Watching on Wednesday: Alice in Wonderland

Title: Alice in Wonderland
Type: Movie
Age Group: Youth +
Release Year: 2010
My Rating: 3.5/5

Alice (Mia Wasikowska) is back and is being proposed to at nineteen years. Living in a proper society where it is important to do everything with manner, Alice is sick and tired of being told what to do everyday.

After seeing a rabbit in a waistcoat, she ditches her engagement party to follow it. Thus, it leads her down into a hole where she lands in Underland. She encounters the eccentric characters of Underland that proclaims how she must slay the Jabberwocky. She refuses this so called fate of hers but only to find out that she is chased after by the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) and her army because of it.

In this dark and imaginary realm, Alice must find a way to survive before it is off with her head!

I debated if I should have given this movie a 3.5 or a 4 rating. I have read a couple of negative reviews before watching Alice in Wonderland (which I was so excited for when I first saw the trailer) that it made me went in with a less open mind. (Note: I am reviewing the 2D version).

What one can not deny is the amazing graphics that Tim Burton has for his whimsical and hauntingly beautiful world. A lot of hard work and dedication can be seen put into this production to create Alice in Wonderland as it is. The number one thing I adore is the clothes that Alice gets to wear. They are absolutely gorgeous! (Except for the armor she had on at the end. It was just weird to see her in that).

However, I didn't find myself very intrigued with the plot so much. I guess since I am not a fan of hero quest stories, Alice in Wonderland did not really go beyond the cool scenes and the beautiful costumes. I am actually not a big fan of Alice herself (don't you think she is too pale?). She was a little blah in my opinion, although she was supposed to be stubborn and opinionated. Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter did not have a bigger impact on the movie as Tim Burton and I had hoped. Except his costume is quite brilliant, you wouldn't even recognize him under the makeup (like how he is in most movies)! I have to say, I laughed a bit when I saw Anne Hathaway's character as the White Queen. I found it a bit awkward for her to be in that role although somewhat refreshing. I wonder how it would have turned out if she did take the original offer of being Alice.

I do recommend everyone to watch Alice in Wonderland at least once. There are quite a few funny scenes that will make it enjoyable. I wouldn't mind watching it a second time but it's not a movie where I will hurry out to buy the DVD of.