Alice In Wonderland 3-D (2010/Tim Burton/Disney Blu-ray 3D Set)

 

Picture: B     Sound: A-     Extras: D     Film: C+

 

 

I had high hopes for Tim Burton’s 2010 reimagining of Alice in Wonderland, but sadly he managed to transform Lewis Carroll’s creative classic into something extremely uninspiring.  I think that Disney and most audiences had the same thoughts I did with this remake.  It was based on a classic and already loved tale.  It had an all star cast; featuring Johnny Depp, Helen Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover, and promising newcomer Mia Wasikowska.  The production budget was humongous.  And it was a Tim Burton film.  To my and many others’ disappointment, however, the film was horrendous.  This 2010 rendition of Alice in Wonderland failed as it was unsure of what it wanted to be; never being able to balance new and old, in the end making an odd blend that fell flat.

 

I would not say it was a ‘bad’ film, but after leaving the theater and again here on 3-D Blu-ray I could not quite place what I watched; feeling unfulfilled and questioning what Tim Burton had spent so much time, money, and effort creating.  The film revolves around Alice (Mia Wasikowska), now older, having troubles in her personal life and again follows the White Rabbit to Wonderland (I’m sorry, Underland??).  Anyhow, once there Alice meets many familiar faces, but the land has changed into a place of sorrow as the inhabitants of Wonderland are living under the iron fist of the Red Queen (a CGI altered Helen Bonham Carter).  The Knave of Hearts (Crispin Glover) informs the Queen that Alice has returned Wonderland and that her crown is jeopardy.  The Queen order her red army after her; but not before long Alice is on a journey to save Wonderland, as the Cheshire Cat directs her to The March Hare and the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp).  The Mad Hatter is crazier than Alice even recalls, seeming quite detached and deranged.  Apparently the Hatter’s loyalty belongs to the White Queen and he along with an underground (wonderground??) uprising are look to overthrow the Red Queen.  An all out battle of good versus evil arises and Alice is caught in the middle.

 

I don’t think the film failed due to lack of effort, but in the end the film is simply uninspiring.  The actors all appear to be trying their hardest, but Burton has given them little to work with.  The efforts put toward using so much CGI and 3-D, should have been used on storyline and the creative process.  Sure, we could use screen captures to point out the beautiful costumes and scenery, but the problem does not exist in the visuals or acting; it is bad story pure and simple.

 

The 2-D version of the film had been reviewed previously on this site on Blu-ray and can be found at the link below:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/9979/Alice+In+Wonderland+%282010/2-D

 

 

The 1080p MVC-encoded 3-D – Full Resolution digital High Definition image transfer on this 3-D Blu-ray film is quite good.  Tim Burton and the studio had flip flopped on whether to film Alice in Wonderland in 3-D from the start, but in the end decided to just convert the film in post-production.  Now you can call up Jimmy Cameron if you want to discuss if that was a good choice or not, but in this reviewer’s opinion it looks great.  The film has great detail and the use of 3-D is both balanced and well executed.  The entire film is a bit surreal as the image has been tweaked in Burton’s own imaginative way to alter skin tones and other atmospheric elements.  There is no grit or grime to mention as the image is pristine.  The 3-D (which is not my favorite format) is well done, adding a level of depth to film that not all 3-D to date has accomplished.  Alice in Wonderland looks great in on Blu-ray 3-D and any 3-D TV owner would be proud to use this for demo purposes.  There are a few imperfections here and there, especially in darker sequences, but overall great.  The audio is even better than the video as the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Track that surrounds the viewer in sound from beginning to end.  The audio experience is immersive and well balanced.  The dialogue doesn’t just stay in front, as the entire speaker range is utilized to make the film stand out as a wonderful 3-D Blu-ray.

 

The extras are sadly ‘blah’ at best and don’t even offer fans a commentary from Burton or Depp.  Extras include the following:

 

Wonderland Characters

Making of Alice in Wonderland

 

 

-   Michael P. Dougherty II