"TRANSCENDENCE" - THE FILM THAT JUST DOESN'T...

I used to be such a big fan of Johnny Depp. No, I really was. I remember the excitement welling up in me when I saw the second pirates of the Caribbean. Jack Sparrow was atop a mast of a small dingy, you saw him from behind and... A proper “squeeee” moment. One  has to say, the veteran actor’s looks have not dimmed at all with age. But as for his output… It’s definitely a series of “oh dear” moments. The latest film critics love to hate being Mordecai – no one seemed to have a single good word to say about it. He seems to have quite a few films coming out this year, let’s hope one of them is the film to relaunch the Johnny Depp we remember and love from classics like Edward Scissorhands or – a particular favourite of mine – Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. In the meanwhile, this week we peruse the latest booty from my trip to the DVD store – a little number called Transcendence.

Sporting a cast absolutely chock-full of stars – Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Rebecca Hall and Kate Mara – and a first-time, though passionate director who had Dp’d on many films before, Transcendence looked more than promising. The subject matter was current and thought-provoking too, as it explores the domain of AI (one of a long series of films to recently ask questions on the matter) and in particular – as the name suggests – Transcendence. It’s a weird one. You can see promise and lots of “good things” bubbling right beneath the surface, but when all is said and done the film just doesn’t…  You know, it just doesn’t.

Dr Will Caster (Johhny Depp) and his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) are scientists at the cutting edge of AI, they are working on creating a sentient machine. Will would much rather tinker about in his laboratory with no contact with the outside world at all but anti-AI activists has other plans.  An attempt on Will’s life pushes the team’s hand to attempting Transcendence, that is to say, uploading Will’s consciousness onto a computer. The attempt is successful and what seems to be painfully similar to Will’s spirit now resides in a computer. And the moment the computer connects to the internet truly extraordinary things begin to happen. For Will, the sky is literally the limit… The question is, what does this mean for the rest of the planet…

There were several problems with this film as far as I was concerned. First of all, the characters seemed unfinished. Of course there are a “set” lot of characters in every story and a little bit of digging reveals them for the tropes they are. The key in that case is in the digging. A combination of the actor’s performance and the director’s vision make the characters complex and we don’t just yawn and go “mentor” or “turncoat”. In this film, the actors performances are good – but I suspect they were just doing what was being asked of them, which, sadly, was not enough for my money. I was particularly disturbed by the fact that the two main female characters (heck the only two actual female characters in the film) were the worst when it came to being caricaturised. Both Evelyn – Will’s wife (though credit where it’s due, she is a scientist so at least credited with intelligence) and the leader of the rebels Bree (Kate Mara – again at least in a leader’s position) are by and large portrayed as “excitable women” acting on their emotions, making mistakes and being “guided” by men. Morgan Freeman is the typical older mentor, Paul Bettany is the “sceptic”, Cillian Murphy is “the cop”. All the characters are perfectly executed but that is what you would expect from a veteran cast. Things could definitely have been made interesting through performance alone – and an opportunity was missed…

The bit things were “added to” was the storyline. And oh boy, did they add “things” to that. When you take a gander at the extra features you see a clue as to what went wrong – “It’s a sci-fi film” say the crew members, “so the film definitely has a fiction and fantasy element”. Well of course it does.  Basically the film has taken the much disputed concept of transcendence – the uploading of the human consciousness onto a computer system and – coupled with the developments that would allow us to have –in theory at least – artificial bodies thus leading to immortality for all intents and purposes. Some scientific centres claim that all of this could be a mere and unbelievable 30 years away. Others aren’t quite as optimistic.

What the film tries to do is to give us a terrifying hint at what could happen if this Transcendence somehow “got out of control” and “took over the world”.  Apart from the fact that the whole concept stinks of The Terminator,  the film simply does not do enough to instil this fear into us. What it does do is at best hard to follow and very loosely based in logic (for those who have seen the film, I credit myself with at least average intelligence and good education but I am still at a loss as to how Will can actually manipulate the gravel and the concrete in the town around him). The film should have either leant a bit more on the plotlines that were actually laid out within the domain of logic, or gone a bit more spectacular on the “fantastic” elements and made more of a spectacle of them. I mean I get it, they are trying to go understated and hint at the horrors to come but with the cast performances already reduced to clichés and none of the storylines quite followed through the film just… Doesn’t. By the time you go “Ok fine, I officially suspend disbelief, he can manipulate nature via wifi or whatever” the film is done. You just don’t have the opportunity to “settle into” anything.

