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Here's a second "meh" on the new Alice in Wonderland. Some really marvelous elements that didn't quite gel for me - in a re-telling that features all the familiar settings and characters, but with a rather conventional story grafted on.
Yet, as might be expected, the picture looks awesometastical. And I enjoyed almost all the performances -- with the notable exception of Johnny Depp - whom i HAteD as the Mad Hatter. And hated the role this story saddled him with.
I loved Bonham Carter as the Red Queen. Quispin Glover was also rad, as was Anne Hathaway. The girl who plays Alice was terrific, as were Tweedle-Dee and Dum.
Good Cheshire Cat, too, but he suffered - as did many of the "beloved" characters - from being too straightforwardly benevolent to our heroine. In fact, all the usual suspects just sort of banded together as the Alice Team of cuddly, helpful friends who remember her fondly from .... from the earlier Disney movie, I guess. A little too neat and sweet. And the standardly heroic storyline lacked the oddball charm of the original tale - that was nonetheless mimicked too faithfully.
Sigh, I don't think there's ever been a completely satisfactory version of Alice in Wonderland on screen. This one comes as close as many. But not close enough for me. I'm glad I saw it, but I never need to see it again.
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