It is a typical story with a fantastical parallel universe. We've seen it before. It is a coming-of-age story for a girl named Alice. Much like the Wizard of Oz and Pan's Labyrinth. There is an alternate fantastical parallel world that is much more appealing than the one that our heroine is actually living in. Why would the central character want to return to Kansas unless she knows exactly what she is missing? Why would Alice want to return to England and all of the pressures of being engaged when she can just reside in Wonderland? Well she must realize that she is fully capable of slaying the beast in both worlds. The jabberwocky in Wonderland, and perhaps her social pressure of being engaged in the "real world" she lives in.
In the real world, afterall, there aren't talking animals, smiling cats, creepy monarchs in castles, or friendly yet mad hatters. These characters are completely off their rocker the entire time. Even the good white queen looks as if she swallowed some potion or ink that made her lips, eye brows, and nails turn forever black. The evil queen of hearts has a giant head. The film is quite conscious of this fact as the characters refer to her head quite often. It is even the subject of a saying that is uttered by the underground plot against this queen of hearts.
The queen of Hearts, played by Mr. Burton's (director) lifelong partner Helena Bonham Carter, is wonderfully acted. Why they decided to create her with a head four times the size of a normal human head is still beyond me. Is it perhaps because she wants to have every possible position of authority, thereby being the main "head" of Wonderland? Whatever the case, it makes the character much less adorable and more feared, only in terms of physically distorted characteristics. Carter's portrayal of this character makes her hysterical yet someone to be feared, at least in this Wonderland.
The white queen, played by Anne Hathaway is altogether like a Walt Disney princess. She even lives in a castle much like the signature Disney castle. I'd be surprised if it wasn't modeled after the Disney castle and she wasn't inspired by Disney princesses. Her airy expressions and whimsical dialogue compliment her flamboyant hand gestures. Much like snow white, her hands glide about as if helium balloons are attached to her wrists with string.
Johnny Depp is the mad hatter. Though his eyes are obviously digitally enlarged and his face caked with makeup, this does not impair or affect his performance negatively. Like always, it just helps him emotionally get into character. His face is so expressive, you empathize with his Mad Hatter.
Alice is a more grown up piece of fantasy than the previous Disney version we've seen. It is similar in structure to Wizard of Oz and Narnia. A girl trying to understand her life, she goes to another world and comes back stronger and more ready for the challenges she has to face.