 I have a feeling that our first time director Wally Pfister just had so much he wanted to do with his first feature that he just crammed it all into the same film on a superficial level and explored none of them in depth. I do wish he had picked a few concepts and burrowed down instead of across. It could have been a fascinating film… It ends up being just.. Meh… 

A STEP INTO THE PAST AND OUT OF THIS WORLD : "CORPSE BRIDE"

I know. I can’t quite believe I missed this one either. I mean, it’s Tim Burton, it’s an animation, it’s a musical… What more can one want from a film?  I mean, fair enough I didn’t know it was a musical until I actually started watching it so I might as well give you a heads up too. But for me, that kind of thing is more of a pleasant surprise. And of course Johnny Depp is, as always, there in the foreground along with Helena Bonham-Carter - so, the usual suspects. Not to say that Tim Burton is getting cliché (because he is not), you know what elements usually come up in a Burton movie by now – and I don’t just mean the actors. It’s the atmos, it’ s the wonderfully imaginative storyline it’s the brilliant animations… If all these things aren’t as “superlative” for you as they are for me, well, you have a problem. If, however, you know what to expect and can’t wait to get your grubby paws on it, well, step right on in.

Back in Victorian England marriage was just as much a matter of business as it was a matter of love. In some situations this state of affairs remains today. But our story today is particularly interested in one such “business” marriage in a small village in Victorian England. Victor (Johnny Depp), the son of the newest “nouveau riche”s in town is to be wed to Victoria ( Emily Watson) , the daughter of an old aristocratic family who is very down on their funds. However, when nervously practicing his wedding vows in the seclusion of the forest, he inadvertently marries a corpse. Now, while this doesn’t seem like the easiest of mistakes to make, it is a lot tougher to actually undo what has been done. The Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter) has long been waiting for her true love to come along when she got jilted by her lover when she was alive and she is determined not to let Victor go. Thus whisked down to the underworld Victor now faces a rather novel set of problems. Not least how to get back, as his “living world” wedding is supposed to be taking place in a matter of hours…

First of all, fans rejoice. This is, as I said at the beginning, everything a Tim Burton film should be. And despite great talent, it can be touch and go. Take for example, a later burton, “The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”, yet another musical starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. It has all the ingredients, and yet… I don’t know. Was it my moo when I watched it? Was it something else? Something was missing. There wasn’t that “va-va-voum” we’re used to. But this one has it. If you feel like dropping out of the real world for a few hours and taking a wild journey into the imagination of one of the most creative minds of our generation, this is the fella for you. You will laugh until you cry. And in bits, you might cry when you’re not laughing. I must admit, yes there were tissues involved in my experience. But then again, that subtle play on the heartstrings is the other reason I like Burton so frigging much.

I don’t want to give too much away because imaginative twists and surprises are a staple of this film. But just one small note. If you’re slightly worried, from a feminist point of view that the film boils down to two women fighting over Johnny Depp, fear not. The film has little to do with marriage in fact, as far as its main message goes, and a lot more to do with letting go of your past to be able to move on in life… You’ll have to watch it to see what I mean, but it’s really quite something. Trust me on this. 

"THE TOURIST" THAT GOT A BIT LOST

Now I’m really confused about this one. My boyfriend has some part in this – I’m sorry baby but it has to be said. It was yet another of the more recent films I had been unable to keep in touch with you see. My boyfriend having enjoyed it a lot was telling me about it, all emotion and excitement and he ran all the way through. Right to the end. Including the plot twist. I didn’t see it coming, I don’t know why I didn’t stop him but it happened. We then watched the film anyway, which is fine but there was something missing... I mean, I’m honestly not sure whether it was the fact that I already knew the plot twist or that the film was lacking something. But the reviews I have of the film are mixed – very mixed. Hence my sneaking suspicion that the film is not entirely up to scratch. Mr Depp, you disappoint me.

The story is that of spies and deceit. Elise (Angelina Jolie) is wanted by the police. The thing is, her lover is wanted even more. The problem is, no one knows what he looks like because he has had extensive plastic surgery changing his face completely. One tends to do that when one is wanted by half a dozen international security agencies AND a dangerous mobster whose money one has stolen. Of course Elise is not about to give her lover up that easily so she hatches a plan. A decoy in the shape of the unsuspecting Frank (Johnny Depp), an American tourist that happened to be passing by is chosen and interacted with. This suits Elise because now everyone thinks Frank is her lover. Frank, however, is now one of the most wanted men in Venice.

