ALICE IN WONDERLAND

rated PG

ART--->***
HEART->*1/2
MIND-->*
FUN--->**

More than fifty years since Lewis Carroll's Alice graced the big screen, the craft of filmmaking has changed dramatically. The classic Disney process of animation lept forward with detail, depth, and the boldest colors ever seen. Walt churned out an incredible legacy of animated masterpieces during this golden age, including the peculiar fable "Alice in Wonderland."

Now, in the era of "Avatar" Disney's Alice gets a 3D upgrade with a plentiful array of lavishly manipulated effects. A playground like this should be the perfect wonderland for director Tim Burton's furtive imagination. There are computer generated rabbits and flowers, bugs and mice, all rendered in flawless detail. Actors' performances are altered and enhanced to create indelible looks. And the three-dimensional atmosphere is meant to wrap the audience in its immersive embrace. But does it live up to its potential when compared with the original film?

Almost twenty years old, the new Alice (Mia Wasikowska) is defiant, opinionated, and distracted but strong. She becomes the unwitting recipient of a socially arranged marriage proposal, and runs away to again chase that pale bunny down the rabbit hole (in 3D of course).

This time 'round the bend, Alice meets the dim and unfunny Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, the newly-dubbed Red Queen (Burton's wife Helena Bonham Carter) who has a noggin the size of a watermelon, and the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) with a look of Victorian powder and an uncomfortable hint of Goth.

Crispin Glover embodies the Red Queen's enforcer Stayne, who is glum and impossibly lanky. And a host of famous British actors providing voices to the Cheshire Cat, Blue Caterpillar, flowers, rabbits and mice.

Much ado has been made about Johnny Depp's turn as the Mad Hatter, and he has certainly added more depth and humanity here than in any previous incarnation. His look is unique and the character's value enhanced, but I can't help but think the Hatter should have been a lot less Sad Clown and a lot more Crazy Uncle.

The real wonder in the original "Land" was in meeting all of these everyday creatures who suddenly have outrageous personalities; all rendered in bright, vibrant hues. The strongest story thread in the Disney classic was the use of Nonsense as some sort of sounding board to the child Alice's sanity and choices. The whole experience mirrored her internal conflict about growing up.

The modern-day Alice's character arc is unfortunately mishandled. She becomes confused, passive, and purposeless; convinced it's all a dream. What awaits her is an oddly joyless trudge through the dreary, muted landscape of this dark fable.

In the animated feature there were catchy songs made of gibberish, and lots of excitable characters. Now there are no melodies to fill the air and everyone is so melancholy it's no "wonder" they make a point to tell Alice that she had it wrong the entire time... this place is really called "Underland."

At the very, very end of this surreal yet drab journey, Alice begrudgingly decides that this is all real. She joins forces with the White Queen, slays the monster Jabberwocky, and fulfills her fairytale destiny.

When Alice finally comes back to reality and returns to the site of her expected engagement, she reverts to being the same headstrong girl we met at the beginning, no better or worse for the experience. And neither are we.

Which is a fate that seems to befall most visual effects films these days. Suffice it to say, this "Land"--in fact this entire movie--is in desperate need of that one magic element that imbues every great story.

Wonder.

MODERATELY RECOMMENDED
(interesting visuals with some disturbing images)