PG? Have you checked the children?

Rating: 7/10 (15 December 2011)

Tim Burton applies his usual relish to this story. The execution is excellent in all departments, except it's not a movie for children.
It's not a movie for a lot of adults either. Burton brings Alice's adventure(in fact the story is the residue of Lewis Carrol's lsd trips) to life in what closely resembles Gothic horror. Burton's wonderland characters are demented, mutant humans and circus freaks, and frightening animals that talk. If I were a child watching this I would feel affronted, horrified and disempowered. Having said that, I think it's hilarious that Disney asked Burton to direct this demented children's tale. I doubt that Mr & Mrs Average will trust Disney with their children again. The violence is powerful. Wonderland's sinister atmosphere is thorough. The questionably redeeming allegories and truisms of the original story are lost in this fiercely frightening version. The Red Queen's three face slaps on her consort are tremendously violent. The realisation of the Jabberwocky is goth monsterism at its nastiest. The original story Lewis Carrol weaved with words, engaged children's imagination. Burton's film realisation leaves no where for young minds to retreat to. Don't let them see this. Share it with your least favourite in-law, and laugh uproariously throughout it.