Phil Mercer's Home Page 2010

In my mind he is the perfect person to take on Lewis Carroll. Tim Burton's dark genius is exactly the kind of magic that can turn the crackers world of Underland into a visual reality.

When Disney announced it was bringing the classic up to date I did worry that it might end up all too sweet and sugary. Would a Burton/Disney combination actually do Mr Carroll justice?

All in all I think they did. There was just enough macabre and absurdity to make you feel at home in a Burton movie and his humour was definitely showing through. However it was bright and colourful and oozing with details that you expect from the magic touch of Disney. The story and words that delighted so many children are still there so no fears on that front. Interestingly Burton has refused to let the film be shown alongside a 1903 version but I can't really see why. The freedom CGI brings to film makers allows their imagination to run free, a luxury not available a century a go.

The casting works well. Depp is the perfect fit for the Hatter. Bonham Carter as the big headed Red Queen could have been made for the role (will she ever work without Burton again? Then again she has been in Potter Corp films) and I loved Stephen Fry as the Cheshire Cat.

New comer Mia Wasikowska as Alice was good, although didn't look as scared/confused with the situations as one might expect. But I suppose it was 'all a dream'!

One complaint I do have (and not for the first time) - the audio levels. I kept losing track of the dialogue and getting drowned out by the soundtrack. Maybe I'll wait for the DVD and pop the subtitles on. It will be interesting to see if the cinemas actually put the film on, as of the moment Odeon and Vue are threatening not to. They are worried a quicker move to DVD ruins their sales. I wonder though, the added bonus of 3D is definitely a big enough draw to the big screen to bolster bums on seats for the time being.

5/5

Labels: Film Movie

# posted by Phil @ 9:31 pm

Friday, February 19, 2010