Alice in Wonderland is a great continuation of the classic and teaches the importance of facing fears and being true to yourself.

Rating: 9/10 (1 August 2010)

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland is a film full of mystery, magic, mayhem, and delectable characters that add to the story. Alice teaches us, in her journey, that facing your fears and staying true to yourself is much more just and advantageous than doing what others think are best for you. Alice Kinsleigh's (Mia Wasikowska) Father begins this lesson as the movie opens and Alice is seen as a seven-year-old child having a bad dream. She asks her father if she has gone around the bend as she keeps dreaming of chasing a white rabbit down a hole and landing in a mysterious land. Alice's Father responds by telling her all great people are somewhat mad.
The movie then takes you thirteen years ahead to Alice being publicly proposed to and running away from the fear of making a decision she will regret, but one that everyone feels is best for her. Alice finds the white rabbit, and you guessed it, chases him until she falls down a hole into what we know as Wonderland. The story follows the original movie until Alice enters Wonderland. There she is met by familiar characters, but they keep asking if she is "THE" Alice and referring to their world as Underland, instead of Wonderland. The lighting and color schemes are darker and drearier in Underland. It appears stormy, and the characters are somewhat distraught. It is the very opposite of Dorothy entering Oz. However, as the story continues the viewer understands the dreariness, and Alice learns why and how she fits into the puzzle.
Alice's new friends, which include a white rabbit (voiced by Stephen Fry), a Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), a chain-smoking caterpillar (Alan Rickman), and twins Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb (Matt Lucas), help her to realize that she is "THE" Alice, and this is not her first trip to Underland. Alice realizes that she has returned to save Underland from the Evil Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter). The Evil Queen's younger sister is introduced in this movie, the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) from whom the Evil Red Queen has stolen the kingdom and has initiated a very harsh ruling. There is an interesting parallel between the two Queens, Tim Burton style. The Red Queen and her kingdom, as we recall from the classic, are playing cards all of which are evil and cruel; however, the White Queen and her followers are based on the game of chess and very sweet and kind, but with a hint of weird. It is a large chessboard where the two come together to fight, and where Alice's new perspective helps her to realize that her destiny involves defeating the evil Jabberwocky (Christopher Lee) and restoring order in Underland.
The acting in the movie is phenomenal. The Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) is a character that is weird and somewhat insane, but one that you are drawn to almost instantly. The costumes are outrageous, but tie in nicely with the film's storyline. Alice's dresses are not anything like we remember from the classic, but rather much more fashionable and trendy. The entire cast of animal characters talk, which we expected, and each play a part in helping Alice to face her fears and trust in herself. The viewer is drawn into the world, and the imagination allows you to believe that it could exist, and a great place to face your fears and learn how to trust yourself. It is a must see film.