hamish pops the question in front of the snobbish crowd.
Alice takes a moment away from the crowd and Hamish, neither accepting nor rejecting the proposal. Instead, she follows a white rabbit wearing a waist coat and holding a pocket watch. While following the rabbit, Alice ends up at an old tree with a huge hole and falls into it. At the bottom of the hole she lands in a strange room with a key, a drink that decreases her size and a cake that increases her size.
After getting the right size and getting the key, Alice arrives in the garden where she reunites with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar and Tweedledee and Tweedledum. However, unlike her childhood experience, she does not remember who they are and thinks this is just a dream.
Alice embarks on a journey in which she fulfills her destiny and rediscovers who she is. Throughout the experience in Wonderland, she also learns that she can make her own decisions and that she does not have to live up to the expectations of society.
Burton's trademark flashbacks from characters, dark colors and pale makeup are definitely demonstrated in this film. Since Lewis Carroll's book is at times grim and dark, this was naturally a match for Burton.
Mia Wasikowska played the role of Burton's version of Alice exceptionally well, especially since this is one of her first big roles. Johnny Depp was the perfect person to play the Mad Hatter,
since he is well- known for playing eccentric and unique characters. He executed the part well, as always.
What makes this film different from other versions of "Alice in Wonderland" is that there is a sense of completion, unlike the cartoon by Walt Disney. Burton answers a lot of questions in the movie about Alice, the Red Queen, the White Queen, the Mad Hatter and the rest of the characters. Overall, I liked the movie tremendously. Burton's twist on this classic was unique, funny and there was never a dull moment. I also saw the movie in 3-D, which made the experience even better. I highly suggest that you see it in 3-D so you too can get the full experience of getting lost in the amazing world of Wonderland.
Saturday, Sep. 4, 2010
12:53 am
12:53 am
The Banner
An Online Campus Publication of California Baptist University
Tim Burton takes audiences head first into Wonderland
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