Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland (2010)

[Saya]

Johnny Depp has signed on to play the Mad Hatter. (He will also star in Pirates 4 and as Tonto in The Lone Ranger movie.) (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117992798.html?categoryid=1 3&cs=1)

[soitgoes...]

I'm not sold on performance capture technology, though I suppose if anyone can master it, it'll be Burton.

Also I was under the impression that the last Pirates movie was indeed just that, the last. Hopefully this one will top out over 3 hours. :rolleyes:

In the article it also mentions a new National Treasure. :pritch::|

[Kurosawa Fan]

Man. Burton is becoming predictable. And Depp appears willing to whore himself out now more than ever.

[Ezee E]

Still waiting for Burton's remake of Wizard of Oz

[Sven]

Man. Burton is becoming predictable. And Depp appears willing to whore himself out now more than ever.

It's true. At this point, he's just playing into his public image. That said, I loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factor and Sweeney Todd, so I'm there. I find his work refreshing.

[DavidSeven]

Man. Burton is predictable.

Fixed.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Fixed.

You're right. That's what I should have wrote.

I loved Sweeny Todd as well (though not Charlie and the Chocolate Family), but I'm not much of a Burton fan. This may sound weird, but it feels like I've already seen Burton's Alice in Wonderland. Like I have these images in my head, and I'm nearly certain they'll be pretty accurate.

[Amnesiac]

I loved Sweeny Todd as well (though not Charlie and the Chocolate Family), but I'm not much of a Burton fan. This may sound weird, but it feels like I've already seen Burton's Alice in Wonderland. Like I have these images in my head, and I'm nearly certain they'll be pretty accurate.

This is the second time I've seen someone say this.

I guess there is something about this match-up that seems so logical and appropriate, and something about Burton's style that feels so apt for such a match-up, that people can already envision the kind of ways it will turn out.

[Kurosawa Fan]

This is the second time I've seen someone say this.

I guess there is something about this match-up that seems so logical and appropriate, and something about Burton's style that feels so apt for such a match-up, that people can already envision the kind of ways it will turn out.

I think it's that Burton is just so monotonous in tone when it comes to this kind of material that I feel like I already know what's coming.

[Sycophant]

I actually expected that link to go to The Onion.

[Dukefrukem]

Is Johnny Depp having Time Burton's baby or something?

[Pop Trash]

Geez...is Depp trying to become the next DeNiro or something? In ten years should we expect Jon Avnet to make a movie with Depp as an over-the hill cop?

[Ezee E]

Geez...is Depp trying to become the next DeNiro or something? In ten years should we expect Jon Avnet to make a movie with Depp as an over-the hill cop?
Only if that over-the-hill cop is the remake of Blade Runner.

[Grouchy]

Yesterday I was talking to a friend about an imaginary movie project I have - a straight adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, only featuring a gritty world taken out of a homeless girl's reality. It's still all a dream in Alice's head, of course, but set in current times. So, the most blatant differences from the original would basically be the cinematography and the art direction.

Think something like McGee's Alice only less overtly macabre, more like sad, surreal and ironic.

[Ezee E]

Yesterday I was talking to a friend about an imaginary movie project I have - a straight adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, only featuring a gritty world taken out of a homeless girl's reality. It's still all a dream in Alice's head, of course, but set in current times. So, the most blatant differences from the original would basically be the cinematography and the art direction.

Think something like McGee's Alice only less overtly macabre, more like sad, surreal and ironic.
I missed it while it was on the Watch Now feature, but Jan Svankmejer's "Alice" was pretty disturbing I heard.

[number8]

I missed it while it was on the Watch Now feature, but Jan Svankmejer's "Alice" was pretty disturbing I heard.

Quite. (http://www.justpressplay.net/movies/movie-news/3929-watch-out-alice-1988.html)

[D_Davis]

I missed it while it was on the Watch Now feature, but Jan Svankmejer's "Alice" was pretty disturbing I heard.

It's awesome.

[Sven]

Yesterday I was talking to a friend about an imaginary movie project I have - a straight adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, only featuring a gritty world taken out of a homeless girl's reality. It's still all a dream in Alice's head, of course, but set in current times. So, the most blatant differences from the original would basically be the cinematography and the art direction.

Think something like McGee's Alice only less overtly macabre, more like sad, surreal and ironic.

Sounds insufferable.

[transmogrifier]

Yes to the Burton film. No to everything else.

[Rowland]

Honestly, I have no interest in this whatsoever. Burton hasn't made a really good movie since Big Fish.

[chrisnu]

Burton hasn't made a really good movie since... Ed Wood! :)

I will probably end up watching this, however.

[Teh Sausage]

Still waiting for Burton's remake of Wizard of Oz

Yeah. Years ago, my friends and I have had multiple discussions about Tim Burton making an Alice or Oz, and now I'm quite saddended to see he's taking this route rather than working with original ideas. Back in the 90s, I'm sure many would have loved this idea, but now? Meh.

[Saya]

First look at Alice (Mia Wasikowska). (http://infdaily.fusebox.com/2008/09/our-first-look-at-tim-burtons-alice-in-wonderland.html)

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/6455/751064copypi3.jpg

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/2971/751090copykq5.jpg

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9983/751101copyvh6.jpg

[Watashi]

I want to see a Tim Burton film where someone has fair skin.

