Visuals are there but not the acting...

Rating: 4/10 (5 April 2010)

Tim Burton is one of the most talented visual directors in the business (next to the great Stanley Kubrick) and whenever he makes a new film you can bet on a truly visual experience. Alice in Wonderland is no exception to this but unfortunately that is where it ends. Burton it seemed spent way too much time on perfecting the visuals in the film that he forgot about the actors. Johnny Depp can certainly hold his own in any film but his performance as the Mad Hatter was less than impressive for an actor of his caliber. He was more interesting to look at than to watch act and what made it worse was at the end he does this ridiculous break dance which for me just took more away from the story. And speaking of this classic and what I remember from it, Alice was more of an upbeat likable character that made you feel for her. Mia Wasikowska performance as Alice was the cure for insomnia. Her portrayal as Alice was one dimensional and expressionless which was surprising when you consider the enchanting place she finds herself in. She just delivered her dialog like she was bored to tears. And I can't understand the need for Burton to use Helena Bonham carter as the bad queen. I mean I know his is married to her in real life but she was mis-cast and she overacted. I would have preferred say Glenn Close for the part or some other actress that could have brought more to the role. Not only was the acting bad in this film but there were also several characters that in my opinion were a little on the creepy side, and that might scare kids. Tweedledee and Tweedledum are an example. They looked like something you would see in your worst nightmare.
Aside from the poor acting the visuals again were wonderful and maybe for some that would be worth the price of admission. Not for me.