Alice in Wonderland

When the most likeable character in a fairytale is the main villain, it’s impossible to avoid the feeling that something went bloody wrong. Alice in Wonderland is a run-of-the-mill film in every aspect, though some people may appreciate Burton’s signature, even if here it’s neutered. Not me, though. Kids will probably like it, it’s not utterly bad. (01/06/2010)

The renowned king of bizarre worlds finally embarked on the most famous journey, and although he couldn't live up to the huge fan expectations, he certainly pleased with a trip with slight modifications of the classic story. However, surprisingly, everything depends on how much attention Johnny Depp attracts. His Mad Hatter is not just a supporting character, but an equal protagonist who almost outshines the amazingly furious Red Queen or the likeable Alice herself. 75% Spoileroid PS: Even I was surprised by how much I was saddened until the confirmation of the second part, that Burton didn't completely go against the rules and didn't let Alice stay with the Mad Hatter. That unspoken romantic bond was screaming for it. (05/03/2010)

The weakest Burton film ever. Unfortunate, but it's true. Alice is too digital, it drags (it only really picks up in those moments when the images are finally supported Danny Elfman's good motif) and is very uninteresting in terms of plot. Moreover, with perhaps two exceptions (Hatter's farewell, the digital dog and his family), it lacks any emotion. The pros: The aforementioned music (including an Avril Lavigne song), Helena Bonham Carter, a great feline named Cheshire Cat and a few funny moments. Otherwise, there’s not much, I'm sorry to say.__P.S. The return to wonderland worked much, much better in Spielberg's Hook. (17/08/2010)

Tim Burton is hands down the most interesting director of our time and every one of his films is worth watching at least once. While some of them didn't do much for me (Mars Attacks, Beetlejuice), others are among the best I've seen so far (Sleepy Hollow, Ed Wood). This one is somewhere in between, it didn't impress me, but given the premise it was a pleasant surprise. The story is a bit secondary anyway, the main thing are the amazing sets, the make-up effects, the music and of course the performances led by Depp and Bonham Carter (hats off to the great dubbing). If it all formed a traditional, Burton-esque unconventional whole, I'd give it four stars without blinking an eye, but Alice is mostly overstuffed with that uninhibited, sterile form that any filmmaker who isn't afraid to break free from his chains, even though he doesn't have much to say, would produce, and in this case, that’s a disappointment... (03/01/2012)

Alice in Wonderland is undoubtedly one of the weaker efforts from the workshop of the master of imagination Tim Burton. On the one hand, it actually seems quite paradoxical: a work like this, when rewritten as a film, certainly offers considerable avenues for portrayal, plenty of room for self-expression, and is directly built for directorial exhibition. Unfortunately, the whole film leaves a rather faint impression in terms of directing and inevitably gives the impression that Burton had the whole process of filming very precisely mapped out in advance and thus left his authorial imprint only to a very limited extent (though hints of Burtonian poetry and humor thankfully do appear here and there). The bright side of the whole project for me remains the fabulous performance of Helena Bonham Carter and a few funny moments. Even Danny Elfman's music is not as impressive as usual this time around. Burton's most divisive film in the last ten years of his career. (27/10/2011)