All flash and no fire

Rating: 3/10 (4 March 2010)

I am a big fan of the Alice in Wonderland franchise. I love the books, the cartoon, the imagery, the toys- basically everything Alice. I went to see this movie with really high hopes. I had heard they were making the story a bit different, so I was very hyped up. Unfortunately this movie was awful. Not as bad as others I've seen but definitely not worth waiting for.
Johnny Depp was as great as he always seems to be, as was Helena Bonham Carter. Alice was very wooden and looked extremely bored. There was no feeling in the movie whatsoever. Anne Hathaway...What can I say about her? Her character was alright, but her face and makeup were so hideous, she was a freak amongst freaks. She is what partially ruined this movie for me. I couldn't stand her movements and especially her makeup.
The visuals were lovely and dark, very typical Tim Burton, but soon they became very overwhelming and just distracting. Too much CGI. I also found it hard to hear and understand what people were saying. Another sore point I have is how everyone has a different name. I mean Wonderland isn't even Wonderland- it's Underland. Alice doesn't remember being there, but why? No explanation is given. I mean, in Return to Oz Dorothy was given electric shock therapy, you know? Everyone seemed very one-dimensional and boring.
One thing I did like, however, was how some parts of it flashed back to the cartoon Alice that most of us are familiar with. It was great seeing things "live" that before had only been seen in a cartoon. Alice also sounds remarkably like the Alice from the cartoon as well. The Queen of Hearts is an amusing character, and I ended up really liking her, although the way she says "Off with her head" is distinctly different and I didn't like it. This movie has you flashing to the cartoon but then changing key aspects.
All in all, I'd say this is more of a rental movie, or dollar movie. Going to see it full price is sorely advised against. While you're waiting for the movie to start and actually grab you, you find the credits are rolling and it's already over- then you're left wondering,"What just happened? did I like it?" And the answer to that is a resounding "No".