Let's start with the good things.
Nice special effects.
Gene Wilder. Martin Short. Whoopi Goldberg (who I don't normally care for). Ben Kingsley.
Most of the rodents.
The Walrus and the Carpenter.
Now the bad things.
The most annoying Queen of Hearts possible.
Story revisionism. Hollywood just does not understand that it is not necessary to take a piece of classic English literature and make changes. Adding a dull plot framework and mixing up scenes does not make it better or more hip to audiences. It does show disrespect to the original authors and the intelligence of the viewer. It didn't work for Demi Moore in The Scarlet Letter and it doesn't work here.
Tedium. 3 hours was about 45 minutes too long for this story to be told. I was falling asleep around 9:30 actually, after Martin Short made his appearance...luckily I managed to stay awake for Gene Wilder's excellent portrayal of the Mock Turtle.
This was nowhere nearly as good as Merlin was...at least that story is always ready for a modicum of change whenever it is told. Alice in Wonderland has enough "wonder" in it that change is never necessary. If you want to see it I would recommend the 1931 star-studded version or the 1951 movie with Carol Marsh. Even the Disney travesty was better than this one.
Nice special effects.
Gene Wilder. Martin Short. Whoopi Goldberg (who I don't normally care for). Ben Kingsley.
Most of the rodents.
The Walrus and the Carpenter.
Now the bad things.
The most annoying Queen of Hearts possible.
Story revisionism. Hollywood just does not understand that it is not necessary to take a piece of classic English literature and make changes. Adding a dull plot framework and mixing up scenes does not make it better or more hip to audiences. It does show disrespect to the original authors and the intelligence of the viewer. It didn't work for Demi Moore in The Scarlet Letter and it doesn't work here.
Tedium. 3 hours was about 45 minutes too long for this story to be told. I was falling asleep around 9:30 actually, after Martin Short made his appearance...luckily I managed to stay awake for Gene Wilder's excellent portrayal of the Mock Turtle.
This was nowhere nearly as good as Merlin was...at least that story is always ready for a modicum of change whenever it is told. Alice in Wonderland has enough "wonder" in it that change is never necessary. If you want to see it I would recommend the 1931 star-studded version or the 1951 movie with Carol Marsh. Even the Disney travesty was better than this one.