We saw Alice in Wonderland on Friday night… and I really did not like it. It had some things I liked, but overall I was relieved when it was over. No specific spoilers until the cut.
The only thing that wasn’t predictable about it was that it was so predictable. I kept waiting for a plot twist that would make the story less predictable, but it didn’t happen. I was waiting for Alice to take control of the situation at the end the way she did in Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass – by asserting her reality. You’re just a pack of cards, this is ridiculous.
In general, I was waiting for illogical or fanciful things to happen… because that’s pretty much what Wonderland is. There was really very little whimsy except in character design.
I also kept waiting for the characters to resemble who they were in the books. I found Alice really annoying in general… and one of the hallmarks of Alice’s character is that she is very sensible but very curious. Why was the doormouse a little spitfire? In the book, all he did was fall asleep…? Why was the Hatter a political revolutionary? What the hell were they trying to even get across with the White Queen? Where were the random characters? Where were the characters in general? The world felt very empty… but not in a culled-ravaged way, more like they just didn’t feel like rendering anything else.
I did very much enjoy the Queen of Hearts, though. :) I also loved Alan Rickman as the caterpillar. I will also admit that I laughed at some of the jokes…. and the character visuals were interesting enough.
The plot didn’t make sense, but not in an illogical Wonderland sort of way. Just sort of a “Why is this the plot?” When the Hatter quotes the jabberwocky poem with “beware the Jabberwocky, my son,” then immediately exclaims “That’s you!” Why? Is Alice a BOY? How is this a prophecy for her?
===Spoilers===
(more…)