I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks to the marketing of the film, I expected the focus to be unduly on Johnny Depp and the Mad Hatter. He was focused on in the commercials, every poster I saw focused on the hatter... I fully expected this to spiritually be Willy Wonka 2: The Wonkening.
Fortunately, the focus of the film was, in fact, Alice. The Hatter has a big role, but he doesn't steal the movie away from her. Alice herself was someone I found to be very likable. In fact, she reminded me of my favorite Harry Potter character, Luna Lovegood. I can totally picture these two characters hanging out and saying things that would bewilder everyone else.
Anyway, back to my original point. Even after the movie has been out for a few weeks, people are still listing Burton's bestest buddy Depp as the star. Look, I like Johnny Depp. He's a great actor, and I get that emphasizing him was a shrewd marketing maneuver. Nonetheless, he is NOT the star of this movie! Mia Wasikowska is!
Wait, Wasikowska? How do you... okay, so maybe that last name is more of an enigma than "Depp", but she was still awesome in this movie, was the main character, and deserves top billing! It's like when they claimed Hugh Grant was the star of The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill But Came Down a Mountain. Chief O'Brien was the star of that movie, darn it!
It's worth noting that I did not see this movie in 3d. I did not specifically choose to do so; I saw the movie on a whim, and chose the time closest to when I passed I theater. I would've had to wait an hour and a half to see it in 3d, so I went 2d. I'm not sure if the experience was improved or hindered as a result, but it does give me an excuse to see it again.
The movie itself was fun, whimsical, and visually stunning. The story is fairly simple and nothing to get excited about (unless you're a hardcore fan of the original poems and the emotion is rage), but it remains a fun experience. It's a fantasy story through and through, like a classic fairy tale told in a modern fashion. I left the theater feeling like neglecting the restraints of reality and allowing my imagination to run totally wild. In short, I left the theater feeling fantastic.
It may not be a perfect film, but I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to seeing it again.
I'd recommend going to see it in 3D, after having seen Avatar in 3D. It wasn't shot with two cameras and other than with the Cheshire Cat the 3D doesn't ad much other than a distraction.
ReplyDeleteFinally someone with good things to say. I wanted to see it originally, but friends and reviews pushed me away. Nice to see someone with similar interests enjoying it. Also nice to see someone else who loves the character Luna Lovegood, I was afraid I as the only one :P
ReplyDeleteThe general complaints I've heard about it have been of the "But how do you reconcile the 'Alice IS Wonderland' element?" kind but I do intend to see it. Of course, knowing me, I'll wait until someone I know buys or rents or or I may just torrent it.
ReplyDeleteMy boycott of the MPAA continues.
I myself have seen the movie twice, once in 3D and once without it. I didn't see much difference between the two, which I somewhat expected. Maybe it was the fact that I saw it in 2D at a drive-in theater, and therefore at night. I don't know. You didn't miss much Dan.
ReplyDeleteP.S.I love your comic.
You don't miss much honestly, seeing it in 2D. I saw it in 3D and the only comment I have is that the giant-ass 3D glasses they have now hurt my nose REALLY bad because they wouldn't fit over my normal glasses and I'm too nearsighted to take them off T_T
ReplyDeleteStill, it was a really good movie, and I wouldn't mind seeing it again either!
Am i one of the few who thinks the movie could have been better with out Johnny Depp? Don't get me wrong, the guys a great actor, and maybe at first this role makes sense, but he kept accidentally being Jack Sparrow or Wonka. He was never the Mad Hatter, who has always been my favorite Alice in Wonderland/Batman character.
ReplyDeleteI'm really picky about my movies, and even with Avatar, it still bothers me that it gets so much praise, and yet I still can't feel for the characters.
That and I just plain and simple wanted a remake.
In my experience, those who were expecting a lot from the movie HATED it. While those of us that were pretty much curious, but were not expecting too much from it, really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, the visuals rock. I keep saying they are bizarre, crazy and familiar enough.
Proper pronunciation of Wasikowska:
ReplyDeleteVa-shi-kov-ska.
Just sayin'.