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Alice in Wonderland [Blu-ray]
Theatrical Release: March 5, 2010
DVD Release: June 1, 2010
Blu-ray Release: June 1, 2010
Director: Tim Burton
Writers: Linda Woolverton & Lewis Carroll
Rating: PG
Reviewer: Eric
Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is the director’s biggest film to date. Yeah
sure you could say that some of his other films are better and I would agree,
but this one was a cash cow. Disney knew this so in 3 short months the movie
went from being number one in theaters for three to coming out on all formats to
purchase. I happen to have picked up the blu-ray version and I can see why there
was so much buzz around this movie.
The movie takes place 13 years after the original novel Through the
Looking-Glass, the weird adventures of Alice in Wonderland that was written by
Lewis Carroll, an author who had to have been on something to create a story
like Alice in Wonderland. Any way Alice is now 19 years old and she has an
arranged marriage with a dumb aristocrat by her older sister and “I want to play
Russian Roulette” mother.
When the big question is asked to Alice she doesn’t know what to say and then
follows the rabbit into a hole. The hole leads her to Wonderland. Alice is then
reunited with her old friends Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, the drug smoking
Caterpillar, and a few others.
In Wonderland Alice is now in a war between the Red Queen and the White Queen.
Well it doesn’t seem like a real war until the end of the movie, but before that
everyone wants Alice. That is where the movie takes a turn for the worse I think
because the plot, to me at least, changes at one point and I don’t fucking
understand why.
Time Burton has done a good job in bringing Alice in Wonderland to life in CG. I
don’t know what is real in the movie. Hell Alice thinks the whole thing is a
goddamn dream and I would have to agree with her. I wish I was dreaming when
watching the first half of this movie. Get Alice and do what with her? Gang
bang? Kill her? What? Did I miss something or am I trying to be funny? I wish I
knew, trust me. All I know is this movie is fake (literally) and Alice agrees
too.
I really don’t like how the movie seems to have two damn plots to it. When part
two of the film starts I thought Lord of the Rings was on. Maybe making this
movie wasn’t such a good idea, both parts since this is two films in one. Tim
Burton is a genius? Maybe to Disney since he made them a boat load of money, but
I think he is a butcher of classic fairy tales.
What is the best part of Alice in Wonderland? The CG. Holy shit go figure. Even
though I made those comments before I think the movie looks fantastic. The
characters in Alice in Wonder are so good, especially on blu-ray (remember when
I praised the movie in my opening paragraph?). The updated, or I should say Tim
Burton’s Mad Hatter, is great. All of the animals had me smiling as they were on
the screen.
Oh oh let’s talk about Johnny Depp since Tim Burton loves Depp so much. Every
goddamn movie he has to be in, every movie. I love how the Hatter looks but Depp
makes me mad. Why does the Mad Hatter have to act like Captain Jack Sparrow at
times? Why does his fucking voice change so many times? Go ahead and tell me it
is because he’s mad, I dare you. I honestly think Burton just wanted to get
laughter from the kids since they obviously made the Mad Hatter into a complete
jackass.
As much as I thought Johnny Depp was ill-placed in this film, Mia Wasikowska
(Alice) is a hundred times worse. She is boring, bland, and has no emotion.
Wasikowska looks like death walking. She doesn’t bring any life to the Alice
character. I do not want to say she ruins the movie, but she is pretty close to
doing so actually. I think another choice as Alice would have helped the movie,
maybe even a piece of wood with a nail on it.
I could go on about the rest of the actors, I really could. Helena Bonham Carter
sucks in the movie and annoys the living piss out of me when she talks. Come on
Burton stop casting her all the time too like Depp. What do you see in her? So
what if you two have kids together, she is not talented! Make her stay at home
or find movies, other than yours, that she can be in/ruin.
The blu-ray version of Alice in Wonderland is presented in 1.78:1 widescreen,
which is identical to the normal theatrical version and not the IMAX format.
Some of the movies 3D sequences are not quite as good but what can you expect
really? As fake as the CG looks in this movie at times I still think the best
part has to be the presentation. When Alice walks on the heads to get into the
Red Queen’s castle you can see how good this movie looks on your high definition
television.
The colors are really vibrant and full of detail. There is no trace of
graininess at all during the entire movie. Wonderland comes to life on blu-ray
and if you want to show off to your friends then you might want to consider
picking Alice in Wonderland up for that alone.
Alice in Wonderland has a 5.1 DTS HD audio track. There are no flaws what so
ever. Danny Elfman’s score is perfect and crystal clear. It is a shame Elfman
has to create such a good score for a movie like this.
All of the tiniest sound effects can be heard without any problems too. From the
films roaring sounds to the final sequence, to Alice falling down the hole at
the start of the movie. You will not be disappointed at all with the sound
quality this disc has to offer.
This three disc set comes packed with loads of extras. There is of course the
blu-ray disc with the extras, a DVD with a few of the extras carried over to it,
and a digital copy for your portable device. Here is a list of the extras you
can find the on blu-ray disc.
Tea Party Props
Wonderland Characters
Scoring Wonderland
Effecting Wonderland
Stunts of Wonderland
Making the Proper Size
Cakes of Wonderland
The Wonderland Characters section has 6 featurettes on some of the movies
characters. All of these extras are short but they do a nice job showing you how
they came to life, thanks to Tim Burton and modern technology. They do go pretty
in-depth, which is nice, so make sure to check these out after the movie so you
can appreciate it more.
Again just like the Wonderland Characters area the rest of the extras are behind
the scenes look at the movie. I honestly think it would have just been better to
put all of these extras into one big short film on Alice in Wonderland with its
own chapters. All of these are just so short and you might not even want to
waste the time, even though they are interesting.
Final Verdict
Why should we go see Disney movies in theaters anymore? Maybe this isn’t the
time and place to complain about that. Alright so this blu-ray is full of high
definition goodness with a lack of a good movie. I had a few good moments with
the second part of the movie. Two movies in one, how cool is that? Yeah…maybe
this movie is good kept as a rental.
Rating Breakdown
Movie: 5 out of 10
+ Part two of this movie is pretty damn good, mainly since it
is Lord of the Rings.
- Overall what the hell is going on in this goddamn movie?
Makes no sense basically.
Picture: 10 out of 10
+ Beautiful looking blu-ray, full of bright and vibrant
colors.
- The CG looks too good sometimes that it makes certain
sequences look bad.
Audio: 10 out of 10
+ Great sounding movie on blu-ray. Danny Elfman’s score is
amazing, as always.
- Nothing.
Extras: 7 out of 10
+ Good amount of extras based around Tim Burton’s Alice in
Wonderland.
- Everything is kind of short, nothing longer than a few
lousy minutes.
Overall
8 out of 10
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