[Ezee E]

Spike Lee should call out Tim Burton.

[EvilShoe]

It seems so long ago that I still cared for Burton.

[monolith94]

Her face reminds me of Tobey Macguire in that last pic.

[Lucky]

Her face reminds me of Tobey Macguire in that last pic.


:lol:

[D_Davis]

Her face reminds me of Tobey Macguire in that last pic.

It's as if Toby MacGuire and Kirsten Dunst had a baby.

[Wryan]

ST was as Burton as anything he's done but that didn't hurt its quality. I'm sure Alice will be fine.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in this is the least surprising casting news ever. I bet my friend fifty bucks Helena Bonham Carter will be the Queen of Hearts.

[Ezee E]

Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in this is the least surprising casting news ever. I bet my friend fifty bucks Helena Bonham Carter will be the Queen of Hearts.
Yahoo news says that she's in it, along with Anne Hathaway who will be playing the White Queen.

[Winston*]

The White Queen's not in Alice in Wonderland, no? Is this going to be a mix of both the books?

[Saya]

Yahoo news says that she's in it, along with Anne Hathaway who will be playing the White Queen.

Yep, Helena Bonham Carter will play the Red Queen.


But the bigger surprise is Hathaway, who has been cast as the White Queen, an ally to Alice who has been banished by her sister, the Red Queen (played by… you guessed it, Helena Bonham Carter). You might remember the Red Queen from previous adaptations for the use of the catchphrase “Off with their heads!” No word on if the actresses will be featured as live-action or performance-captured/computer generated characters.

THR claims that in Burton’s adaptation, the White Queen needs Alice to slay the Bandersnatch, a fictional creature mentioned in Lewis Carroll’s poems Jabberwocky and The Hunting of the Snark. The form and size of the creature is never revealed, although in Through the Looking-Glass, the White King snickers that Alice “runs so fearfully quick” that she “might as well try to catch a Bandersnatch!”

[Grouchy]

We're all having a very common literary confusion here.

The Queen of Hearts is the character in Alice in Wonderland who says "off with their heads!".

The White and Red Queens are characters in Through the Looking-Glass.

If that news item has any truth to it, though, Burton's film is kind of like the Disney version of the story - a combination of both books. I'm not sure if I like that.

[number8]

I think every adaptation of Alice I've ever seen combine the two books. It's sort of what you do unless you purposely make it a two-parter.

[Ivan Drago]

Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in this is the least surprising casting news ever. I bet my friend fifty bucks Helena Bonham Carter will be the Queen of Hearts.

Did you get your fifty bucks yet? :lol:

[Grouchy]

I think every adaptation of Alice I've ever seen combine the two books. It's sort of what you do unless you purposely make it a two-parter.
But it spoils a fundamental part of the books, which is that the first part is based on the figures in a deck of cards, while the second part is based on chess, with Alice advancing squares and so on.

Although, admittedly, Wonderland is a lot less faithful to the rules of the game than the Looking-Glass world.

[chrisnu]

Yahoo news says that she's in it, along with Anne Hathaway who will be playing the White Queen.
Bah, Carol Channing has to be the White Queen. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrjIVhIeGnw) Particularly in a Tim Burton movie.

[Watashi]

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/3001/4tlk78sy8.jpg

lol Johnny Depp.

[Winston*]

He looks like Tom Cruise as Lestat.

[Barty]

http://www.shiptonblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/lo-pan-btilc.jpg

[MadMan]

Please Barty do not compare that batshit weird crazy Depp pic to Lo Pan. Lo Pan's actually awesome. Can't say the same for Depp as the Mad Hatter.

[Skitch]

When is Burton going to admit he's gay?

[Ezee E]

Well, all I can hope is that the makeup is either unfinished, or that he's being rotoscoped, because that's pretty horrible looking.

[number8]

When is Burton going to admit he's gay?

He's goth. It's more or less the same thing.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Awful.

[Wryan]

Kinda looks like the guy in Neverending Story, with the bat-taxi, or whatever it was. Or maybe that was the sequel. I can't remember.

[Fezzik]

When did Christopher Lloyd and Marilyn Manson breed?

[MadMan]

When did Christopher Lloyd and Marilyn Manson breed?After they got drunk and high at a local kegger.

[number8]

When did Christopher Lloyd and Marilyn Manson breed?

When his house burned down.



Too soon?

[DavidSeven]

I think I speak for most when I say... WTF?

[megladon8]

The movie will blend together live action, motion capture and stop-motion animation. (http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/12/19/tim-burtons-alice-in-wonderland-to-incorporate-stop-motion-alan-rickman-talks-about-being-the-caterpillar/)

[Mara]

First look at Alice (Mia Wasikowska). (http://infdaily.fusebox.com/2008/09/our-first-look-at-tim-burtons-alice-in-wonderland.html)

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/6455/751064copypi3.jpg


She's old! According to imdb, this actress is already 18! I'm also upset that they're mushing the two stories together, as I think they have very different tones.

As a completely shallow side note, the skirt and coat in this shot are both stunning.

[Saya]

Couple pics from the movie (http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-06-21-alice-in-wonderland_N.htm#photo1)

http://i44.tinypic.com/2qib5af.jpg

Do not want?

