Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
0.5/4
Worst Lewis Carroll Adaptation
Unknown - wrote on 05/21/2016
This remake/sequel live-action retread of Disney's own version of the 'Alice in Wonderland' series takes story elements from other various sources (namely 'Wizard of Oz') and makes a boring, confusing mess out of all of it. The appeal of the source material is that there was almost no plot and the themes of the story play out in many bizarre encounters that Alice has. She acted as a child in a child's fantasy and gained some enlightenment amidst the amusing chaos. In this incarnation, she's an adult stripped of any personality, traversing this make believe world without her trademark curiosity or wonder. She's a blank slate whom this ‘chosen one’ style plot has forced into a heroine position for it’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ inspired finale. It’s trite material. As far as …
Rating of
2.5/4
Visuals Don't Make A Film
JLFM - wrote on 06/05/2012
Alice In Wonderland really is a mixed bag. I know that's hardly a way to begin a review, but when you've got a bag as mixed as this, it's hard to know quite where to start. I never can tell what Alice In Wonderland is trying to be, whether a drama, an action movie, a comedy, but it appears to be juggling all three at once, which provides mixed results, as I mentioned previously.
Instead of being a mere adaption of the Alice In Wonderland book, Tim Burton instead creates a story that occurs 13 years after. Alice is set to marry a lord who she does not want to marry at all. Demands from her mother and parents of Alice's predetermined husband further confuse and frustrate Alice. So to escape it all, she follows a familiar rabbit into a rabbit hole, and we all know what will happen from …
Rating of
3/4
Tim Burton Magic
MovieMike - wrote on 12/22/2011
I just had to wonder what would happen if you mixed the nonsensical writings of Lewis Carroll with the off-beat directorial imagery of a film director like Tim Burton (‘Corpse Bride’, ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’). Fortunately for moviegoers, we get something that is a true visual buffet that could only be dreamed up by Mr. Burton and a story that still manages to maintain the whimsy of Carroll’s original work.
While titled ‘Alice In Wonderland’, the plot is actually derived from Carroll’s follow-up work, ‘Alice Through The Looking Glass’. Writer, Linda Woolverton (‘Artic Tale’, ‘Lion King’), picks and chooses those elements from each of Carroll’s works that make this a more coherent tale, but still makes a point of carrying along most of the absurdity …
Rating of
2/4
Alice in Wonderland review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 08/01/2011
We all know the story. The beginning of the film was okay. Anne Hathaway's acting was very dry, maybe it was intended for her role. Helena Bonham Carter's ranting Queen depiction was entertaining. Johnny Depp was quirky and sometimes funny. The mood of the film was very dark, and this was based on a fairy tale for kids. There were certain scenes that were visually delightful, but overall it never satisfied. Not one of Burton's best films. …
Rating of
4/4
For your entertainment!
prettypirate - wrote on 07/24/2010
There are two people who were made to work together and that is Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. This film reinforces the above statement and is no exception to the rule that Johnny Depp and Tim Burton makes magic together. The plot is familiar, but the tale of Alice that we all know is taken to new heights and what a view it is! The cast is spot on, especially with Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter. The 3D tricks used to include the viewers are fun and amusing. The characters have a chemistry that is nice to see and the dialogue is entertaining and witty. I was at the edge of my seat throughout the entire film. This film is not for everbody, because it is a representation of the world that Tim Burton dreams in. If however you are a fan like myself, you will love every moment of it! Everything is …
Rating of
1.5/4
Waste
Nerva - wrote on 04/14/2010
This follows suit in a new trend I'm noticing with large budget movies now, great special effects... Horrible horrible story. The story was so cliche and boring, you'd think they would have tried to improve on the alice in wonderland story but instead they took out all of the interesting parts gave Johnny Depp a hat and said fuck it, roll. The actress playing Alice (Mia I'm guessing) was horrible, completely horrible. She couldn't act her way into a paper bag let alone out of it. Anne Hathaway it really pains me to say it because I do love her in almost everything I've ever seen of hers but she was dreadful. It was obvious that she was hamming it up in her 'queen' role and that the intention was to seem cliche but really it just got annoying after awhile and was cheesy from the start. …
Rating of
2/4
A Joyless Experience
goodfellamike - wrote on 04/08/2010
Speaking objectively, there isn't a director alive more suited to the material than Tim Burton. However, he has created a visually-dingy and downcast version of the beloved tale that wrings out most of the charm. The cast is fun, particularly Helena Bonham-Carter as the delightfully vicious Queen of Hearts (although her oft-chanted threat of offing someone's head gets old fast), Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter and Mia Wasikowska as the willowy Alice, but apart from them, no one is given much to do; the biggest tragedy is that Burton veterans Michael Gough and Christopher Lee have only a few spoken words between them. The battle scene is anti-climactic, the 3-D feels more like a gimmick (and a snide grab for more cash) and I for one was just entirely disheartened by the whole thing. …
Rating of
1.5/4
Disney sucks...they made Depp and Burton look bad.
Gabe - wrote on 03/13/2010
My wife and I have been waiting two years to see this movie. I am a huge fan of the Lewis Carrol novel and thought, "man, if I could choose any director dead or alive to make this film, I would choose Tim Burton." Well, this was not good. First of all, it's not "Alive in Wonderland," it's more like "Alice's Return to Wonderland." It reminded me more of the 80's movie "Return to Oz" instead of Alice's first trip down the rabbit hole. I'm not even going to touch the acting which felt lifeless. My main complaint is Disney. I felt like if another company put out this film it would've been better, but heaven forbid Disney release a film that appeals to older children or teens more than the under 12 demographic. SPOILER ALERT: Johnny Depp's dance at the end was not needed, but just …
Rating of
3/4
Tim Burton's Best Remake...er..Reboot..er....thing
The SHC - wrote on 03/09/2010
Anyone who knows me will tell you that I'm a huge fan of Tim Burton. Edward Scissorhands is awesome, I still consider Batman one of my favourite movies of all time, Ed Wood is absolutely fantastic, and The Nightmare Before Christmas is a timeless classic, in my opinion. However, I always thought he was better at doing origional works. I personally think he should stop doing remakes all together and just stick to his origional stuff. Planet of the Apes was OK, but not nearly as good as the origional sci-fi classic. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is good overall, but has some real negative aspects (such as Freddie Highmore proving, once again, that he can't act), and like Burton's Planet of the Apes remake, it just wasn't as good as the origional. In fact, the only only movies Tim …
Rating of
3/4
I Chortled in my Joy
Chris Kavan - wrote on 03/07/2010
If you're familiar with Tim Burton's body of work, then it will come as no surprise that Alice in Wonderland is a visual treat. Even though this is rated PG, like much of Burton's work it has a darker undertone than one would expect but is full of whimsy as well.
Unlike many Wonderland adaptations, this takes place in the future with an adult Alice. No longer full of wonder - this Alice is a bit more headstrong. Mia Wasikowska has the look down. She only looks delicate and fragile - but don't judge a book by its cover - she's one tough cookie.
Then you have the two big guns: Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen. Although I was put off a little by Depp's accent - his Hatter character is perfectly crafted. Carter looks like she's having a great time …
