Alice in Wonderland movie?

[blessedmom3]

We are reading the book and plan to watch the movie soon. Which movie would you recommend?

[Ellie]

Oh, the one with Johnny Depp.

 

None of the movies are faithful to the book, but some are more fun than others, and Johnny Depp's is at the top of my list. Of course, you must also watch the Disney cartoon. :-)

[Lori D.]

While the Disney cartoon is not exactly identical to the book, it is quite fun and gentle.

 

I have to respectfully disagree about the recent Tim Burton/Johnny Depp film. As an adult, I found it to be pretty forgettable and not-well-made. It was all about the spectacle of the special effects, it was poorly written, and it had no character development. And for younger children, it contains disturbing, intense images. There was a strange mix of harshness and emptiness to this film, and I don't think I'm just trying to compare this one to the Disney cartoon or to the book... It just didn't... work.

 

 

(And, I do like other films by Tim Burton, and other films with Johnny Depp, but this was a miss.)

Edited May 10, 2017 by Lori D.

[nixpix5]

I loved the one made in the 80s that contained both Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. It is dated and not completely faithful but my kids loved it.

[Ellie]

While the Disney cartoon is not exactly identical to the book, it is quite fun and gentle.

 

I have to respectfully disagree about the recent Tim Burton/Johnny Depp film. As an adult, I found it to be pretty forgettable and not-well-made. It was all about the spectacle of the special effects, it was poorly written, and it had no character development. And for younger children, it contains disturbing, intense images. There was a strange mix of harshness and emptiness to this film, and I don't think I'm just trying to compare this one to the Disney cartoon or to the book... It just didn't... work.

 

 

(And, I do like other films by Tim Burton, and other films with Johnny Depp, but this was a miss.)

 

Well, there you go. :-)

 

Although I liked this one, I felt the same way you do about Through the Looking Glass.  :-)

[alisoncooks]

I'd go with the cartoon. I also have fond memories of the 80s movie.

My kids love both the new Tim Burton movies, but I wouldn't watch them as a follow up to the book.

[HS Mom in NC]

OP, you didn't list your children's ages.

 

I liked the Johnny Depp one and think it had a far better story structure and character development than the mess that is the book. There was plenty of character development with Alice finding her muchness and eventually acting on it under dire circumstances.  It's a girl power movie.  No, it isn't the tone of the Disney version, it's definitely for older kids, but it's very much the disturbing feel of the book what with the Queen ordering heads chopped off, cats vanishing into thin air, and monsters being vanquished.

The sequel, Through the Looking Glass, was very poorly done. It was a very long chase scene with lots of blue lights.  Why are the lights always blue in time travel movies?

[Tanaqui]

Why are the lights always blue in time travel movies?

 

To make an interesting visual contrast with flesh tones.

 

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OrangeBlueContrast