Now. The so-called plot twist is so obvious, I don’t even feel the need to slip in a disclaimer. I’m not entirely sure why this is the case though. I did know the twist before I watched the film, this much is true. However, the thing is it seemed... A little too obvious.  Just a tad. And when you have that wrong you see, settings, acting, direction... It’s all very nice but that’s the thing with spoilers. They spoil things. And I think it is the fact that the film tries to conceal something so obvious that means that it has not been nearly as popular as one would have initially thought it would be. I mean, that is the point with stories. The anticipation. Without that, seriously, what do you have? So honestly, my boyfriend is not to blame. He may have had a bit of an effect on my experience but seriously. Hiding things in plain sight is a tricky business. And The Tourist gets it wrong. Oh it’s funny. It’s amusing to watch of an evening. Then again though, if you want a touch more from your cinema, you can give it a miss. Seriously. 

POSSIBLY MY IDEA OF A PERFECT FILM : I GIVE YOU KING "CRY BABY"

  I try to be professional while I write this blog. This may seem strange as I am actually doing this for pleasure not work. But still, standards must be kept up and all that, and I try and be objective and honest and all that when I review films. Like everyone, however, I have my Achilles heel. I don’t admit this too often, but those who know me know this well. If Johnny Depp is in it, the chances are I am probably going to love this film. No matter what the rest of the technical qualities. I mean, I will notice the rest of the film. I will bear whatever is wrong with it in mind when I talk about it. But I will also like it. For Johnny’s sake. *sigh*.

But into all that comes a film like Cry Baby. Ladies and gentlemen, you would be very hard pressed to squeeze more things I like into a single movie. It’s a musical. It’s a ‘50s musical. It has ‘50s music in it (in case you hadn’t made the connection). It has Johnny Depp in it. It has absurd comedy and kitch coming out of its ears. I am well aware that film critics everywhere may not necessarily agree with me but I just may have discovered perfection dear readers. In my universe, anyway.

So what is Cry Baby about? Well, we’re in Baltimore, the ‘50s. And the town can be roughly divided into territories of two gangs. One, the Squares, the “goodie two shoes”, who have the full support of the adults and the “Drapes” aka the juvenile delinquents (these are all real gangs by the way and based on the memories of writer and director John Waters but I’ll get to that in just a second). The head of the Drapes gang is Wade Walker, better known as Cry Baby, who can sing and croon like Elvis himself and can make the girls swoon with his ability to shed a single tear. Love, however, knows no boundaries and one day, he falls for a girl. The girl – Allison - happens to be very “high up” in the Squares gang. However, she is actually “sick of being good” and Cry Baby has a heart of gold for all his bravado and showing off and with a bit of a “bad girl makeover” Allison is soon the “queen” on Cry-baby’s arm. However, the small town, Allison’s ex-boyfriend and the “system” are determined to keep the lovers apart. Will they overcome the obstacles and get together in the end?

I love this film because it doesn’t put on airs and graces. It doesn’t take itself too seriously. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a serious (and successful) effort at making a brilliant film. But at the end of the day it is a fifty’s film full of fifty’s stuff that may well look like kitch to us today. Frankly, the film really, really doesn’t care. John Walker grew up in Baltimore where the Drapes (the real ones) and all their escapades ruled the headlines. Like all respectable kids growing up, he really wanted to be a Drape. Whether he succeeded or not (I got the impression not from the interview but who knows), he has put that whole era well, truly and completely into the film. And the comedy. The absurd comedy, oh my God. I know that both musicals and absurd comedy are acquired tastes more than anything else, but for those who like them, this film offers perfection, be it through the music or the performances. Johnny Depp is gorgeous as Cry-Baby and my other favourite in the film is without a shadow of a doubt Iggy Pop who stars as his “step-grandfather”. I’ll let you discover for yourself how that works out J

Now, if you’re going to feel all self-conscious and weird because you’re not watching the next “cool and hip thing” give this a miss. But if you’re not pre-occupied with “cool and hip” and want to really let rip, and I mean toe-tapping, guffawing and actually applauding the screen, this is the one. Plus it has Johnny Depp. I mean, come on, this is a proposition you just can’t refuse… Right? 

