Due to the anger issues of last week, I decided to drag my boyfriend to the Alice In Wonderland movie on the premiere day at my second home, the Mall’s Cinema. Not that he didn’t want to see it (he is a Tim Burton fan after all), but we had been planning to go together with our best friends (and we will go next week, obviously), but I was so depressed and angry last week, I knew I HAD to see it or I would simply become more violent as time passed. For me, anything that Tim Burton touches is sacred gold and his movies are immortal, sublime and will last forever. This is the kind of movie that a crazed fan like me needs to see on the very first day.
So we managed to get the last two seats on the 11th row, and though I hoped against hope that the rest of the row would somehow be teleported to another dimension, therefore allowing me and my precious to obtain a center position, I had no luck with that endeavour. The other people came and I had to accept my less than perfect seats, although this hardly diminished the perfect movie experience. The 3-D did, however. Don’t get me wrong, the 3-D effects are cool and you do blink sometimes when the Mad Hare throws tea-cups at your face (I do love the little maniac), and the Jabberwocky’s tongue basically licks between your eyes, but I find those enormous glasses heavy, not particularly clean (I try to hope they had been sterilized before I put them on, since I never have a perfumed tissue when I go to movies), and my head always hurts a bit when I get out, which never happens during a normal movie. I don’t know, I guess I’m just a fan of the old-school 2-D, and to be honest, I think I would have gone to see Alice in 2-D if it had been possible, mostly because it is such a wonderful movie, that 3-D is just a little bit of extra fun. Moving on to the actual review.
As I said in the intro, I worship Tim Burton’s work. I’ve seen it all, starting with Edward Scissorhands, when I was still in grade school. I had no idea who Johnny Depp was back then, but I cried throughout most of the movie and my mum thought I was scared but I was really, really sad. Awww, that movie still has a soft spot in my heart. But every movie signed Tim Burton is fabulous and a wonder to watch. Everything is worked out to perfection, the characters are all unique and well-built and the stories…I love the sarcasm in the Chocolate Factory, the sad gloom in Corpse Bride, the sublime life philosophy in Big Fish, the extreme gore in Sweeney Todd (after Alice, it’s my favourite Tim Burton movie), and the silliness of the comedy in Beetlejuice. To sum it all up, I love the dark, complex, gothic world that Tim Burton has created. Although it is definitely a realm of the fantastic and the surreal, if you analyze all that it contains and stands for, you will notice how like all that is real it really is. Think about it.
Okay, this time, I’ll really discuss the Alice movie. It has become an instant Burton favourite of mine due to the fact that it is a perfect rendition of one of my childhood’s most prominent stories. I was such a fan back then, when I read the book (the short version, but still), when I saw several cartoon versions and movie versions (one in particular I had on tape and I watched over and over and over and over…again), and I most definitely am a fan now, when I actually understand most of the elements and symbols behind the story. When I was a kid, I liked the fact that the animals could speak, that everything had an opinion, a song, a funny scene, whatever. Over the years, I understood what the Jabberwocky was, what growing up truly meant, what life is and how a child can sometimes see the truth better than an adult, albeit, in an entirely different way, and how we are all, in fact, mad as a hatter, and maybe that should be the least of our social concerns.
The movie is sublime. The cast is full of Tim Burton’s favourites, who are, in my opinion, as relevant as the actual story, because they always bring his vision to perfection. And how could they not? I am talking about Johnny Depp (only one of the greatest actors of all time, and I would lie to myself and to the entire world if I did not add one of the world’s greatest heartthrobs…), Helena Bonham Carter (one of my favourite actresses of all time, there is no role she has played that is boring or over-estimated, she is fabulous in all of them), and Alan Rickman (or his voice at least, a voice which is so, completely, unmistakably his, and a wonderful one, may I add). The new additions were Anne Hathaway (hated her in the princess movies, not because of her, but because I despised those movies, but she rocked as the White Queen, weird posture and superb voice and all), and Alice was brilliantly played by Mia Wasikowska. I have no idea if she’s ever starred in anything else before, though something about her seems familiar somehow, but she was perfect in this role. The blue dress of Alice was made to be worn by her and she defeated a lot of pressure. I am sure a great many unappreciative critics would have loved to sink their teeth in the bearer of this iconic role, but tough luck, I don’t think anyone could criticize her performance.
Although this is Wonderland (well, Underland, to be exact), Tim Burton’s magic touch is sensed from the first second to the last. The colours are vibrant, explosive, magical, yet the usage of them is permanently gothic and with more than a touch of dark, as we should expect, but this only adds to the tangible nature of the beauty and the mystery of this fairytale universe. The story consists of a prophesied return to Wonderland by an almost grown-up Alice. She returns but is convinced that all is a dream. The impossible flirts with the possible and in the end she does what she had been destined to do, ending the bloody reign of the Red Queen (who is a real bitch in this film, but for that reason, infinitely more likeable), and also completing her passage into adulthood, and into a time of her existence in which she decides her path. Beautiful metaphor.
Humour mixes with sadness, melancholy, epic adventure and an even more epic battle in the end. The characters are immensely enjoyable and more complex than they may have seemed at the age of 6 (or whenever you entered this world for the first time). Johnny Depp is obviously the perfect hatter, and I felt his wacko madness as a deep meditation upon life, and all its aspects, both real and imagined. This actor has shown so many sides and has breathed life in so many unforgettable characters, I am no longer surprised when I watch him, I am in a perpetual and constant awe. Any fan would agree. And wow, the accent he used, a deep, angry Scottish accent, wow! Talk about cherry on top. I could listen to that for hours and never stop laughing. Also, I am desperately searching for the Futterwacken dance scene on Youtube, because I cannot wait until next week to see it again.
Danny Elfman fully brings the viewer within Underland with his magnificent score, completing Tim Burton’s gothic work. I fully recommend seeing this movie, and of course, adding it to your collection, if you have one. I definitely do. It is such an inspiring film, and the cool thing is, it can be watched by all kinds of viewers, no matter the age. Kids will love the action and the monsters, teenagers will hopefully appreciate the story and reminisce (unless all teens these days are blinded and brought to the IQ of a sub-retard by the twilight movies, of course), and adult fans will recognize the many mature aspects of this story and will see into the profound symbolism. I am so seeing this movie again!
Furthermore, what I really desire right now is a masquerade or dress-up party or something. I know I am definitely coming as the Red Queen, although my head is not nearly as freakishly large as the character’s. But the vision I have for the dress would pretty much compensate and come on, doesn’t everyone want a reason to yell “OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!” as loudly as possible? I know I do…Now, if only I could get my BF to come as the Hatter, or maybe I could come as the Hatter and he would come as the Cheshire Cat…hmm…this is so worth investigating.
Until next time: check out the Jabberwocky poem. I found it and I’ve memorized half of it. I am so in love with this poem. Lewis Carroll was a genius and I think he would be proud of all of the Alice movies done throughout the years, but especially of this one.
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought –
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
“And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’
He chortled in his joy.
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
