Alice in Wonderland - My MiniReview

So I've recently seen the new movie Alice in Wonderland by Disney, and to start of this mini-review post on a positive - I must say the movie came above my expectations. Thinking that this was just another Disney movie aimed for the younger audience, and being very very disappointed at their movie prior to Alice in Wonderland - The Princess and The Frog, I really couldn't believe how this was, as an understatement, a highly awaited film. But with a semi-star studded cast: Helena Carter as the Red Queen, Anne Hathaway as the White Queen, Alan Rickman or our ever so hated Snape of the Harry Potter franchise as the wise Blue Caterpillar (I forgot his name) and of course, who would forget Johnny Depp as Mad Hatter - this movie was bound to be good.

What makes this movie stand out from the latest blockbusters is how the story progresses. Unlike the recent fantasy movies such as Avatar, Percy Jackson and The Lighting Thief (which was fairly good), and whatnot, the flow of this movie takes you on a journey. No, it's not FULL of action, nor is it FULL of comedy, but the story certainly gets there at the right scenes, at the right time. The film starts out a bit dull, lifeless, and colorless (actually reminded me of Peter Pan - not in a bad way XD). Whether or not this was a mistake of the director, scriptwriter or whoever, I still liked how this complimented the rest of the movie. That dullness in the real world highlighted the "madness" of life in Underland (or Wonderland as Alice called it). The movie picks up very well from the dull scene of the real world, to the very lively scene of Underland. Most movies can't carry this concept of "journeying" their audiences through a story well, but Alice in Wonderland surely did it perfectly.

Basically, the movie was about Alice returning to "Wonderland" now as a teenager, and only recalls her past travel to Wonderland as a dream when she was a child. According to a few of my friends, this movie was a take on the book "Through the Looking Glass" which I've heard before, though I never really knew what that was. This time around, the inhabitants of Wonderland were torn in between the rule of the cruel Red Queen and the kingdom of the White Queen. The White Queen ruled back when Alice was a child, but an event happened wherein the Knave of the Red Queen was able to get his hands on the White Queen's crown and sword. The sword was an artifact and rival to the Red Kingdom's Jabbawokee (a giant dragon). With the sword in the White Kingdom, and the Jabbawokee in the Red Kingdom, the forces of both Kingdoms were equal - but again, the sword fell into the hands of the Red Kingdom, crumbling the White Kingdom's morale. Similar to when Alice was a child, the Red Queen brought Alice into her castle (not knowing that this was the same as the child Alice) and acquired the queen's favor.

What's quite noticeable about this movie though is that it somehow is not anymore centered on Alice herself. It tends to linger between a story mainly about Alice, and most of the time, it appears to be a story about vengeance between the three (supposedly "minor") characters - White Queen, Mad Hatter, and Red Queen.

The CG on this movie was amazing as far as computer generated characters were concerned. The 3D lets you appreciate the environment and atmosphere MUCH better, though that's only if you fancy scenery (which I personally do). Disney's concept on the Card army of the Red Queen, and the Chess army of the White Queen were well put into the movie. They don't look as they did on the old Disney cartoon, instead they got more of a knightly and fiercer look. The characters too were well put in the movie. (Though I don't remember how Alice was in the old cartoon movie) Alice showed a rather lonesome character, and started blasting with emotions and power when she arrived in Underland. In some movies, especially Percy Jackson and The Lighting Thief, characters can't carry the concept of changing personalities very well - but in Alice in Wonderland, it seemed natural that Underland boosted Alice's personality. Mad Hatter too was amazing - A demonic character who seems shallow and crazy but truly is deep and ALWAYS has another trick up his sleeve. What more could you expect with Johnny Depp in Mad Hatter's shoes? ...or Hat? XD Red Queen was depicted well. With her big head, and her court committee with their obnoxiously huge body parts, they give the comedy twists in the story.

All in all, I give this movie a two thumbs up. I'd give more if I had more than two, but sadly, I don't. I really hope you guys can go see it for yourselves!