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Let me start this out by saying that Alice In Wonderland is one of my favorite books. I accumulate/collect copies of it and Through The Looking Glass, and they were some of the first books I downloaded to my iPhone. (Those, Dracula, and Something Wicked This Way Comes. I am nothing if not consistent.) Also, I am a huge fan of Tim Burton's visual aesthetic. It very closely matches my own. Not to mention that Beetlejuice is one of my favorite movies, and always will be.
With those statements out of the way: I ... don't have high hopes for the Tim Burton version of Alice In Wonderland. Oh, it will be full of eye candy. Of that I have NO doubt. But you see, yesterday's post brought my copy of the Visual Companion for the movie (which is a fancy name for a storybook with pictures from the movie), and, well. The story is pretty much what I expected, the usual sort of "save the kingdom/overthrow the wicked queen" thing, but with an overlay of Wonderland and Tim Burton.
(Also, a short digression about editing. RUNNING SPELL CHECK DOES NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR EDITING. Because I doubt that the "grizzly" moat around the Red Queen's castle is full of bears, and I also doubt that the White Rabbit is "always ringing his ears" as if they were bells. I'm fairly sure that the Disney company can afford editors, and my goodness, they really should have. The Visual Companion book is full of such EditingFail.)
Will I go see the movie? Of course! Don't be silly. I will almost certainly end up purchasing it on Blu-Ray, too. But it won't be for the sake of the story the movie is telling.
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In Shallow Fashion Details news, I am wearing a headband with a bow today. I am trying to decide if I like it. (The Stroppy One does not particularly like it.) There probably will be a picture later, and you folks can tell me what you think of it.
With those statements out of the way: I ... don't have high hopes for the Tim Burton version of Alice In Wonderland. Oh, it will be full of eye candy. Of that I have NO doubt. But you see, yesterday's post brought my copy of the Visual Companion for the movie (which is a fancy name for a storybook with pictures from the movie), and, well. The story is pretty much what I expected, the usual sort of "save the kingdom/overthrow the wicked queen" thing, but with an overlay of Wonderland and Tim Burton.
(Also, a short digression about editing. RUNNING SPELL CHECK DOES NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR EDITING. Because I doubt that the "grizzly" moat around the Red Queen's castle is full of bears, and I also doubt that the White Rabbit is "always ringing his ears" as if they were bells. I'm fairly sure that the Disney company can afford editors, and my goodness, they really should have. The Visual Companion book is full of such EditingFail.)
Will I go see the movie? Of course! Don't be silly. I will almost certainly end up purchasing it on Blu-Ray, too. But it won't be for the sake of the story the movie is telling.
---
In Shallow Fashion Details news, I am wearing a headband with a bow today. I am trying to decide if I like it. (The Stroppy One does not particularly like it.) There probably will be a picture later, and you folks can tell me what you think of it.
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The books are pretty dear to me, because the writer actually suffered from similar migraines and problems that I had. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome didn't just get named after the book, it was named after the writer, because he wrote it in the haze of migraines and between bouts of epileptic seizures. Too him, the little girl Alice that he knew, really -did- have these adventures, and he just really retold them.
A lot of people have taken care to carefully recraft his story and still preserve the kind of broken yet wonderful tale he created. I'm a little leery to see it in Tim Burton's hands because...As much as I adore him, it's Tim Burton.
I almost wish I could go, and forget I knew what the story was, and all the little back pieces to each bit, and enjoy the movie. I think I shall go drunk. *nodnod*
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I've had a similar reaction to the film. Visually appealing, but the whole thing just seems kind of...lazy. At this stage I'm mostly in it for some of the supporting actors, such as Matt Lucas and Barbara Windsor--they'll do fun work.
I will come out as being opposed to Alice-type bow-headbands for those of our, erm, era. You can get a similar sort of effect with a "sculptural" bow that lies flat against the band, or even a simple knotted ribbon around the band, without the muttonous concerns.
