In this case, I don't think the problem is with Tim Burton, but with Disney

Rating: 6/10 (17 July 2010)

I saw the trailers for this movie and I knew this movie had potential. Tim Burton was directing, for God's sake! So I went to go see it. It started out okay, although Mia Wasikowska as Alice was very dull. I understood that Alice was always an introverted, pensive character, but that doesn't mean she has to wear a straight face the whole movie. But I can let that one slide. The scenery was terrific, as all Tim Burton movies are. The Queen of Hearts was brilliantly played by Helena Bonham Carter, and I think her performance was the best. The characters Alice met on the way all had personality, but that's when Johnny Depp came along as the Mad Hatter. Johnny Depp gives personality to all of the characters he plays, but this one I think had too much personality. I say that because his makeup is just creepy (creepier than Willy Wonka's) and a little over the top. It honestly made me think of a three-year-old putting on every gloss and powder she could find (and lots of it) so she could be like her mommy. Aside from the makeup, it also sounded as if Mr. Depp kept switching accents from British to Scottish, like he couldn't make up his mind. So I think his character was a little over the top, but I didn't let that ruin the movie for me. After all, there was more to the story. Anne Hathaway came into the picture as the Queen's sister, who was okay in her performance, but came off as a little dazed at points. But for the most part, she did fine. So you're probably asking "So what made the movie so bad?" The futterwacking scene (I'm not sure if that's how you spell it). Yes, the scene where Johnny Depp's character, for some reason, just starts to dance in what seemed like break dancing and just wiggling his legs. And if that wasn't bad enough, the music sounded like a mixture of hip hop, Celtic, and renaissance. That whole scene turned my review from an 8/10 to a 6/10 because it just seemed so dorky and Disney-like (remember way back when we used to consider that a good thing?). It was unneeded and made the movie just seem babyish. I honestly am starting to hate the Disney corporation because in most of their movies they have to make someone or something break dance. We have already seen break dancing guinea pigs, pigs, wildebeests, and now Mr. Depp. But, believe it or not, I don't think Tim Burton would deliberately put that in any of his movies. So this movie would be a whole lot better if Mr. Burton steered clear of Disney so his film wouldn't be "kiddie-fied". The end finally came and I left with nothing but the dance scene in my mind, just wondering what idiot thought that would be a good idea to put that scene in the movie. Disney needs to stop making things dance disco or break dance and they need to stop making movies about strange animals. And Tim Burton needs to stay away from them because they dilute his talents, along with Mr. Depp's. Other than that, this movie was okay. Not bad or great, just okay. Mr. Burton, I hope you have learned your lesson to stay with Warner Brothers.