I Was Wrong About This Movie

Rating: 8/10 (17 March 2018)

Continuing my plan to watch every Johnny Depp movie in order, I come Alice In Wonderland.
I was put off watching this movie, as I never liked the book, and then I saw Depp's look and I decided it was not for me. Following the financial success of the Pirate movies and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, I was starting to suspect, every movie maker and studio head were giving Depp carte Blanche and he was running amok, seeing how far he could push things before he was reigned in. So last night was my first viewing of the movie.
I was wrong about this movie. Burton delivers a charming, brillian interpretation until a silly ending almost ruins everything that came before it. Burton is a brilliant visual artist, and his film is a pleasure to look at. (I wish I'd seen it in 3-D at the fine a nkw)
Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway and Matt Lucas are all human or human-ish versions of themselves and are instantly recognisable. There is voice work from Stephen Fry, Christopher Lee, Bsrbabra Windsot and rounding out the Sweeney Todd reunion with Burton, Depp and Bonham Carrer is Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall.
I was totally wrong about Depp too. He is a rare actor who can treat the most bizarre characters with perfect gravity. Whoever he plays (Edward Scissorhands, Sweeney Todd, Captain Jack Sparrow, Willy Wonka, Ichabod Crane), he is that character through and through. I've mentioned his expressive eyes before, they are used to full effect here.
Now on to the bad. The final act disappointed me why did it need an action sequence at the end?? We've seen every possihle battle sequence, every duel, all the showdowns and all the too long fights to the death.
Why does Alice in Wonderland have to end with an action sequence?? Did the executives think audiences would be disappointed without one?? It seems totally out of place and out of tone.with the rest of the movie. Thankfully it was not enough to totally spoil my enjoyment of it.
Alice In Wonderland grossed $334 million at the domestic box office to end the year the 2nd highest grossing movie of 2010. Beating the first Despicable Me and Iron Man, Twilight, Harry Potter and Shrek sequels. Only Toy Story 3 grossed more.