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I think with Tim Burton (and I love him to bits!!) is that he's very hit and miss. Just look at big fish and planet of the apes. I can't wait for Frankenweinie and I'm looking forward to Malefecent too.
After reading something wicked this way comes for the first time I agree with you, he should be forced to make it, even if it is just to make you happy.
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(The figures on top of our wedding cake were Lydia and Beetlejuice.)
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I'd love to see your cake, were getting married on Halloween 2011 and I want a Burton themed cake :)
I sent you a link on facebook for the Tim Burton art book. I has lot's o beetlejuice drawings in it :)
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Also, on the editors: don't count on them employing them, or if they do they're seriously over worked. Perhaps this voice comes from behind the curtain.
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How are you doin', sweetie?
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The case on your phone ALMOST makes me want an iPhone. It is mondo cool.
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I like Burton's work. In fact, the first movie D and I saw together was "Corpse Bride" and I do give attention to his work when it comes up.
But I doubt you will be surprised when I tell you that I think he did a little creative borrowing from Looking Glass Wars.
There are more than a few things that bear strong resemblance...almost too many for my comfort. Frank Beddor has already stated that he's had to kind of step back and reconsider his plans to make the LGW movie because Burton shot the gun first.
It's a bummer, because I've been REALLY looking forward to the book series being done so that he would focus on the movie interpretation.
I will probably wait for DVD or something. I am not sure I could hack Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen. At least she will be an unlikely candidate for Redd Heart if/when LGW finally gets made.
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Ha. This sounds like many people's arguments for Avatar as well.
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Also, with regard to spell check, I once threw a book across the room because one of the characters had a "prehensile tale." Then I picked it up and made sure it was okay before keeping reading.
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I do not know why, but the Alice story does not have a visceral appeal for me. It makes me think I'm broken. I like it, but it doesn't draw me in in exactly the same way it seems to do so many people I care for.
Maybe I should try reading it again and see how it affects me this time. But I'll wait until after the movie, so it's not fresh enough in my head for anything that's wrong to upset me.
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as for collecting copies of the book, currently i only have four myself: the second edition of the Norton Critical Edition*, Martin Gardner's The Annotated Alice, the Dover facsimile of Alice's Adventures Under Ground, and the first edition of the Kim Deitch-illustrated Alice's Adventures Under Ground. those are the four i can't let go - all the other editions i had owned were sold to used bookstores during the worst of my financial troubles. i do need to get the Annotated Definitive Edition, which i've never owned.
*i wish that it included the Tenniel-style illustration of the Wasp in a Wig which was included in the Scientific American article that announced the release of that chapter in 1977 (i think), but i suppose i can understand.
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One of the other commenters mentioned Looking Glass Wars; I'm more reminded of the American McGee's Alice videogame, except that the game is more satisfyingly dark and has a surprisingly plausible backstory.
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The visuals were stunning, of course. I love Tim Burton's work and Johnny Depp's acting.
Very good movie. :)
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Overall, I liked what he did with the world. I also noticed the similarities with Looking Glass Wars, and while it is a little bothersome in that regard, I really enjoyed how he pulled it off. I loved what he did with the Hatter, and I thought Alice represented the attitude of Alice in the books pretty well... with the refusal to believe/ indulge and willfulness.
If you are looking for the books in this movie, it's not hard to find them. The story is different of course, but look at the details - visual cues, language, references, etc. It's packed. Take a look at the original illustrations again before you walk in ^.~ and what was that about not wanting to end up in a teapot?
In summary, I walked in with no expectations other than to enjoy Wonderlandy visuals and spend some time with my favorite characters. I was thrilled with how much he offered, and how often I squeed due to specific book references.
I wore my Yaya Han mini steampunk tophat, (it's rather like this one except with gears and more feathers instead of beads and a rose http://yayahan.bigcartel.com/product/gothic-lolita-mini-top-hats-small) Alice corset (http://NocturnAlice66.deviantart.com/art/Salon-Con-156331420), and the white rabbit necklace my friend made me for my birthday ^.^ I got several comments on the hat lol.
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