[BuffaloWilder]

I don't know why, but I think I will enjoy this.

[Ivan Drago]

Is...that Helena Bonham Carter in the middle??!?!

[Dukefrukem]

I'm very interested in this... I love this shot of Depp

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/2027/depphatter.jpg

[Skitch]

I probably would have gone with a different hair color than 'carrottop'.

[Grouchy]

Ok, the idea of Helena Bonham-Carter having a huge head is a good one.

[Mara]

Ok, the idea of Helena Bonham-Carter having a huge head is a good one.

With the receded hairline and red curls, it's very Elizabeth I.

Anne Hathaway, though lovely, doesn't look like she matches at all.

[megladon8]

Please, someone, tell me I'm not the only one who finds these photos (particularly Depp) nightmarish.

Jesus, is Burton trying to scare the shit out of kids or what?

[lovejuice]

Please, someone, tell me I'm not the only one who finds these photos (particularly Depp) nightmarish.

Jesus, is Burton trying to scare the shit out of kids or what?
i maybe wrong but that's probably closer to lewis's intension than otherwise.

[Mara]

I'm not convinced this is for children.

For one thing, Alice is a freaking adult.

[Wryan]

Good to see Elijah Wood's still getting work.

[MadMan]

Those pictures are 150% creepy.

[Rowland]

Looks conventionally Burton, about what I'd expect from his take on Alice in Wonderland. Eh.

[Watashi]

I'm not convinced this is for children.

For one thing, Alice is a freaking adult.
It's not an adaptation.

It's an original sequel.

[[ETM]]

It's not an adaptation.

It's an original sequel.

Indeed. It's 10 years later, and she doesn't remember the first time she went to Wonderland.

[Sycophant]

It's pretty much impossible for me to conjure up excitement for this movie, but it'd be really, really awesome if it turned out to be a good movie.

[Watashi]

;176727']Indeed. It's 10 years later, and she doesn't remember the first time she went to Wonderland.
It's kinda like Hook!

:pritch:

[Ivan Drago]

Jesus, is Burton trying to scare the shit out of kids or what?

Probably. The looks of those three characters AND the movie being in 3D will scare them shitless.

[number8]

It's kinda like Hook!

:pritch:

Well, now it's guaranteed to suck.

[Mara]

;176727']Indeed. It's 10 years later, and she doesn't remember the first time she went to Wonderland.

That's stupid.

[Grouchy]

Am I the only one who's a lot more excited now that I know it's an "unofficial sequel"?

It just seems like the story now makes a lot more Burtonian sense - return to childhood and so on.

[Bosco B Thug]

Am I the only one who's a lot more excited now that I know it's an "unofficial sequel"? Nope, I'm with ya here. Suddenly I'm interested in this film. Her being an adult offers lots of enticing directions this film can go (of course, no way of knowing if it actually will).

[MadMan]

Well, now it's guaranteed to suck.Hook didn't suck, but its certainly one of Spielberg's worst movies.

[trotchky]

Looks conventionally Burton, about what I'd expect from his take on Alice in Wonderland. Eh.

I agree.

[Mara]

Nope, I'm with ya here. Suddenly I'm interested in this film. Her being an adult offers lots of enticing directions this film can go (of course, no way of knowing if it actually will).

I just expect a lot of "Remember? We had a tea party. Good times."

It takes out the ability to have the iconic scenes from the books, at which point, why both making it?

[Mara]

And even Burton won't live up to the trippiness of the books.

`Then I hope your finger is better now?' Alice said very politely, as she crossed the little brook after the Queen.

`Oh, much better!' cried the Queen, her voice rising to a squeak as she went on. `Much be-etter! Be-etter! Be-e-e-etter! Be-e-ehh!' The last word ended in a long bleat, so like a sheep that Alice quite started.

She looked at the Queen, who seemed to have suddenly wrapped herself up in wool. Alice rubbed her eyes, and looked again. She couldn't make out what had happened at all. Was she in a shop? And was that really - was it really a SHEEP that was sitting on the other side of the counter? Rub as she could, she could make nothing more of it: she was in a little dark shop, leaning with her elbows on the counter, and opposite to her was a old Sheep, sitting in an arm-chair knitting, and every now and then leaving off to look at her through a great pair of spectacles.

`What is it you want to buy?' the Sheep said at last, looking up for a moment from her knitting.

`I don't QUITE know yet,' Alice said, very gently. I should like to look all round me first, if I might.'

`You may look in front of you, and on both sides, if you like,' said the Sheep: `but you can't look ALL round you -- unless you've got eyes at the back of your head.'

But these, as it happened, Alice had NOT got: so she contented herself with turning round, looking at the shelves as she came to them.

The shop seemed to be full of all manner of curious things -- but the oddest part of it all was, that whenever she looked hard at any shelf, to make out exactly what it had on it, that particular shelf was always quite empty: though the others round it were crowded as full as they could hold.

`Things flow about so here!' she said at last in a plaintive tone, after she had spent a minute or so in vainly pursuing a large bright thing, that looked sometimes like a doll and sometimes like a work-box, and was always in the shelf next above the one she was looking at. `And this one is the most provoking of all -- but I'll tell you what -- ' she added, as a sudden thought struck her, `I'll follow it up to the very top shelf of all. It'll puzzle it to go through the ceiling, I expect!'

