Alice In The Wonderland (2010) - 3D

This is my first time watching a movie in 3D. Yea, noob... I know. But hey, it wasn't such a trend before Avatar. And now, all other movie makers are slowing turning their motion picture into 3D too, even when it's completely unnecessary. And that's quite the case here with Alice In The Wonderland (therein after refer to as AITWL).

The graphics and animation are great. No doubt about that. But I doubt it look anything less without the 3D effect. Well, maybe the scenes when Alice drops into the rabbit hole and the escape from Bandersnatch. All the books, pianos and other stationery and equipments seemed to be falling onto me. Branches seemed to be hitting me. The ending credit is beautifully made too. Now, that's something creditable. Bet 2D can't do it.

Mia Wasikowska as Alice

Anyway, back to the story, shall we? AITWL is not a retelling of the original stories by Lewis Caroll, like what we've seen from the cartoon when we were young. Watch the first 30-40 minutes of the movie and you would have thought it's a sequel of it. I thought that too, you know, at first. But things got a little weird when I saw the Red Queen (cards) but the White Queen (Chess) as I remember having red and white queens, both of cards. A little goggling after the movie make complete scene. AITWL is not a sequel. It's a remodification of the story by Tim Burton, with some of the important scenes, elements and characters, as well as some memorable lines adapted, from both Alice In The Wonderland (book) and Through The Looking-Glass (it's sequel). AITWL is a mixture of Wonderland (Alice In the Wonderland) and Underland (Through The Looking-Glass) to turn into a complete different Alice's adventures. Instead of a series of crazy encounters by Alice, without a purpose, Tim Burton turned the their story into a typical Disney animation - there must be a reason behind everything, a story to be told with a climax and an ending. [for more info, read here]

Johnny Depp as Mad Hatter

I shall say, it's a completely different theme. The original idea of Lewis Caroll was different and unique. There's no climax (if i'm not mistaken) and everything jut move on from one encounter to another, with Alice wandering around Wonderland. Turns out everything was a dream. In this new version, there is no dream. Alice had been to Wonderland but thought of it as a dream. After 13 years, she was brought back to Wonderland, completely sure that it's just another dream. Of course, it isn't and she holds the key to end the sovereignty of the Red Queen. It has become a quest instead of series of discoveries. Different, but nothing special. 'Cos that's always been the way Disney make their movies and animation. Heroes save the world, yadah yadah yadah... But I shall say Tim Burton is bold enough to go this distance, and risk offending the book-fans. I give him a bow of respect. At least, excellent try, i reckon!

Casting makes the soul of the story alongside with the direction and cinematography with plot being the body, costumes the limbs and setting, the clothing. Maybe that's why notable stars are paid with such fat paycheck. Big names are on this one with Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Christopher Lee, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Matt Lucas, Stephen Fry, Paul Whitehouse, Michael Sheen, Alan Rickman, etc etc. And when this happens, you know you can at least expect an above average performance. And certainly, it is!

Anne Hathaway as The White Queen

As usual, you just can't go wrong with Johnny Depp, though you may notice that Mad Hatter is a mixture of many other characters he'd previously portrayed. Bored already? I dunno bout you guys, but not quite for me. Anne Hathaway played the White Queen and during the first few scenes, she was a rather interesting character. But somehow, I get a lil bored after that. Christopher Lee delivers only a few lines as the Jabberwocky, i wished he had more. Helena Bonham Carter, the Red Quen was good too. Very entertaining and my favourite of the movie, besides the Cheshire Cat. Need I say more? Stephen Fry as the Cheshire Cat is awesome! Totally overshone and had stolen the limelight from all other casts. He's a true example of acting marvelously with voice. Oh wait, maybe the animation helps too. LOL. Mia Wasikowska as Alice is a total disaster. Look like Gwyneth Paltrow , but act nothing like her. Totally dull, lifeless and wooden. She's such an inexperience newbie I wonder how she landed on the role.

Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen

All in all, AITWL is a good movie, well worth watching and if you don't mind the extra money spent, you can always watch the 3D. Just too bad, there's not subtitles and that's like the total letdown. Would've been great to have it. I couldn't get Christopher Lee's line and so is the question Mad Hatter keep asking Alice. Now, I should really download this with subtitle to really enjoy and understand 100%!

Rating: 7/10