A Love Letter

Rating: 9/10 (15 March 2010)

Without spewing the same remarks as the few reviews I glossed over, let me skip straight past the plot and on to the finer fare- the actual decision if it's good or not.
The answer, in short, is that it's great but only if you're absolutely obsessed with the two original books. This film, start to finish is nothing short of a love letter (thus the title of this review) from Burton to Lewis Carroll. It lovingly tweaks and twists at all the classic characters, summoning the Jabberwock (or as it's incorrectly known here, the Jabberwocky) but not forgetting the Jubjub bird or the frumious Bandersnatch. The only casting choice I find myself disliking is the infamous Depp as the Hatter. I actually think a relatively small- time actor would have lent himself to the role far better.
The visuals are superb, with the always... eerie Cheshire Cat hitting a perfect blend between guide and traitor. Furthermore, the slight explanation of Cheshire Cat's ability to disappear is a nice touch to bring some reality to an otherwise extremely odd world.