LIFE IS JUST AN "ARIZONA DREAM"

There is an inherent problem to writing reviews on such well-known films. I always somehow assume that everyone already knows they’re brilliant. I mean, granted, I personally think Emir Kusturica’s work has grown slightly “tired” with time, but this is some of his earlier and original stuff… And with Johnny Depp as the leading actor with all that charisma and talent, let’s face it how could it fail? This is a surreal, weird and wonderful film about life, growing up, and some of our greatest dilemmas…
Axel Blackwater (Johnny Depp) comes from an Arizona family of good means. The family made their money in Cadillac sales, but Axel didn’t want any of that. The Cadillacs or the money that is… He works with the Water Board in New York, and his job is keeping tabs on the fish in the area. Axel likes fish; he thinks there is great wisdom in fish. But he will be forced out of his familiar, if slightly quirky world with a summons from his Uncle Leo back home. Uncle Leo is getting married and he wants Axel to be the best man. Axel wants none of that either but after basically being kidnapped to Arizona he reckons he might as well go through with the matter. His intention is to hop onto the first available train back ASAP but his stay will be extended. Not only one but two original women enter his life. Love enters his life, big time too. Arizona holds more surprises for Axel than he could possibly have imagined… All he can do about it is kick back and let things take their course…
Arizona Dream is basically about growing up. Not the physical growing up, the mental growing up; and those of us who have been through it know the difference all too clearly, am I right? It’s about facing what is possible and what is not, it’s about choosing real life and stepping forward to accomplish your responsibilities or actively deciding not to grow up and going after your dreams… It’s all about growing up, seeing what life really is like, understanding what’s possible and what’s not and slowly, painfully “growing up”. This is the true meaning of “growing pains”… This sounds like a rather pretentious message to be putting across but Kusturica does it with beauty and class and succeeds completely in giving the sense of loss and sadness that this realization of what life “is” brings…
On a personal note though, I do not and cannot believe that everyone should “grow up” and be logical (for lack of a better word). I am at the moment at a time in my life where, after opening my eyes and seeing what “makes sense”, I decided that didn’t suit me and took a massive leap into the unknown. It seems to be working out so far… But then again, there are always a few exceptions that prove the rule…

A TRIP TO END ALL TRIPS OF ALL KINDS! "FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS"

Time for something a little more “hard hitting”. We centered around the emotional traumas of war, the 60’s and even the 20’s last week, but this week , I’m going for the “tough stuff”. Quentin Tarantino will feature heavily in the proceedings but before we get to him, I want to discuss another of my favorite directors. Terry Gilliam. Now, to say I love Monty Python would rank among the great understatements of the century… Terry Gilliam is the one in the band who did the animations. A graphic artist by trade he did those beautiful surreal animations that sort of wound out of one absurd shape into another without so much as a “by your leave” leaving the viewer completely befuddled as to where he began in the first place… In a strange way, I feel his work as a director has a lot of the same surreal quality… Not the photography but the storytelling… Did you watch Tideland? Or The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus? Did you like either? If you said yes, you will LOVE Fear and Loathing…
Meet Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp). He was a newspaper reporter somewhere down the line. He still is, thanks to his large Samoan “attorney” Dr Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro). Dr. Gonzo and Duke do a lot of traveling together. They also get into A LOT of serious trouble together. They are usually loaded on every kind of drink and drug imaginable, and they surrender to the drugs, let it course through their bodies and take them wherever the f.ck it feels like. Most of these adventures are fuelled by Duke’s sporadic work as a journalist. And this work sends our weird duo to Las Vegas one fine morning. Mayhem being both Las Vegas’s and Duke and Gonzo’s middle names, the combination is… Highly combustible…
Ok, think of the Big Lebowski. It’s the same kind of film. It is most definitely not suitable for kids. And I hear some of you tut – tutting at the idea of a comedy about drugs saying “maybe we’ll give this one a miss”. No. Do NOT give this one a miss. As far as comedy is concerned, Mr. Gilliam’s talent as a director and Mr. Depp’s acting skills alone make for an unforgettable experience. Raoul Duke, his mannerisms, his way of speech… No wonder the character became a classic… Plus, guest appearances are abundant – Cameron Diaz, Toby Maguire, Christina Ricci… The quality of acting is breath-taking… You may have slight trouble distinguishing a beginning and an end – you would not be wrong. The film however, has content. You will be surprised to find out it even has a political message. Duke harks back to the 60’s when flower power ruled, when the world WAS going to become filled with peace and harmony… He criticizes America of the 80’s and what it became (Gilliam is the only American python so it’s appropriate really. Let’s not forget however that this was actually adapted from a short story by Hunter Tompson but I am yet to read that one…) Duke and Gonzo are degenerates – they are also caricatures… Maybe what Gilliam (and Tompson) are looking for is present with its absence so to speak… You really should watch and give it a good thought… I mean even the dudes at Cannes thought Mr. Gilliam could be worth a Golden Palm (he was nominated didn’t win it thought)Even if you don’t come up with any philosophical or political conclusions, I guarantee you one heck of a ride…

