Walt Disney Pictures
In cinemas on 5 March
Well “Alice” certainly has attracted a lot of attention in her most recent incarnation. There’s a pop soundtrack (really an ‘inspired by’ type thing), re-issues of the books, re-issues of older versions of the movie, and then there is this new version of the film, which one would think could just stand on it’s own without all the hubub. Considering that it’s directed by Tim Burton, starring Johnny Depp and presented in 3D – that should be enough to satiate any fan of the story or cinema in general.
My experience was unfortunately missing that certain je ne sais quois. Granted, anyone who goes to see this film when it opens will have a far easier time that I did getting from the comforts of home to a seat in the cinema. After fighting the usual LA traffic (a given), it was off to the El Capitain Theatre at Hollywood and Highland, where Hollywood Boulevard is already completely shut down and there is a big red carpet in the middle of it. So after fighting the queue for tickets, the queue to get in, the parking and popcorn drama, I was finally seated with my 3D glasses, ready to partake in the experience.
Perhaps it’s because audiences are so very familiar with the story of Alice, but it’s very hard to make it new and I don’t think it needs to be new. What is does need, and what unfortunately this adaptation lacks, however, is the sense of discovery, wonder and adventure that comes along with this girl’s tale. The fall through the rabbit hole in 3D is definitely worth the price of admission, but then when Alice thumps down, the rest is all rather expected. We know about the EAT ME cake and the DRINK ME bottle and most of what happens next. The editing is so fast that it keeps your attention, but it doesn’t let us linger and enjoy all the adventures Alice has. Depp’s Mad Hatter would be the one exception. She does get a few minutes to really soak that in and the characterizations from Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway are all wonderfully eccentric – just perhaps too grand for the movie they’re in. So yay for the cast, the incomparable Danny Elfman, and my new swanky 3D glasses.
Next time, I’d like to see Tim Burton collaborate with the Muppets rather than the CGI-ness and let us soak it up a bit more.
