career low for Tim Burton

Rating: 3/10 (6 March 2010)

My immediate reaction after watching this film was 'worst film ever'. on reflection of course there's at least 'Mama Mia', 'Maiden Noyage' and a few 'Police Academy' films that are worse, but it's so far below the standards i'd expect from a Burton film i would probably enjoyed sitting through 'Police Academy 26' or whatever less excruciating. Mind you, it's probably so much better in 3D?
On the plus side, the kids say they enjoyed it - they were never going to be that discerning given the limited number of years they've had to develop an understanding of what constitutes a good movie. The under fives were both nearly asleep about two thirds of the way through. Depp was fantastic as a slightly melancholy spaced out eccentric hatter, I really sensed his heart and soul had been put into that character one hundred percent. He does love playing the wacky Brit after all. The other big names phoned, faxed or emailed their performances, clearly finding no magic in the screenplay to work with. Which is no surprise. A special commendation is due to Bonham-Carter for her fine impression of Miranda Richardson playing Queen Elizabeth the first in 'Blackadder'.
In trying to make 'Alice in Wonderland' meets 'Shrek' meets 'the Ring trilogy' the filmmakers have managed to throttle all the charm and whimsy out of Lewis Carroll's world, leaving the movie devoid of the dreamlike fairytale atmosphere that has up till now been a hallmark of Tim Burton's films. I would write more, but i'm finding it depressing and annoying to remember how little i enjoyed the experience.
NB 'Planet of the Apes' was also devoid of a dreamlike fairytale atmosphere, it wasn't quite as crud as 'Alice...' mind.