HEAR MY STORY "BEFORE NIGHT FALLS"

Ha ha, ok I’ve had far too much escapism and not enough true stories lately. And they (true stories) were supposed to be a tradition of this blog as well! Now, I have just realized – to my dismay – that the year 2000 was actually 10 years ago. It’s an incredibly scary thought and also the year this film was made. It seems to have made quite a lot of noise in its’ day, its lead actor Javier Bardem was showered with awards and nominations from many prestigious festivals and societies (respectively a win from the Venice film festival and nominations both for an Oscar® and a Golden Globe). Its later Oscar® nominated director (for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) Julian Schnabel truly established himself. And it was noticed in “political cinema” circles as well; for the story of the film is the true life and times of Cuban poet Reinaldo Arrenas – and a stinging criticism of the Cuban political system.
Reinaldo Arrenas was born to a very poor family in Cuba. Although in his early youth he feels close to Fidel and the revolutionaries, he very quickly falls foul with the system for he turns out to be a passionate writer and poet – and a homosexual. And the more he grows into his own skin, the less the regime likes him… Years spent in hiding, persecution and a terrible stint in prison are the events that mark the rest of his life. All this, however, doesn’t stop him publishing his work abroad – work that has been smuggled out illegally. Needless to say, this also is frowned upon by the regime. Arrenas is 37 when finally, in 1980, he is “allowed to leave” (this, of course, is during the Mariel boatlift; click here for more information on that one) He is thus extradited to the USA where he spends 10 more years before dying of AIDS in 1990, aged only 47. During the remaining 10 years of his life, he never ceases to speak out against the regime in Cuba, although his delicate state of health and depression keep him from writing a lot. In a suicide note that was meant for publication, he encourages the Cuban people to keep fighting against the regime to be free. “I” he finishes “already am.”
Well, what can I say… Before Night Falls (inspired by Arrenas’ biography of the same name incidentally. Check this out for more on his life and the Amazon links for some of his works – I’m most definitely going after them!) hum, I’ve lost my chain of thought, I’ll begin again; ok, Before Night Falls (I was about to say) is what I could almost call a time-capsule. The director, the actors, the story it all works in such perfect harmony that you find yourself in Cuba of the revolution. Real live images of the day, Castro’s speeches, Che Guevara in the background all construct a beautiful picture of Arenas’ Cuba. And of course the picture we see is not always beautiful. The poetry, the atmosphere, Javier Bardem himself… We are swept along for the two-hour ride and reach the end shaken and changed. I am in the bizarre position of feeling as if I have watched a good film and read a good book at the same time… And I will definitely be looking for more of Arrenas’ work. I will now do something slightly irregular and leave you with a quote from the movie. Now, I have not been able to confirm whether this was actually written by Arrenas or not, but it suits the mood of the film so well… And some of the descriptions of writing feel so close to my heart I simply had to share it with you all… And hey, maybe it’ll give you that extra push to go out and find the movie!

“Walking along streets that collapse from crumbling sewers. Past buildings that you jump to avoid because they will fall on you. Past grim faces that size you up and sentence you. Past closed shops, closed markets, closed cinemas, closed parks, closed cafes. Sometimes showing dusty signs, justifications: "CLOSED FOR RENOVATION," "CLOSED FOR REPAIRS." What kind of repairs? When will these so-called renovations be finished? When at last will they begin? Closed... closed... closed... everything closed. I arrive, open the countless padlocks and run up the temporary stairs. There she is, waiting for me. I pull off the cover, and stare at her dusty, cold shape I clean off the dust and caress her. With my hand, delicately, I wipe clean her back, her base and her sides. In front of her, I feel desperate and happy. I run my fingers over her keyboard and suddenly it all starts up. With a tinkling sound the music begins, little by little, then faster; now full speed. Walls, trees, streets, cathedrals, faces and beaches. Cells, mini- cells, huge cells. Starry nights, bare feet, pines, clouds. Hundreds, thousands, millions of parrots. A stool, a climbing plant, they all answer my call, all come to me. The walls recede, the roof vanishes, and you float quite naturally. You float uprooted, dragged off, lifted high. Transported, immortalized, saved. Thanks to that subtle, continuous rhythm, that music, that incessant tap-tap.”

