Into the Fire

I was among those who contributed money to Tim Burton’s and Johnny Depp’s umpteenth collaboration in the film Alice in Wonderland on Friday. As with novels, I don’t generally read the reviews of movies I want to see until after I’ve viewed them for myself. However, I did take a brief peek at two reviews this morning before going to the 11:00 AM showing of the 3D film. One reviewer seemed incensed at the nerve of Tim Burton to try something different with the story by giving it a new twist and totally irate at Johnny Depp for hamming it up as The Mad Hatter. The other critic watched it in the right spirit and gave it a sterling review.

I found the movie entirely entertaining which is fairly remarkable for me because I’ve admitted to you that while I appreciated the CGIs and amazing special effects in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and in the two Chronicles of Narnia flicks, I didn’t particularly enjoy those movies. But this Alice in Wonderland captured my attention and refused to let go. It was a fairy tale with a heart, a solid good vs. evil conflict, and a few laugh-out-loud moments, one at the end which caused more than me to erupt in laughter.

The use of 3D glasses was a new experience for me and kind of fascinating, although low key I’m sure compared to what I’ve heard about Avatar. [Alice in Wonderland was converted to 3D after being shot in 2D while Avatar used all the newest technological bells and whistles to shoot in 3D.] I managed to only flinch twice. The creative genius of Tim Burton presented an older Alice who is conflicted by an arrangement in which she is pressured to agree. She escapes her predicament by following the white rabbit and tipping over into the hole which leads her to Underland. Forced into conflict from the moment of her crashing arrival, she attempts to evade conquering the problem only she can fix.

There are some scary creatures but very few of what I call Tim Burton-moments where he just can’t resist including a grotesque image or two, but overall there is nothing terribly foreboding about this film. Parents of young children might want to preview the film before taking them to this lively adventure so they can be the judges of what might frighten them. The film itself is certainly no more threatening than either The Lord of the Rings Trilogy or the two Chronicles of Narnia films. There are far more delightful and imaginative images and characters than dark, and some of the props reveal astounding and hilarious attention to creative detail.

Johnny Depp somehow gives the crazy Mad Hatter a sensitive spirit and a heart for doing right. And quite frankly he’s fabulous and so fun to watch. Helena Bonham Carter is perfectly pouty as the dark Red Queen and Anne Hathaway gives her ethereal White Queen the lightness of movement and hand gestures to make us wonder if she might take flight at some point, and her proper and joyful descriptions of some rather gruesome elements to concoct the shrinking potion makes it almost palpable. Almost. Mia Wasikowska as a grownup Alice pulls off both fear and courage while coping with her challenges by insisting her experience is merely her dream. By the time she accepts her mission, we have confidence she will continue to make the right decisions in spite of the difficulties involved. It’s a good performance but not particularly inspired.

For sheer entertainment purposes, Tim Burton’s production of Alice in Wonderland is a rousing and enjoyable success.

Father, at your direction I’ve carried burdens for the souls of Hollywood people because your love for them overwhelmed me. Please continue to give me burdens for souls in the entertainment industry. You’ve given them their talents. Draw them to the Cross, to the real Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.