Was okay!

Rating: 6/10 (13 July 2011)

One could say 'Alice in Wonderland' is certainly a digital wonderland, which doesn't quite mesh together well and feels cartoon-ish at the best of times. Visionary, stylistic filmmaker in Tim Burton returns with yet another recreation of a classic in Alice in Wonderland. However, much like 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', this film serves a purpose to inspire me to watch the original movies- in this case the 50s Disney cartoon that I so fondly remember. Or I could actually read the book! However, this film is not without its charm!
Yet another Tim Burton collaboration with Johnny Depp in a starring role! Filling the shoes (or hat) of the Mad Hatter. Johnny Depp does a reasonable job in this role, and is likable and insane enough. However, I think audiences are more curious to see Depp perform this character specifically than any other aspect of the movie. Helena Bonham Carter is quite good as the Red Queen, and this character is an interesting mix of actual real footage mixed in with digital effects- making Bonham Carter's head cleverly over-sized! Overall, the film is glossy and utilises some clever CGI mixed in with actual footage, but it all felt a little overdone!
Moving on to Alice. I actually thought Mia Wasikowska was quite good in the title role. I was more surprised to learn that she was one of the kids in 'The Kids Are Alright', which certainly displays some range! I didn't even know she was Australian, and I predict a great future for this young actress, as I think she held her own with Johnny Depp and a range of CGI animals and a giant jabberwocky to boot.
Basically, 'Alice in Wonderland' was a viewing afterthought for me, and I never rushed out to see it at the cinemas. I pretty much got what I expected, and that is a passable flick no better than something like 'Clash of the Titans' where you are curious to witness a digital CGI interpretation of classic characters and material. Tim Burton, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter all raised the bar with 'Sweeney Todd', but then again that was unfamiliar territory for me. Still, I felt 'Alice in Wonderland' was a step down for all three artists, but not a letdown!
*** out of *****!