(G) This is another Tim Burton creation, which has all the ear-markings of the uniquely visionary director. Now, let me translate that into “normal talk.” What this means is that you will either love the film or be left feeling slightly uneasy when it’s over. ALICE has Mia Wasikowska in the title role, as a grown up Alice who returns to Wonderland to save the beloved characters (Twiddle Dee and Dum, the Cheshire Cat, Doormouse, March Hare, White Rabbit etc.) from the evil Red Queen. Johnny Depp plays himself with slightly more make-up than in his previous pairings with Burton and Helena Bonham Carter (Carter plays the Red Queen, here). The movie lasts one hour and forty-five minutes, and I mention this for perspective. After viewing the 3D version, Barbara (who will give her review below) said with only partial bemusement, “The sad thing is that I will never get those three hours back.”
Several film-goers commented that this was “not a dark as some Tim Burton films,” and I would have to agree. However I must add that I don’t think it was as entertaining either. It seemed like Disney was attempting to restrain Tim Burton to “remake in his style” the original animated classic. In fact, there were many scenes that appeared to be real life recreations of the original Disney cartoon-- but, fanciful homage doth not a good “ adult” fantasy movie make.
What this lacked (and the original Disney movie had) was any memorable lines. In Shrek (for example) many people can quote something funny or touching that the characters said. If anything was said in Burton’s version that caught my attention, it was because I’d heard it before (often in the original Lewis Carol book).
Now, we have to say that five of our grandchildren and their parents saw this film at the same time that we did. ALL of the children (ranging in age from seven to thirteen) thought it was “great.” Their parents (or children) were slightly less impress, but liked the 3D animation.
Speaking of 3D animation, I found out how this technology works (actually I asked Barbara, she guessed and I checked her guess to discover that she was right. “This is probably like those old ViewMaster photos that we had as kids,” she said. In fact, a 3D film projects two movies onto the screen from slightly different perspectives (just like our eyes and the old ViewMasters operate). The funny glasses filter the two different views so that each eye only see ONE of the projections. Our brains put the two pictures together to see in three dimensions. That’s basically what BIFOCALS is all about. Two different views of the same thing. For all that I learned by watching this film and talking to my children and grandchildren afterward, I have to give it a very generous two binoculars. The kids will love it, and appreciate you asking their opinions when you discuss the film after viewing.
(B) As I mentioned in an earlier review, I go to the movies for entertainment. I was not entertained. In this film, I was not impressed. I was not moved emotionally. I was not enlightened. I wasn’t even terrified! Perhaps the Mad Hatter would say, “It was not my cup of tea.” Sorry I give this a half binocular for makeup.
As for the 3D effects, I would have to say that they may have been lost on me, because I have almost no sight in one eye. However, when it comes to how much money this film is going to make, I go back to the 3D technique again. Since this movie (and Avatar, previously) is claiming huge profits in its first showings we need to keep in perspective that a 3D movies cost about three times more to watch. It is not that three times more people are SEEING this film (when the profits are tallied), but that each time someone rents one of those funny glasses the film makes that much more money. I don’t think that anyone viewing this film in 2D will have anything favorable to say.
OUR BIFOCAL evaluation: One and one half binoculars (or a binocular and a monocle).