Alright, so I got a bit lazy when it came to writing this review. I went to check the movie out for opening night. Yes, at 12:01 on a Thursday. It’s now Wednesday, and I honestly don’t really feel like writing it. How do you write a review about a mediocre movie that was as mediocre as you thought it was going to be? I guess we’re about to find out. Hit the jump for the entire review. Some spoilers ahead.

 

 

Visuals
I was actually kind of surprised when it came to the visuals of the movie. I guess I shouldn’t have been considering I know how much Tim burton likes his movies to be dark and dreary. But come on, this is Alice in wonderland. A movie known to be filled with colorful visuals. Tim Burton managed to do what he does to every movie he touches; turn it into something dark, drab, and dreary. It’s getting old.

Some of the characters, I have to admit, did look cool. I just don’t think I could get over the fact that he turned a fun and whimsical film into something so, Tim Burtony.

The 3D wasn’t as stomach churning as I thought it was going to be just from seeing the trailers just before Avatar. In fact, there was a few scenes where I was actually “wowed” by some of the 3D. There were, however, a few moments where the movie did make me a bit dizzy. Specifically a scene where the foreground object is a complete blur and we’re supposed to be looking towards the back to the left at one of the characters on screen. That part definitely didn’t make sense. Overall, not too bad though.

 

 

Story
Where to begin? First of all, I’ve never read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland so all I have to go by is what I grew up on, Disney’s version. This definitely was not. It takes place somewhere far different from what we all grew up with. Sure the characters have the same names, but they’re not really. I have to start by saying that the Mad Hatter was focused upon entirely too much in this movie. Even more-so than Alice herself it seemed to me. It’s obvious why. Because it was the only role that Johnny Depp could really fit into when you look at the roles in the original movie. He wasn’t going to be the annoying king, or one of the Tweedle twins, for obvious reasons. I think Tim Burton took way too much liberty in this movie’s writing. Made up words that didn’t seem to fit Alice in Wonderland at all. Adding random names to some of the characters. Completely changing the name of Wonderland to Underland. The Queen of Hearts is now referred to as the Red Queen, and there’s the addition of the White Queen. I know they’re called that in Through the Looking Glass, but I’ve never read it, and I’m sure most movie goers haven’t either. I guess people are going to like this movie just for liking it’s sake, but not I. I’ll just tack it on to the list of other movies I pretend don’t exist. Indiana 4, Die Hard 4, and the Prequels to name a few. Notice how they always follow the originals? There’s a reason for that.

 

 

Other Stuff
Turning a classic Disney movie into an actiony flick isn’t my idea of good judgment. Then again, it is Tim Burton, and we all know what he did to Charlie in the Chocolate factory. It seems like most people see him as someone who can do no wrong, when in fact he has done tons of wrong. Out of all the movies he’s done, I probably enjoyed only a fraction of them. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m definitely getting sick of his whole shtick with turning movies dark and dreary.

Most of the actors’ performances I’d say were average. I couldn’t stand what Johnny Depp succeeded in making The Mad Hatter into a weirdo, which I guess was good, but I really didn’t care for the character. The one person who I thought really stood out was Helena Bonham Carter, and not just because of her giant head.

I could write a whole lot more about the movie and what I didn’t like, but I honestly don’t care enough to do so. Two stars is my verdict. ★★