Alice in Wonderland

I still can't help but wonder why we keep rehashing the same stories. Is it that executives feel comfortable with the known and familiar and assume that if film goers have flocked to see previous versions of a story then surely they will flock to see another? Is it that each generation of new directors cannot resist putting their individual stamp on the classics? Or is it that we have just run out of good new and original stories? Whatever the reason, here we go down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass once more. This time with Tim Burton at the helm, which means that Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter (Tim's wife) cannot be far behind. Now, all three of these people are geniuses. You would expect them to do an excellent job of interpreting Lewis Carroll's classic and you will not be disappointed. Tim's visuals are always at the cutting edge and his interpretations of the Wonderland characters are dark, creepy and fascinating. Closer than ever to the original illustrations by John Tenniel. Who could imagine an actor better suited to playing the Mad Hatter than Depp? He adds a large dollop of sadness to the madness, channelling a bit of the genuine tragedy of 18th century hatters losing their minds from the mercury poisoning which was a hazard of their trade. Mercury was used in the manufacture of felt. Helena is truly funny and quite menacing as the Red Queen. In this version Alice is a young adult facing the prospect of marriage. It has therefore a more adult theme and should appeal to a wide audience. A delight for the eyes, entertaining performances, including Stephen Fry as the Cheshire Cat, but ultimately somewhat lacking in anything truly new and remarkable.