The Almagest

Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: fanpop.com

As a child, like many American youths, I was conditioned to be something of a Disney fiend. Aladdin, Snow White, Beauty and The Beast, Lion King, The Sword in the Stone; you name it, and I most likely had a copy in my VHS collection. Imagine then, my excitement upon hearing of the new live action Alice in Wonderland sequel directed by Tim Burton. However, as the date of release drew nearer, I was more apprehensive of the film than excited. It had received a PG rating and little publicity. As such, it was with reluctant trepidation that I watched the opening credits roll at the packed midnight release.

It wasn't long into the film that my unfounded anxiety began to ebb. The film, in typical Burton fashion, was visually stunning; the writing was generally solid, just young enough for children with a healthy portion of subtlety and innuendo for the older viewers; and the acting was, of course, superb. With Burton's handful of regulars making appearances, the caliber of acting could be no less.

The film's plot is a healthy mixing of Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There, and the original Alice in Wonderland. Having read one or both, especially Carroll's poem "Jabberwocky," makes the film much more enjoyable. The film uses references the viewer would likely miss had they not read or made themselves familiar with these works.

Johnny Depp proved a delightfully Mad Hatter, switching personalities on the fly, the character's madness leaking into the dialogue sporadically, startling the viewers and forcing them to the edge of their seat. His mannerisms were reminiscent of his famed roll as Jack Sparrow, yet original enough to provide a new experience. His character was decidedly more involved in Burton's film than the original, and to great effect. Depp creates a character that seems to know more than he lets on, yet be completely oblivious at the same time.

Mia Wasikowska plays the part of a 19 year-old Alice and fits the role magnificently. Her youthful charm and beauty gives her the aura of young adulthood perfectly for this coming-of-age themed film. Her acting was terrific; not overly dramatic, but not aloof. I was reminded of Judy Garland's innocent exuberance. This image changes as the movie progresses and Alice learns to embrace her willful nature.

The remainder of this considerably talented cast performs brilliantly, with exceptional voice work from Stephan Fry (the Cheshire cat) and Alan Rickman (the caterpillar). The only less than stellar performance was from Anne Hathaway who played the part of the White Queen. Hathaway's mannerisms were intended to be over the top and comical, but Hathaway failed to sell the character well in the little screen time she was given.

The film is a sequel which incorporates nearly all of the characters from the book and animated classic. Many characters underwent some aesthetic changes, causing stickler fans of the original cartoon some irritation. However, I believe the film was a visual triumph and would strongly recommend it to any fan of Louis Carroll's fantastical story, Tim Burton or the old Disney classic.

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