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Ok, on with our weekly dose of escapism! And surely when it comes to the fantastical and magical there is no master who could truly compete with Mr. Tim Burton… And anyone who is a fan (and anyone who has a liking for fantastic films, is I find) had their eyes out on stalks when news that he was filming Alice in Wonderland surfaced… I (and indeed a goodly portion of my office) was counting the days to release, although by some twist of fate, I missed the 3-D or IMAX version and had to watch it on DVD. I am not a massive technophile (as you may have noticed) but I really would have liked to have given this a spin in 3-D. Oh well… So, I purchased the DVD, waited for an opportune moment gathered the family round the TV set when said moment arrived and then “went for it”. And yes, it was naturally phenomenal even in 2-D.

So what’s the plot? Surely, I hear you cry; surely we all know the story of Alice! Cut to the chase – get to the gossip! Well actually no, it’s not exactly the Alice story you’re thinking of. (This is Tim Burton boys and girls, have some respect, WOULD he do a dry old re-make?!) It’s Alice a good many years later. Alice is 19(and is acted by Mia Wasikowska - of whom I am pretty sure we'll be hearing more) and on the verge of getting married to Hamish, her father’s old business partners (old because her father has passed on and the partner has now taken over the business leaving Alice and her family in a very “difficult” position.). She has strange dreams about falling and rabbits in waistcoats but on the whole, dismisses them as dreams. She is rather unlike young ladies her own age – but that people think is largely the fault of her rather eccentric upbringing. She has, on the whole, a normal life until she is tracked down by her old acquaintance the White Rabbit and is swept back to Wonderland – for a mission awaits her there. The Red Queen (Helena Bonham-Carter – who is fast becoming an obligatory fixture in Mr. Burton’s works. But they do love each other and she is the mother of his children so I can sort of understand I guess… Besides she does make a rather scary Red Queen), anyway the Red Queen rules Wonderland with an iron fist and the “rebels” such as the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp – another obligatory fixture in Mr. Burton’s works. Not that anybody’s complaining, I mean, Champagne and strawberries, coffee and cigarettes, Depp and Burton – some things were meant to be together… Who, me biased?!!), the March Hare, the Door mouse and the Cheshire Cat (who is voiced over – or voice overed - by Stephen Fry and is my favourite animated character in the film) need Alice’s help to defeat the Jabberwocky (‘Twas brillig and the slithy toes jired and gimbled in the wabe… Oh come on now, I know you haven’t forgotten really!) and help get the good White Queen (Ann Hathaway) back on the throne… But can Alice adapt to Wonderland again and save the day?

Now, on reading this, you can actually be forgiven for crying “Blasphemy!”. In all honesty it can’t be more different from the original Alice story – the children’s classic beloved by anyone worth knowing (my own humble opinion). In fact, it actually sounds like a rather bad sequel, or something hurriedly adapted off another classic Hook. Try and look beyond it though. Think of this particular version of Alice in wonderland as the combining of two great imaginations – Lewis Carroll and Tim Burton. Mr. Burton takes the characters invented so very many years ago by Lewis Carroll, and uses extraordinary actors and modern technology to take them one step further, to make them bigger and better and more colorful… I mean, you may say that technology has its limits while the imagination does not; however, when Tim Burton’s imagination is the hand using the technology, let me tell you the limits are pretty damn blurry. In this context, even the fact that the film blends the characters from two separate books (Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking Glass) doesn’t really bother one. It’s a magical, wonderful, colorful world full to the brim with delightful details. Speaking of details – not that these really count as details but they are not things you notice at once either – the cast doing the voiceovers for the animated characters are BRILLIANT. I’m on IMDB as I write this, checking the list and dear God, Michael Sheen, Alan Rickman (Snape from the Harry Potter movies), Barbara Windsor (Peggy from Eastenders), Paul Whitehouse (a comedian I’m particularly fond of but probably will mean very little to anyone outside the U.K) and Timothy Spall (whose name you won’t recognize but face you immediately will, especially if you watch British T.V).
In short, you will simply get carried away by it. I mean, I watched the film with my 87 year-old grandmother for God’s sake, and even SHE adored it!