But even this plan failed: the `thing' went through the ceiling as quietly as possible, as if it were quite used to it.

`Are you a child or a teetotum?' the Sheep said, as she took up another pair of needles. `You'll make me giddy soon, if you go on turning round like that.' She was now working with fourteen pairs at once, and Alice couldn't help looking at her in great astonishment.

`How CAN she knit with so many?' the puzzled child thought to herself. `She gets more and more like a porcupine every minute!'

`Can you row?' the Sheep asked, handing her a pair of knitting- needles as she spoke.

`Yes, a little -- but not on land -- and not with needles -- ' Alice was beginning to say, when suddenly the needles turned into oars in her hands, and she found they were in a little boat, gliding along between banks: so there was nothing for it but to do her best.

`Feather!' cried the Sheep, as she took up another pair of needles.

This didn't sound like a remark that needed any answer, so Alice said nothing, but pulled away. There was something very queer about the water, she thought, as every now and then the oars got fast in it, and would hardly come out again.

`Feather! Feather!' the Sheep cried again, taking more needles. `You'll be catching a crab directly.'

`A dear little crab!' thought Alice. `I should like that.'

`Didn't you hear me say "Feather"?' the Sheep cried angrily, taking up quite a bunch of needles.

`Indeed I did,' said Alice: `you've said it very often -- and very loud. Please, where ARE the crabs?'

`In the water, of course!' said the Sheep, sticking some of the needles into her hair, as her hands were full. `Feather, I say!'

`WHY do you say "feather" so often?' Alice asked at last, rather vexed. 'I'm not a bird!'

`You are,` said the Sheet: `you're a little goose.'

This offended Alice a little, so there was no more conversation for a minute or two, while the boat glided gently on, sometimes among beds of weeds (which made the oars stick fast in the water, worse then ever), and sometimes under trees, but always with the same tall river-banks frowning over their heads.

`Oh, please! There are some scented rushes!' Alice cried in a sudden transport of delight. `There really are -- and SUCH beauties!'

`You needn't say "please" to ME about `em' the Sheep said, without looking up from her knitting: `I didn't put `em there, and I'm not going to take `em away.'

`No, but I meant -- please, may we wait and pick some?' Alice pleaded. `If you don't mind stopping the boat for a minute.'

`How am _I_ to stop it?' said the Sheep. `If you leave off rowing, it'll stop of itself.

So the boat was left to drift down the stream as it would, till it glided gently in among the waving rushes. And then the little sleeves were carefully rolled up, and the little arms were plunged in elbow-deep to get the rushes a good long way down before breaking them off -- and for a while Alice forgot all about the Sheep and the knitting, as she bent over the side of the boat, with just the ends of her tangled hair dipping into the water -- while with bright eager eyes she caught at one bunch after another of the darling scented rushes.

`I only hope the boat won't tipple over!' she said to herself. Oh, WHAT a lovely one! Only I couldn't quite reach it.' `And it certainly DID seem a little provoking ( `almost as if it happened on purpose,' she thought) that, though she managed to pick plenty of beautiful rushes as the boat glided by, there was always a more lovely one that she couldn't reach.

`The prettiest are always further!' she said at last, with a sigh at the obstinacy of the rushes in growing so far off, as, with flushed cheeks and dripping hair and hands, she scrambled back into her place, and began to arrange her new-found treasures.

What mattered it to her just than that the rushes had begun to fade, and to lose all their scent and beauty, from the very moment that she picked them? Even real scented rushes, you know, last only a very little while -- and these, being dream-rushes, melted away almost like snow, as they lay in heaps at her feet -- but Alice hardly noticed this, there were so many other curious things to think about.

They hadn't gone much farther before the blade of one of the oars got fast in the water and WOULDN'T come out again (so Alice explained it afterwards), and the consequence was that the handle of it caught her under the chin, and, in spite of a series of little shrieks of `Oh, oh, oh!' from poor Alice, it swept her straight off the seat, and down among the heap of rushes.

However, she wasn't hurt, and was soon up again: the Sheep went on with her knitting all the while, just as if nothing had happened. `That was a nice crab you caught!' she remarked, as Alice got back into her place, very much relieved to find herself still in the boat.

`Was it? I didn't see it,' Said Alice, peeping cautiously over the side of the boat into the dark water. `I wish it hadn't let go -- I should so like to see a little crab to take home with me!' But the Sheep only laughed scornfully, and went on with her knitting.

`Are there many crabs here?' said Alice.

`Crabs, and all sorts of things,' said the Sheep: `plenty of choice, only make up your mind. Now, what DO you want to buy?'

`To buy!' Alice echoes in a tone that was half astonished and half frightened -- for the oars, and the boat, and the river, had vanished all in a moment, and she was back again in the little dark shop.

`I should like to buy an egg, please,' she said timidly. `How do you sell them?'

`Fivepence farthing for one -- Twopence for two,' the Sheep replied.

`Then two are cheaper than one?' Alice said in a surprised tone, taking out her purse.

`Only you MUST eat them both, if you buy two,' said the Sheep.

