Little Alice ~ Big Alice

I have a very high expectation going into the movie because it involves Tim Burton, Helena Bonham Carter and my beloved Johnny Depp. Their combine collaborations can do no wrong. Unfortunately, the movie didn't take my breath away :( The visual effects, the costumes, the set-ups, the make-up, the magical creatures, the wonderland concept were rich in colors but the story & the characters development fell short :( It did't hit the climax, it felt blah because it was not fully explored. There is a nagging feeling that something is missing.

The only 2 characters that I enjoyed watching were The Mad Hatter and The Red Queen. She's the real gem :) Her indignant pout, nutty and spoilt behavior masks a rather sad and melancholic woman longing to be loved. The White Queen was kinda uninspiring and her body movements; especially her hands were damn annoying.

But of course, I like a few things about the movie as well. I like that it's quite funny, Tim Burton manages to insert a little humor here and there which is always nice in a heavily-scripted movie. The weird & the quirky Burton-esque flourishes are still there, but the over-reliance on the computer generated effects have somewhat dulled the Maestro of the Weird's senses, leaving a movie that is entertaining but ultimately not as memorable as his usual and previous works.

Watching a movie for me is a form of escapism from the real world and wathcing Alice in this 'UnderWorld' is the ultimate escape :)