Alice in Wonderland review: Tim Burton's wild new Wonderland

This "Alice in Wonderland" review acknowledges that Tim Burton's world of Wonderland and the social misfits inhabiting it, are completely nuts. And what a wild, wonderful world it is. Audiences may not want to leave their seats, despite Wonderland looking more like a wasteland after so much time passing since Alice's last trip down the rabbit hole.

Watching Alice's adventure through wonderland is like falling in love with someone crazy all over again (some of the ladies might wish that's with Johnny Depp,) but this time movie goers don’t need to understand why their former lovers are the way they are; they're just happy to let them be. No questions asked. They're in it for the ride. That’s the beauty of this movie.

An adult Alice fantasy

Tim Burton’s "Alice in Wonderland" successfully conveys a fantasy world created by adults for adults, but seen through the eyes of children. The movie has elements of other films like "Narnia", "The Golden Compass" and even "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". It’s also the perfect marriage between a director, a book and a movie.

Like "Edward Scissorhands", his Oscar-winning formula in 1990, Burton has bounced back with Alice, and his heart is there throughout the entire making of the film. It’s like re-visiting his childhood and taking risks as he approaches the movie with a healthy dose of ADD and random brilliance in his story-telling and directing.

Die-hard fans of Lewis Carroll’s original book will be in for a shock, but Burton tweaks the setting and characters to create a more relevant and adult world for the audience. This is not a movie for kids. Wonderland is now more Worn-outland and seems reminiscent of the barren and desolate landscapes in the "Lord of the Rings".

The audience is not asked to be sympathetic to any of the movie's characters. There is not a loveable, huggable quality to any of them -- which might seem important in a film geared towards a younger audience. Everyone just seems very mad, and grown up.

The Blue Caterpillar smokes like a chimney, and the faithful Bloodhound, Bayard, missing in the book, helps to move the story along. Even the beginning of the story has been re-written as Alice finds herself in an uncomfortable predicament -- her own surprise engagement party.

Burton has decided that only a teenager can have the depth to understand the complexities of a world that is mad. The whole purpose of being in Wonderland, for Alice, is to slay the part-alien, part-flying dragon Jabberwocky, who terrorizes the people, so that Wonderland can return to being wonderful again.

Helena Bonham Carter is heartless.

Mad hatters and Queens

Burton's casting for "Alice in Wonderland" is exceptional. Banking on familiarity, Burton once again pairs up Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter -- both together in Burton's box office failure "Sweeney Todd", Depp as the Mad Hatter and Carter as the heartless Queen of Hearts. 

Depp’s Mad Hatter is brilliant, a merger of his previous roles as Edward Scissorhands and Charlie in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Quirkiness is best for Depp. Bonham-Carter’s brilliance and bossiness is captivating, in a role which gives her artistic license to behave like a spoilt brat. Some other "Alice in Wonderland" reviews might not agree, but to each their own.

The only cast member that fails, is the White Queen played by Anne Hathaway who floats around most of the time like a gesticulating teacher at the Royal Ballet who can’t let go of her past. Hathaway fails to rise to the level of her co-actors, walking around dazed and confused and seemingly somewhat stoned. Experiencing this movie might seem like being on a healthy dose of hallucinogens, which is what all the characters might be under the influence of too, but her lust for life is missing.

Incoming Oscars

Alice is fast-paced and hopeful and the fashion is to die for. Fashionistas are in for a treat and I bank on this movie walking away with an Oscar for Best Costumes. It’s like a Vivienne Westwood smorgasmabord for the big screen.

Even if the 3D effects fail to impress (Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman called Alice's 3D effects "hum drum") after watching James Cameron’s "Avatar", "Alice in Wonderland" is a decidedly charming and seductive effort on Burton’s part. Perhaps the theme of the movie is his own philosophy for life.

When the Mad Hatter asks Alice if he is mad, Alice answers, “ Only the best people are.” 

Visit Rottentomatoes.com's Alice in Wonderland reviews page for more takes on Tim Burton's re-imagining of a classic and IMDB for international release dates.