`Then I'll have ONE, please,' said Alice, as she put the money down on the counter. For she thought to herself, `They mightn't be at all nice, you know.'

The Sheep took the money, and put it away in a box: then she said `I never put things into people's hands -- that would never do -- you must get it for yourself.' And so saying, she went off to the other end of the shop, and set the egg upright on a shelf.

`I wonder WHY it wouldn't do?' thought Alice, as she groped her way among the tables and chairs, for the shop was very dark towards the end. `The egg seems to get further away the more I walk towards it. Let me see, is this a chair? Why, it's got branches, I declare! How very odd to find trees growing here! And actually here's a little brook! Well, this is the very queerest shop I ever saw!'

[D_Davis]

This is going to be good. I'm getting a strong Return To Oz vibe, and I love that film.

[Dukefrukem]

teaser (http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/alice-in-wonderland/teaser-trailer)

looks fucking fantastic

[Mara]

teaser (http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/alice-in-wonderland/teaser-trailer)

looks fucking fantastic

Yeah, actually, it does. A couple special effects will, I hope, be refined, but overall: beautiful.

[Wryan]

Pretty much what I expected. And pretty much what I wanted, not even gonna lie.

EDIT: And the beginning was very Heavenly Creaturesy.

EDIT2: Was that Crispin Glover? Looked like Brad Dourif. Heh.

EDIT3: And Christopher Lee as [presumably the voice of] the Jabberwock. The more I think about it, the more I think Lee should just be in all of such Burton films.

[Sven]

Hmmm...

[number8]

Hmmm...

Ditto.

[Wryan]

Ditto.

Does not match avatar. You gotta be more goofy-cheery.

[Qrazy]

I find Burton's films too palatable these days. They're like eating wet toast, milquetoast toast if you will.

[Sven]

I know I'm supposed to be all contrariany, but I love love love love LOVE Burton. He's one of the few deliberate "dark" stylists that I can not only tolerate, but will defend quite vehemently. I attribute it to his ability to capture the same aura one finds in a magnificent picture book or diorama.

[Milky Joe]

The shot at the end of the little rabbit gesturing with his pocket watch is what made it for me.

[Ivan Drago]

GAAAH play the trailer, dammit! I don't want to have to see G-Force in order to see the teaser.

[Ezee E]

Liked it until the Mad Hatter actually.

[DavidSeven]

Liked it until the Mad Hatter actually.

This.

[Kurosawa Fan]

This.

Yep.

[EvilShoe]

Yep.
Also in agreement.

Burton should've just cast Depp as Alice.

[Wryan]

I find Burton's films too palatable these days. They're like eating wet toast, milquetoast toast if you will.

Surely not Sweeney, too? Too palatable there?

[Bosco B Thug]

I don't like Burton in high-flying fantasy mode. Burton's best when he's modulating the banal. This looks like all fantasy world with no restraint.

[Skitch]

...and gone.

[transmogrifier]

I know I'm supposed to be all contrariany, but I love love love love LOVE Burton. He's one of the few deliberate "dark" stylists that I can not only tolerate, but will defend quite vehemently. I attribute it to his ability to capture the same aura one finds in a magnificent picture book or diorama.

I think around here, yours is the contrarian opinion. Unfortunately. Burton is to be celebrated. Sure, he's made a stinker or two, but he follows his own nose and his films are always interesting. (Planet of the Apes being the major exception that proves the rule)

[Spun Lepton]

I find Burton's films too palatable these days.

Yes, I typically find that when a dessert I've just ordered is too delicious I have to send it back to the kitchen. "I'm sorry, but this cake is just too palatable, send me some second-rate food, please."

[megladon8]

Some really awful CGI in that trailer.

[Ivan Drago]

Some really awful CGI in that trailer.

Yeah, it wouldn't surprise me if it was all unfinished, though.

Some parts did look cool, but I'm curious as to what it'd look like in 3D.

[Qrazy]

Surely not Sweeney, too? Too palatable there?

Yeah even there... I don't know. I've enjoyed most of his work to some degree (some I quite like... Ed Wood) and I find his films fairly competent but I don't find there to be any real force behind them, any punch. They (for the most part) don't take any risks. They're starting to feel rote. I just have Sleepy Hollow left to see and then I'll post an ordering of his work in my thread.

[Qrazy]

Yes, I typically find that when a dessert I've just ordered is too delicious I have to send it back to the kitchen. "I'm sorry, but this cake is just too palatable, send me some second-rate food, please."

"Palatable often applies to something that is found to be merely agreeable."

[trotchky]

I don't think I've ever liked a Tim Burton movie.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I don't think I've ever liked a Tim Burton movie.

So either you haven't seen Ed Wood and Sleepy Hollow, or you're bad at movie-watching.

:pritch:
In all seriousness, I can't fathom someone not liking those films.

[Qrazy]

To be fair I should rewatch Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands before I rate/rank them. Been at least a decade for both.

[lovejuice]

I think around here, yours is the contrarian opinion. Unfortunately. Burton is to be celebrated. Sure, he's made a stinker or two, but he follows his own nose and his films are always interesting. (Planet of the Apes being the major exception that proves the rule)
count me in as another fan.

[trotchky]

So either you haven't seen Ed Wood and Sleepy Hollow, or you're bad at movie-watching.

