Tim Burton Takes Us Back to Wonderland

In my poll for most anticipated movie of 2010, 70% of voters said 'Alice in Wonderland' so I jumped at the chance of seeing it before everyone else so I could write a review. Unfortunately, three hours before the movie's first midnight showing it had already sold out and a line was beginning to merge outside the theater. The same people in this line were the people I saw waiting five hours on the opening night of 'New Moon'. I was not there to see 'New Moon' fyi! But the line was occupied with many... um... Synchronized Nonconformists. It is amazing how much money Tim Burton has made for Hot Topic which is very sad because I love Tim Burton even though he is indirectly responsible for the fall of real punk. All blame aside, Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' is very fun and exceeds expectations.

Alice is played by Mia Wasikoasdfa. Remember her from 'I Love Sarah Jane' and 'Amelia'? Nor do I. Johnny Depp plays supporting actor as the Mad Hatter... Why is Johnny Depp playing supporting actor? It's okay, because he steals the show. Put him together with Helena Bonham Carter and you have yourself a classic Tim Burton film. Anne Hathaway, Stephen Fry, and Alan Rickman make up a really good cast of Wonderland creatures. I did not mention Michael Sheen, despite how well he did as the White Rabbit, he plays a character in the Twilight saga and that calls for a "shame on you, Michael Sheen"! I said it to Anna Kendrick in my review of 'Up in the Air' so it is only fair.

Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' is a very interesting chapter in the original 1865 mind-boggling story, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. It takes place when Alice is 19 years old and must return to Wonderland. There was one huge distinction between Tim Burton and the original Dodgson tales. Tim Burton didn't make this movie CRAZY enough. Sure, it is crazy, but a lot of it makes far too much sense. True, it is a movie and there has to be a plot and throwing in random stuff would be superfluous however this is Alice in Wonderland and when it comes to Alice in Wonderland, one should be snorting Windex before they're able to make any sense out of what the characters are talking about. This, however, is not a problem. If Tim Burton wanted to, he could have made this movie more Wonderlandesque. His vision of Wonderland is truly marvelous, perhaps not as breathtaking as it could be, but Burton couldn't have made this movie at a better time. RealD (3D) is new big thing and Wonderland is exactly the kind of place that RealD should be used for. It takes you into Wonderland and livens up the outspoken characters. Tim Burton was right to go all out with the special effects.

In conclusion, for its stunning scenery, creativity and for being such a fun film- I give Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' a wonderful 76 out of 100. Most anticipated movie of the year, yes. But will it be the best? We'll see.