{"id":1347,"date":"2010-03-05T14:01:50","date_gmt":"2010-03-05T12:01:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents-blog\/?p=1347"},"modified":"2022-06-16T07:41:20","modified_gmt":"2022-06-16T05:41:20","slug":"alice-in-wonderland-3d-a-movie-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/lifestyle\/movie-reviews\/alice-in-wonderland-3d-a-movie-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Alice in Wonderland 3D – a movie review"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have to start straight out and say this eagerly awaited adaptation of Alice in Wonderland is not a typical Disney production.\u00a0 This is Alice all grown up.\u00a0 Now aged nineteen, Alice is fleeing from a marriage proposal when she follows the mythical white rabbit and tumbles down a hole. Before you can fall into familiar Lewis Carroll territory however, the violent nature of the fall, with objects whizzing frighteningly near her (in 3D) warns that this Alice in Wonderland, though a beautifully crafted and fantastically imaginative cinematic work, is not aimed at young children.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tim Burton, master director and visionary of movies such as Corpse Bride, Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas makes children\u2019s movies that aren\u2019t really for children. Borrowing loosely from Lewis Carroll\u2019s classic, Burton\u2019s Alice has to save the day by killing the Jabberwocky, the dragon that helps the evil Red Queen rule Wonderland.<\/p>\n

The Red Queen is played by Helena Bonham-Carter, Burton\u2019s wife and with her prominent bulbous head and acid, bored tone calling \u2018Off with his head\u201d at every turn she is brilliant. The Mad Hatter is Burton\u2019s favourite actor Johnny Depp and although he kept reminding me of a caricature of previous camp and kooky roles he has played, from Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean, he does lend the Hatter a very human side, portraying him as a shattered, post traumatic stress syndrome version of himself; all frizzed out hair and glazed green eyes after the Red Queen\u2019s destruction of Wonderland.<\/p>\n

The recurring theme of madness, which dodges both Alice (her \u2018dream\u2019 makes her think she is going mad) and the Hatter, adds further darkness and depth to Burton\u2019s version. I think children would be disturbed by Alice\u2019s growing dismay that this is not in fact a dream that she can pinch herself out of.<\/p>\n

For all these concerns the movie\u2019s dreamy fantastical landscape and moments of sheer brilliance make it a must-see to share with your older children. When Alice says \u2018Curioser and curioser\u2019 this classic saying takes on a new meaning and greater depth when seen as a calm response to our world today which can often seem crazy and out of control. Alice is also portrayed as a strong willed young woman who is not a super hero but rather someone who has to learn to overcome her fears.\u00a0 At one stage the Hatter tells her; \u201cYou\u2019ve lost your much-ness Alice, you used to be much more much\u201d, striking a note about the need to be ourselves and realize our potential, which Alice learns by the time she faces up to the Jabberwocky.<\/p>\n

Age restriction<\/h2>\n

10M which means 10 with mature content \u2013 so use your discretion. For sensitive children, I would wait for 12. I do have a problem with the way movies and media in general assume that because children are becoming young adults sooner than ever – they can deal with the psychological impact of darker issues and fears.\u00a0 While they may seem to enjoy it and insist that they are not scared, I don\u2019t believe they always have the emotional maturity to process what they are seeing.<\/p>\n

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