Alice in Wonderland is a classic, it may be oddball and episodic in structure but the atmosphere, humour, colourful characters and Carroll's way of words(like his poetry, logic and paradoxes). As someone who likes most of the versions of Alice in Wonderland- and Alice Through the Looking Glass as well for that matter, another classic that has even more colour, eccentricity and kookiness- I was hugely impressed by this version, even though it is not without its flaws. The live-action book-ending scenes were conceptually intriguing- always is interesting to see how Lewis Carroll(or Charles Lutwidge Dodgson came about writing Alice in Wonderland- they were for my tastes too tediously paced and stiffly acted, the actual story not beginning until ten minutes in when it easily have done so sooner. Though credit is due for reinforcing the idea that Carroll did base his characters on real-life people which no other version of Alice in Wonderland did. Wasn't entirely crazy on the character designs for the Caterpillar, Mock Turtle and particularly the Duchess, Caterpillar didn't really look like a caterpillar, Mock Turtle was a touch too creepy and the Duchess's ugliness was taken to extremities.
However, adaptation-wise it is possibly the most faithful version along with the 1999 and 1985 adaptations and on its own terms it's also up there with the best along with Disney's and the film from 1933. The stop-motion visuals look pretty incredible even now, the sets are both magical and with an abstract, surreal quality, particularly good are the beach after the pool of tears scene and the wonderfully weird origami-like field of grass, though the design of the White Rabbit's house and Queen of Hearts' garden deserve a mention too. Most of the characters are designed superbly- it was clear how much effort and detail went into these visuals- the White Rabbit, the Dodo, Queen of Hearts and Cheshire Cat being particularly noteworthy. But that doesn't mean that any less detail went into designing the minor characters because they were just as impressive, especially the fish footmen. The score is beautiful and whimsical, and while not as memorable as the ones from the Disney and 1933 films(and Mock Turtle's song is slightly overacted) the songs are very pleasant melodically- the operetta-like style they were written in was personally quite appealing- and most admirably includes the dialogue and poetry of the book. Certainly better than the hit-and-miss standard of songs of the otherwise very good 1985 adaptation.
The writing is one of the best things here, there is a weirdness(which is needed really because the story itself is weird, and I mean this in a good way) and creepiness in abundance but also the whimsy, eccentric humour, oddball charm and Carroll's use of logic(done in a twisted way like in the book) and paradoxes. This version is also the most successful of all the adaptations of the book to actually feel like a succinct story that flows seamlessly from one scene to the next instead of being episodic, which is remarkable for a story that is as acknowledged early on in the review episodic structurally. It was good too to have it as just Alice in Wonderland instead of incorporating elements of Through the Looking Glass. The characters are still as colourful as they ought, the Mad Hatter's Tea Party and the scenes with the Queen of Hearts being the most entertaining. Carol Marsh is very charming and winsome as Alice and carries the film beautifully, some might say she's too old but actually that's a fairly insignificant issue really considering that only the 1985 and 1999 versions have Alices being Alice's age or close to. The Wonderland characters are very well-voiced though that for the Duchess wasn't to my tastes, too pantomime-dame-ish.
In conclusion, a very good film and one of the best versions of Alice in Wonderland as an adaptation and on its own merits. It is in need of a restoration though. 8/10 Bethany Cox
However, adaptation-wise it is possibly the most faithful version along with the 1999 and 1985 adaptations and on its own terms it's also up there with the best along with Disney's and the film from 1933. The stop-motion visuals look pretty incredible even now, the sets are both magical and with an abstract, surreal quality, particularly good are the beach after the pool of tears scene and the wonderfully weird origami-like field of grass, though the design of the White Rabbit's house and Queen of Hearts' garden deserve a mention too. Most of the characters are designed superbly- it was clear how much effort and detail went into these visuals- the White Rabbit, the Dodo, Queen of Hearts and Cheshire Cat being particularly noteworthy. But that doesn't mean that any less detail went into designing the minor characters because they were just as impressive, especially the fish footmen. The score is beautiful and whimsical, and while not as memorable as the ones from the Disney and 1933 films(and Mock Turtle's song is slightly overacted) the songs are very pleasant melodically- the operetta-like style they were written in was personally quite appealing- and most admirably includes the dialogue and poetry of the book. Certainly better than the hit-and-miss standard of songs of the otherwise very good 1985 adaptation.
The writing is one of the best things here, there is a weirdness(which is needed really because the story itself is weird, and I mean this in a good way) and creepiness in abundance but also the whimsy, eccentric humour, oddball charm and Carroll's use of logic(done in a twisted way like in the book) and paradoxes. This version is also the most successful of all the adaptations of the book to actually feel like a succinct story that flows seamlessly from one scene to the next instead of being episodic, which is remarkable for a story that is as acknowledged early on in the review episodic structurally. It was good too to have it as just Alice in Wonderland instead of incorporating elements of Through the Looking Glass. The characters are still as colourful as they ought, the Mad Hatter's Tea Party and the scenes with the Queen of Hearts being the most entertaining. Carol Marsh is very charming and winsome as Alice and carries the film beautifully, some might say she's too old but actually that's a fairly insignificant issue really considering that only the 1985 and 1999 versions have Alices being Alice's age or close to. The Wonderland characters are very well-voiced though that for the Duchess wasn't to my tastes, too pantomime-dame-ish.
In conclusion, a very good film and one of the best versions of Alice in Wonderland as an adaptation and on its own merits. It is in need of a restoration though. 8/10 Bethany Cox