Buzz Magazine

The Spring season is upon us and more and more fun films are sprouting upon us. Take a dip, go back in time, and learn how to train your dragons because this weekend is full of some fun. What new films are worth your time and money this weekend, I’ll let you know!

With Alice in Wonderland still on its rampage of 3-D kiddie destruction do any of the new films coming out this weekend stand a chance to over throw the juggernaut? There are many contenders yet are they worth your money?

Alice in Wonderland, cast with an epic menagerie of characters, is visually stunning and worth the cost of an IMAX ticket. Director Tim Burton has cleverly reimagined Lewis Carroll’s classic in a way that only he could. It’s dark yet whimsically bold and oh so brilliantly cast.  

Over the years, the story of Alice has been rewritten many times over in books, movies, lyrics and even a god awful miniseries on Syfy. Burton’s Alice is enchanting and focuses on an older and more empowered Alice revisiting wonderland. The poor girl had convinced herself her first trip to Wonderland (which is actually called Underland in the film) was merely a dream. Alice must prove to herself and her brethren that she is the same tenacious girl she once was to save Wonderland from the wicked Red Queen of Hearts.

Traditionalists and English majors might not be thrilled that the film is not an exact replica of the books (or even the original animated featured for that matter) but the story presented is enjoyable nonetheless. The film stays true to the core of Lewis Carroll’s message which is essentially about growing up and surviving in a world filled with both positive and negative experiences. To that end, Burton’s distinctive cinematic style made him a great choice to direct this project.

The film begins with our heroine on her way to a stuffy, Victorian garden party with her mother. After learning the party is meant to celebrate her engagement to a truly boring aristocrat (Leo Bill), Alice reveals herself as girl at odds with a world keen on throwing its Victorian values on her. She doesn’t want to get married unless it’s on her terms. Besides, she has more interest in a white rabbit (voiced by Stephen Fry) wearing a vest than hastily making a decision that impacts the rest of her life. She runs off in mid-proposal to chase her curiosity. Moments later, she finds herself falling down the rabbit hole and with that the gloriously chaotic adventure is underway.

As mentioned before, the casting for Alice was fantastic. Mia Wasikowska was chosen to play the lead role. As Alice, aside from looking the part, she captures the innocence of the character and delivers a pleasant performance. The viewer definitely sees her “muchness” grow throughout the film and perhaps she will be heralded as a feminist character. I’m sure we will be seeing more of Ms. Wasikowska in the future.

Burton once again teamed up with his muse Johnny Depp for another wonderful collaboration. As the Mad Hatter, Depp’s character was a little too reminisnist of Willy Wonka. Regardless, this incarnation of the Mad Hatter has more verve and endearing qualities than any before him. In the end, it’s hard to say anything bad about Johnny Depp. He has brought to life many delightfully strange characters for our amusement. I doubt any of his fans will walk away disappointed.

The real show stealer, however, is Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen of Hearts. The Red Queen,  CGIed to have a bulbous head, enjoys shouting her trademark line, “Off with their heads!” She is, without a doubt, feared by her subjects and is all too aware of their affections for her sister, The White Queen (Anne Hatheway). Bonham Carter was meant to play this part and owned the movie.     

Thanks to the imaginative magic of Wonderland, it ends up being the perfect setting for 3-D effects and enhancements. Perhaps the story might be a little too dark for very young children. Regardless, it has all the elements that make a movie memorable and compelling enough to be highly recommended.

Some really interesting box office contenders this weekend my friends. Who will end up on top? Probably Alice again, but who are those trying to fight the king of the hill? Many challengers step up to fight for the top spot this weekend as we get a taste of all sorts of genres this weekend. Buckle up and prepare to set your sights on these films possibly…………