:pritch:
In all seriousness, I can't fathom someone not liking those films.


I need to rewatch Ed Wood and have never watched Sleepy Hollow, but Qrazy just reminded me he made Beetlejuice and I love that movie.

[B-side]

I'm with E and them. Was enjoying it up until Depp being quirky Depp again. Is he just mish-mashing personas now?

[Skitch]

Hmmmm.

[Fezzik]

I'm with E and them. Was enjoying it up until Depp being quirky Depp again. Is he just mish-mashing personas now?


I love Depp, but he's starting to get dangerously near that "every role is a parody of itself" territory.

Bring it doooooown, Johnny.

[Dukefrukem]

I love Depp, but he's starting to get dangerously near that "every role is a parody of itself" territory.

Bring it doooooown, Johnny.

See I don't feel that way. I think his performances in most movies are mesmerizing. But it's probably because I've never seen Sweeney Todd or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory worth seeing?

[Wryan]

Let's not forget that we just saw Normal Johnny in Public Enemies. I think even his weird characters are different enough from each other for me to enjoy them. It's just that he's the go-to guy for this kind of thing, particularly for Burton, obviously, that it's hard to see it as anything but Depp in another kooky role, but I think he does fun things with them, so I'm not averse to seeing "another one."

[Dukefrukem]

Now rate Depp's character prformances;

1. Jack Sparrow
2. George Jung
3. John Dillinger
4. Edward Scissorhands
5. Ichabod Crane
6. Mort Rainey
7. Donnie Brasco
8. Commander Spencer Armacost
9. Sir James Matthew Barrie
10. Sands

[D_Davis]

That looks awesome.

I hope it's not overly scored like most of Burton's films tend to be. I'm really, really getting tired of the Elfman-sound, and that dude used to rank among my most favorite musical artists (Oingo Boingo will always rule though).

[Skitch]

Now rate Depp's character prformances;

1. Jack Sparrow
2. George Jung
3. John Dillinger
4. Edward Scissorhands
5. Ichabod Crane
6. Mort Rainey
7. Donnie Brasco
8. Commander Spencer Armacost
9. Sir James Matthew Barrie
10. Sands

1. Hunter S. Thompson

[Grouchy]

Could go either way. Doesn't look bad at all, though. Frankly it's pretty much what I expected or even a little less. I expected the trailer to be more over-the-top.

[Grouchy]

1. Hunter S. Thompson
Indeed. Best Depp performance EVAH!

[Dukefrukem]

Indeed. Best Depp performance EVAH!

I don't even know what that's from.

[Grouchy]

I don't even know what that's from.
Huh, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, dude.

[Dukefrukem]

Huh, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, dude.

How the fuck did I forget that?? Yeh that's def. #1 in my book. Completely forgot about that movie entirely.

[number8]

Greetings from Comic-Con. Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance. Women went bananas.

[Spun Lepton]

Greetings from Comic-Con. Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance. Women went bananas.

Negrep for gloating!

[Ezee E]

Greetings from Comic-Con. Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance. Women went bananas.
You did not?

[Spun Lepton]

Okay ... okay ... ?? Sooo ... the Mad Hatter is going to be in MORE scenes than the tea party scene? Was he in other scenes in the story or any of the other adaptations?? It's wonderful to get Depp involved, I'm sure ... but don't let him overtake the entire movie ... I mean ... *sigh*

:|

[Mara]

In Alice in Wonderland, he testified at Alice's trial at the end. That's it.

[Spun Lepton]

I have to admit, the Cheshire Cat looks wonderfully wicked. And I did like that the Red Queen appears to have a head that's too large for her body.

[megladon8]

I still find it hilarious when I talk to younger girls who fell in love with Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, and have no idea about his film career before that movie, nor the fact that he's in his mid-40s.

[Milky Joe]

2. Ed Wood

[lovejuice]

I still find it hilarious when I talk to younger girls who fell in love with Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, and have no idea about his film career before that movie, nor the fact that he's in his mid-40s.
do they know he used to date winona?

[trotchky]

How the fuck did I forget that?? Yeh that's def. #1 in my book. Completely forgot about that movie entirely.

How, indeed.

Edit: I thought you were saying Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas was your number one book. Reading your post correctly, it makes sense. Is the name "Hunter S. Thompson" even used in the movie? Depp was playing Raoul Duke (well TECHNICALLY he was playing Thompson playing Duke, but that's beside the point).

[Ivan Drago]

How the fuck did I forget that?? Yeh that's def. #1 in my book. Completely forgot about that movie entirely.

I really want to re-watch Fear and Loathing in Last Vegas. Slightly going off-topic, but maybe re-watch that, and afterwards watch Dazed and Confused and Half Baked (both for the first time) in a marathon of drug/stoner movies.

Hell, it won't surprise me at all if people get high to this when it comes out.

[Ezee E]

I watched a good chunk of Svankmejer's Alice the other day. So disappointing (and boring) that I couldn't finish it. That match seemed like something that couldn't possibly fail.

[Winston*]

I watched a good chunk of Svankmejer's Alice the other day. So disappointing (and boring) that I couldn't finish it. That match seemed like something that couldn't possibly fail.

...said the white rabbit.

