A wonderful positive feel good family film

Rating: 8/10 (21 March 2010)

this is a wonderful film to watch in the mould of 'Enchanted. In that film, the Princess goes from the fantasy world to the real world but in this movie the opposite happens and Alice goes from reality to fantasy. Not familiar with the leading actress as Alice, never heard of her before but wow for Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter just like his roles in Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and Chocolate Factory, Dr Parnissus and of course Sweeney Todd. That brings me to the fine acting chemistry Depp has with Helena Bonham Carter who the Red !Queen. This is not a sequel but an adaptation of one persons interpretation of the main story with a few variations to make the film more interesting and to give characters greater depth, particularly Mad Hatter and the Chesire Cat. Great voice overs by the likes of Timothy Spall Barbara Windsor and Stephen Fry.
This is essentially an English film through and through. No American accents thank the Lord, Depp puts on a fabulous Scottish accent thanks to R C Nesbit. Its a foreign fairytale with lots of morals and although I call it a family film, its not really a kids film like Enchanted was and obviously because its half and half real life and animation, Disney preferred to promote Up first for Oscar 2010 nomination.
The chess board battle scene towards the end of the film was a wonderful Burton gimmick with the Queen the Knight and the creation of the Jabberwicky character.
Its not an emotional film, wont make you laugh or cry much but it will keep you interested throughout. Very entertaining, some nice dialogues and great interactions between the main characters. Mad Hatter definitely steals the show for me as soon as I first came on the set and worst point I must agree with earlier comment to be the overuse of the White Queens fingernails! Not quite a must see film but if you love Alice in Wonderland and the characters, you will surely like this movie.