Misunderstood

Rating: 9/10 (19 June 2010)

I am not sure the expectations of most people going into a Tim Burton film. It seems there is a certain expectation and when they don't see what they thought they were going to see, they are disappointed or confused. I think that this film is a prime example of that. Burton has become such an iconic director that his celebrity, not what his talent, precedes him and sets an expectation.
Of all of Burton's latest films, I feel Alice is the most in line with his earlier work. It is a warped commercial vehicle that does exactly opposite of what you expect, which is the fun of going to see his films.
This Alice is a grownup version, as played wonderfully by Mia Wasikowska. She is caught between the young girl who is expected to do as she is told, yet like the younger Alice, walks her own path. Wasikowska's fresh face is welcomed; a more well known actress probably would not have worked as well.
Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter is warped, just as one would expect. Everything from an off center eye to breaking into a Scottish accent when remembering the past or in battle, Depp gives the Mad Hatter a sense of uneasiness. This is best exhibited in the scenes between he and Wasikowska. There is an uneasy attraction between Alice and the Hatter, one that has been lost from the books in the other adaptations. Here, Burton goes for showcasing that attraction and it pays off.
Bonham Carter devours the Red Queen, relishing every single minute and she is a joy to watch. Crispen Glover is perfectly cast as Stayne, her main man in many ways and himself eating up the scenery. In a surprise, Anne Hathaway's White Queen is purposely too calm and serene, almost to a chilling affect. Hathaway's gestures and manner of delivery give an uneasiness, that is fun to watch.
The rest of the cast is voice talent; Matt Lucas as Tweeledee & dumb, Stephen Fry as the Cheshire Cat, Michael Sheen as the White Rabbit and Alan Rickman as the Blue caterpillar. All are perfectly voice cast and give weight to the creatures they play.
The special effects are wonderful to watch, I only wish I had seen it in 3-D. The effects are wonderfully warped, as usual with a Burton production. If anything, his warped artistic flair is perfect for this kind of story.
As with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Sleepy Hollow, Burton is far more faithful to the source than previous incarnations and coupled with his visual style, Alice is a fun film to watch over and over.
Alan Rickman ... Blue Caterpillar (voice)