[number8]

By the way, if anyone's still wondering, Burton confirmed that this is indeed a completely original story, set in Wonderland.

[megladon8]

By the way, if anyone's still wondering, Burton confirmed that this is indeed a completely original story, set in Wonderland.


So is it just riddled with events from the books, or is there going to be some sort of prologue-like "Alice's first adventure in Wonderland went like this..." and then get into the original story?

Because just about everything I saw in that trailer is from the books (and other film adaptations).

[Bosco B Thug]

...said the white rabbit. Hahahahaha. :lol:

[Grouchy]

Because just about everything I saw in that trailer is from the books (and other film adaptations).
Huh? Except for the fall through the rabbit-hole, nothing from the trailer is from the books.

[megladon8]

Huh? Except for the fall through the rabbit-hole, nothing from the trailer is from the books.


We didn't really see any full scenes except for the rabbit hole, so to this I also reply "huh?"

All the characters shown were from the books, and I didn't really see any events happening in that trailer that screamed "ORIGINAL CONTENT".

[Rowland]

Bah, I love Svankmajer's Alice. It's a discomfitingly mannerist rebuke to the pleasantly inoffensive Disney adaptation, with loads of grotesque imagery and sequences that border on nightmarish, all executed with black wit and endless invention.

[D_Davis]

Bah, I love Svankmajer's Alice. It's a discomfitingly mannerist rebuke to the pleasantly inoffensive Disney adaptation, with loads of grotesque imagery and sequences that border on nightmarish, all executed with black wit and endless invention.

I like it, too.

It's disquieting.

[Amnesiac]

Bah, I love Svankmajer's Alice.

Does Alice get trapped in this really small house that begins to flood with her own tears in this one?

[Sven]

Bah, I love Svankmajer's Alice. It's a discomfitingly mannerist rebuke to the pleasantly inoffensive Disney adaptation, with loads of grotesque imagery and sequences that border on nightmarish, all executed with black wit and endless invention.

I'm telling you, man... you sound more and more like a newspaper movie advertisement quote every day.

[Rowland]

I'm telling you, man... you sound more and more like a newspaper movie advertisement quote every day.OK.

[KK2.0]

I like Svankmajer´s Alice, in fact, i enjoyed all Alice versions i´ve seen, even the neutered Disney version is weird.

That said, i enjoyed the hell of that teaser, and while Burton has a few stinkers i´m not sick of him, one of the few imaginative directors working within Hollywood today.

[number8]

So is it just riddled with events from the books, or is there going to be some sort of prologue-like "Alice's first adventure in Wonderland went like this..." and then get into the original story?

Because just about everything I saw in that trailer is from the books (and other film adaptations).

Found out more when I took a guided tour of the props and sets from the film. From what I gather, I don't think it's a sequel or return to Wonderland. I think it's just an original story, like this is Alice's first time. Just like the animated movie liberally combined Looking Glass and Adventures, this one is an action-adventure story set in Wonderland, with Carroll's characters making appearances. Because Burton said that he didn't want to have it be just about a girl wandering around, but an actual story with emotions and drama.

I said action-adventure because I saw battle props. Apparently Alice gets a full battle armor and the Vorpal Sword. The Mad Hatter gets a sword and shield, the White Queen has a big mace, etc. I'm thinking the climax of the film is a big war between the Red Queen and White Queen for the fate of Wonderland.

[Spun Lepton]

I said action-adventure because I saw battle props. Apparently Alice gets a full battle armor and the Vorpal Sword. The Mad Hatter gets a sword and shield, the White Queen has a big mace, etc. I'm thinking the climax of the film is a big war between the Red Queen and White Queen for the fate of Wonderland.

:|

[transmogrifier]

:|

Why? Has there never been a successful battle scene in the history of cinema or something?

[D_Davis]

Found out more when I took a guided tour of the props and sets from the film. From what I gather, I don't think it's a sequel or return to Wonderland. I think it's just an original story, like this is Alice's first time. Just like the animated movie liberally combined Looking Glass and Adventures, this one is an action-adventure story set in Wonderland, with Carroll's characters making appearances. Because Burton said that he didn't want to have it be just about a girl wandering around, but an actual story with emotions and drama.

I said action-adventure because I saw battle props. Apparently Alice gets a full battle armor and the Vorpal Sword. The Mad Hatter gets a sword and shield, the White Queen has a big mace, etc. I'm thinking the climax of the film is a big war between the Red Queen and White Queen for the fate of Wonderland.

Sounds awesome. I'd rather see an adaptation in which the new artist takes liberty with the original, adding his or her own personal touches to the narrative rather than a straight ahead retelling.


I'm really looking forward to this.

[Spun Lepton]

Why? Has there never been a successful battle scene in the history of cinema or something?

It worries me when they take such extreme liberties. I'm not saying it can't be a success, I just think it lowers the chances considerably.

[Grouchy]

Sounds awesome. I'd rather see an adaptation in which the new artist takes liberty with the original, adding his or her own personal touches to the narrative rather than a straight ahead retelling.


I'm really looking forward to this.
I agree completely. A straight ahead retelling sounds like something Burton could handle on his sleep, and it would be a bore to watch.

And for the record, I love the original books. Read them ten times each at least.

