Darklord Dave
Super Freak
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2005
- Messages
- 19,026
- Reaction score
- 81
Wow. Devin at CHUD has a perfect record of completely 100% disagreeing with me on every level.
I had no expectations for this film at all. The trailer promised another visual extravaganza from Burton but light on story and character like ALL his films, every single one. I figured it might be a mild distraction like Chocolate Factory - beautiful to look at but a failure on the narrative level. So I was not going in with any preconceived expectation of awesomeness of a diehard Burton fan. But I have to say that I think this is most likely my favorite film of his EVER.
I do have to admit that everything is better in digital 3D, and that does add a dimension (pun intended) to the movie going experience that isn't present with flat films. But the sights and sounds (great score by Elfman) of the film drew me in, and for the first time I was truly drawn in by a Burton character. Alice has a very defined character arc, simplistic as it may be, it's definitely there and infinitely relatable, not only for young women, but for everyone. She very much follows the traditional Campbell Hero's Journey, but there's nothing wrong with that. And Depp is heartbreaking, funny, brave and wacky in a character called inconsistent because he is actually, truly at least half-mad (crazy mad, as in mentally instable). And we get to see the event that unhinged him - again, it's a simplistic character beat, but Tarrant (the Hatter's true name), is someone we can identify with and sympathize with completely. Depp goes in and out of madness and in and out of a Scots accent, but you can see the work he's doing and the real thought that lies behind the characterization. His Highlander homage near the end is also a great moment.
In fact many of the characters have a depth that is far beyond a Disney "kid's" film or a Burton film. Glover's evil Knave of Hearts, Hathaway's White Queen - even the little Dormouse are distinct characters that we can hate or care about. Bonham-Carter's Red Queen is even a tad sympathetic, made human by her hidden frustration at not being lovable like her sister and settling for ruling by fear.
I think much of the bad reviews may be centered on expectations. The original story of Alice in Wonderland is full of childish whimsy, a story for small children that is designed to amuse and nothing more. This film is a sequel to the original Alice and Through the Looking Glass and where the older stories were for kids, this story is not really aimed at that audience. It is much, much darker and deals with more adult themes (adult as in complex, not as in sexual) and is about a young woman finding out that she may or may not have a destiny.
Not only is it very dark, it is an adventure story and not a comedy as some might be expecting. There are some funny moments, but this isn't a traditional children's film that may build up the tension to then cut it with a laugh. I definitely wouldn't recommend it for anyone under 10 and I think they'd need to be 13-14 to really appreciate it. However the 3 or 4 year old in row I was in, seemed entranced by it and didn't fidget or complain. He seemed completely engaged and asked occasional questions about the characters on screen.
There is one misstep and I think it's a colossal one - the Fudwacket(?) breakdance seems completely out of place and unnecessary, both from Tarrant and later it's echo with Alice. It takes one out of the film so completely, it could definitely leave a bad taste in the mouth on leaving the theater.
But that's just a tiny party of an otherwise great and grand film that is visually, one of the most remarkable films ever made. It doesn't have the geologic or biologic realism of an Avatar, but the fantasy characters - all out of proportion and scale with every other character, are brilliantly realized.
Perhaps my appreciation will fade after the glow of just viewing the movie has passed, but I do think that it will remain my favorite Burton film.
I had no expectations for this film at all. The trailer promised another visual extravaganza from Burton but light on story and character like ALL his films, every single one. I figured it might be a mild distraction like Chocolate Factory - beautiful to look at but a failure on the narrative level. So I was not going in with any preconceived expectation of awesomeness of a diehard Burton fan. But I have to say that I think this is most likely my favorite film of his EVER.
I do have to admit that everything is better in digital 3D, and that does add a dimension (pun intended) to the movie going experience that isn't present with flat films. But the sights and sounds (great score by Elfman) of the film drew me in, and for the first time I was truly drawn in by a Burton character. Alice has a very defined character arc, simplistic as it may be, it's definitely there and infinitely relatable, not only for young women, but for everyone. She very much follows the traditional Campbell Hero's Journey, but there's nothing wrong with that. And Depp is heartbreaking, funny, brave and wacky in a character called inconsistent because he is actually, truly at least half-mad (crazy mad, as in mentally instable). And we get to see the event that unhinged him - again, it's a simplistic character beat, but Tarrant (the Hatter's true name), is someone we can identify with and sympathize with completely. Depp goes in and out of madness and in and out of a Scots accent, but you can see the work he's doing and the real thought that lies behind the characterization. His Highlander homage near the end is also a great moment.
In fact many of the characters have a depth that is far beyond a Disney "kid's" film or a Burton film. Glover's evil Knave of Hearts, Hathaway's White Queen - even the little Dormouse are distinct characters that we can hate or care about. Bonham-Carter's Red Queen is even a tad sympathetic, made human by her hidden frustration at not being lovable like her sister and settling for ruling by fear.
I think much of the bad reviews may be centered on expectations. The original story of Alice in Wonderland is full of childish whimsy, a story for small children that is designed to amuse and nothing more. This film is a sequel to the original Alice and Through the Looking Glass and where the older stories were for kids, this story is not really aimed at that audience. It is much, much darker and deals with more adult themes (adult as in complex, not as in sexual) and is about a young woman finding out that she may or may not have a destiny.
Not only is it very dark, it is an adventure story and not a comedy as some might be expecting. There are some funny moments, but this isn't a traditional children's film that may build up the tension to then cut it with a laugh. I definitely wouldn't recommend it for anyone under 10 and I think they'd need to be 13-14 to really appreciate it. However the 3 or 4 year old in row I was in, seemed entranced by it and didn't fidget or complain. He seemed completely engaged and asked occasional questions about the characters on screen.
There is one misstep and I think it's a colossal one - the Fudwacket(?) breakdance seems completely out of place and unnecessary, both from Tarrant and later it's echo with Alice. It takes one out of the film so completely, it could definitely leave a bad taste in the mouth on leaving the theater.
But that's just a tiny party of an otherwise great and grand film that is visually, one of the most remarkable films ever made. It doesn't have the geologic or biologic realism of an Avatar, but the fantasy characters - all out of proportion and scale with every other character, are brilliantly realized.
Perhaps my appreciation will fade after the glow of just viewing the movie has passed, but I do think that it will remain my favorite Burton film.
[Better than Sweeney Todd, Edward Scissorhands, and Batman though?]
For shame Dave! :emperor
