A look at themes

Rating: 8/10 (3 October 2018)

Alice (Mia Wasikowska) is back in Wonderland, 13 year older, and with high expectations of saving the kingdom from the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter). But is she the right Alice? Not everyone can agree on this point. The Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) says she is. The Blue Caterpillar (Alan Rickman) says no. Will she slay the Jabberwocky for the White Queen (Anne Hathaway)? She does not intend to, at least at first. But will she change her mind as it becomes more and more apparent that Wonderland is counting on her?
The theme of Alice in Wonderland is that of standing up and doing what you know to be the right thing, even in the face of oppression. Alice has to make a decision between fleeing and standing to fight. No matter what, there is going to be a battle. Alice's involvement can sway it towards the end of oppression. However, this means facing her fears and doing the right thing, which is never easy.
In the end, Alice makes the right decision and dons her armor to fight. She is the White Queen's champion and does battle with the Jabberwocky. In doing so, she proves to everyone that she is the right Alice and she is willing to do what it takes to save Wonderland. A testament to this theme is the philosophy Alice carries with her to battle about doing six impossible things before breakfast. As she lists out the impossible things that have happened in Wonderland, she acknowledges that they have been building to the sixth item, which is the slaying of the Jabberwocky.
The use of color is well placed to demonstrate the theme of good versus evil in this film, and Alice standing up to the evil. The evil queen is the Red Queen. The use of red brings to mind the flowing of blood. "Off with their head!" shouts the red queen. Meanwhile, her sister, the good queen, is the white queen. The use of white indicates a certain amount of innocence and purity.
An additional theme in the film is that of growing up. The Alice we know from her childhood adventures is 13 years older now, and starts the film convinced that it was all a dream. In her decision to save Wonderland, she is making the call as an adult that she could not have made as a child. Then in the real world, she is also facing down a marriage proposal to a man she does not love. Before her adventure into Wonderland, she is torn as to what to do. Once her adventure is through, she can turn down the proposal with confidence and in fact, helps taken on the mantle her father left behind, as the head of a trading empire.
The pacing of the final fight is a real treat. Alternating her list of six impossible things, with the actual opening moves of the battle, helps build suspense. Will she succeed in being an agent of change for Wonderland? She has agreed to be the champion, but can she accomplish the slaying as the prophecy foretells? The battle is well paced and it is as if you are watching Alice grow up and into her destiny before your eyes.
Yes, she is the right Alice. Yes, she will step up as champion. Yes, she will slay the Jabberwocky.
Overall, I give this film 8 stars as it had some great moments in it and an all star cast. It's not Tim Burton's best, but it is still a fun story and a great movie for the family.