Alice in Wonderland... ...Wait, who?

Jonny Depp and Tim Burton have an amazing actor/director relationship, one that typically produces good results, as seen through Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, and Sweeny Todd. However, in Burton’s new film Alice in Wonderland, Jonny Depp’s role as the mad hatter takes too much of the film’s focus. The over-focus on the Depp as well as plot changes to the books the movie is based on (Lewis Carol’s Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass) adds to the loss of character and mood of the original books.

To be blunt, Tim Burton’s changes to the mood and tone of the story don’t do the books justice. Now, granted, whatever source material you give Burton he will turn into a weird and dark movie. And this is the same in the case of Alice in Wonderland. This would be fine, if the books had a similar tone to them. They don’t, however, and the mood that Burton gives to the movies is therefore incompatible with the books. An example of such a change in mood (spooiler alllert!) is the portrayal of Alice as solely a warrior, rather than a judge as she is portrayed in Alice in Wonderland (the book, I know this could get confusing). I’m not saying the movie was an action flick, nor am I saying that it was trying to be, but my point is this: the many little changes, coupled with Burton’s style in general make for a film that doesn’t fit the mood of its source material.

Burton’s deviance to the original books is only further illustrated through the over-focus of Jonny Depp’s character of the mad hatter. Now, I know Tim Burton loves Jonny Depp’s ability to play eccentric and unorthodox roles, and the mad hatter allowed Depp to do just that, but compared to the mad hatter’s appearances in the books, some may find Depp’s character to be largely over-played.

Despite the fact that Burton makes changes to the movie that deviate from the mood of the books, Alice in Wonderland benefits from stunning visuals. The setting of the movie itself, a somewhat vaguely illustrated world, allowed much room for creativity to be implemented, and the filmmakers capitalized on this. They created a world that glowed with creativity as well as accuracy to whatever descriptions are offered in the book.

In conclusion, Alice in Wonderland is a movie that, honestly, can only be truly enjoyed by those who appreciate Burton’s style, but also benefits from a brilliantly creative “Wonderland” that is a true visual treat.

*** Out of *****