[number8]

http://www.justpressplay.net/movies/movie-news/5680-is-tim-burtons-qalice-in-wonderlandq-an-action-adventure-epic.html

[number8]

Great poster.

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs118.snc3/16535_174026861654_10227034665 4_3040508_4497008_n.jpg

[lovejuice]

Great poster.
love it.

[Saya]

new trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHEHKgvkymY&feature=player_embedded)

[Dukefrukem]

new trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHEHKgvkymY&feature=player_embedded)

and another (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9POCgSRVvf0).

[Wryan]

Looks like a half-remembered dream pastiche of Burton's entire career.

Also looks grand. Simply grand.

[MadMan]

The only reason I want to see this in 3D is so I can watch the grinning Cheshire Cat's big head pop out of the screen. Other than that, the movie looks quite good-and at the very least, you know it will be interesting.

[megladon8]

Very meh.

[Spun Lepton]

Very meh.

Would've been less meh if he'd actually made Alice in Wonderland, rather than Tim Burton's Unneccessary Rewrite of Alice in Wonderland.

[Lasse]

Wow. I absolutely loved that.

[megladon8]

Would've been less meh if he'd actually made Alice in Wonderland, rather than Tim Burton's Unneccessary Rewrite of Alice in Wonderland.

Eh, I don't really care about that. It can be pretty interesting to see someone's original take on a story that (like this one) most already know.

I just didn't see much there that interested me.



Looks like a half-remembered dream pastiche of Burton's entire career.

Exactly. And exactly why it isn't very exciting to me.

[Adam]

He forces it a bit much these days, it seems, even if I did like Sweeney Todd

[Henry Gale]

Even as someone who seems to love the average Burton more than most, that didn't do too much for me aside from the occasionally striking image. If I can give this credit for one big thing, it would be that it actually looks like a lot of great concept art does for films that never quite materialize the same way.

Strangely, the real-world opening to the UK teaser is actually my favourite part of any footage so far.

[Winston*]

Even as someone who seems to love the average Burton more than most, that didn't do too much for me aside from the occasionally striking image. If I can give this credit for one big thing, it would be that it actually looks like a lot of great concept art does for films that never quite materialize the same way.

Strangely, the real-world opening to the UK teaser is actually my favourite part of any footage so far.

The real-world opening was the best part of Charlie and the Chocolate factory.

[Ivan Drago]

new trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHEHKgvkymY&feature=player_embedded)

Looks awesome.

What could this trailer POSSIBLY be attached to?

[Spun Lepton]

Ahh, my bad. It's not a rewrite.

It's a sequel.

[KK2.0]

Loved the visuals. I actually dig the sequel idea and the universe of Alice is endlessly fascinating, but i'm afraid Burton will lose himself in the excess of it.

[Fezzik]

Ahh, my bad. It's not a rewrite.

It's a sequel.

Yeah, written by Linda Woolverton. She wrote Disney's Beauty and the Beast back in the day.

I guess this is the closest thing I'll get to a true Disney-Burton collaboration (as much as I love The Nightmare Before Christmas, I don't think it counts).

[number8]

He forces it a bit much these days, it seems, even if I did like Sweeney Todd

Well, Sweeney was his best movie since Ed Wood.

[Adam]

Mars Attacks! is probably better than Sweeney Todd

[number8]

Close, but nah.

[Fezzik]

Looks awesome.

What could this trailer POSSIBLY be attached to?

The trailer, in 3D even, was shown in front of Avatar in my theater. Looks good.

[Spun Lepton]

Mars Attacks! is probably better than Sweeney Todd

Burton has yet to top Ed Wood or Edward Scissorhands, although I suspect if he makes a bio about Eddie Deezen, he's going to create his masterpiece.

[eternity]

Trailer is blah. Don't want to see this now. 3D looks clunky.

[Yxklyx]

Trailer makes it look like nearly every other movie out there including all the loud crashes and booms.

[D_Davis]

Wow - how much stuff can they throw at the screen?

[Rowland]

Yeah, I much prefer old-school Burton. The only film of his I've really liked from the last decade has been Big Fish.

[Raiders]

I actually really enjoyed his take on Sweeney Todd which was the first film of his I liked since Ed Wood. His best two films are the two of his first, the short-film Vincent and Pee-Wee's Big Adventure.

[Melville]

I actually really enjoyed his take on Sweeney Todd which was the first film of his I liked since Ed Wood.
Those are my two favorite Burton films. I thought Sweeney Todd was perfectly suited to his gothic style: dark and irreverent, but without that cutesy gothicism that I find grating in a lot of his other movies.

[number8]

Yep. Same here. Sweeney is easily his best since Ed Wood. I think I just said this two pages back.

[lovejuice]

Those are my two favorite Burton films. I thought Sweeney Todd was perfectly suited to his gothic style: dark and irreverent, but without that cutesy gothicism that I find grating in a lot of his other movies.
i too love sweeney todd, but strangely enough it's because of how non-burtonic i find the film. a sondheim's movie is always a sondheim's, and burton does a clever thing to make sure that it remains so.

[Mara]

sondheim's movie is always a sondheim's

DANG IT I just wrote a huge post about how all of Sondheim's film adaptations have been failures of some kind, which is a shame, because I love him. My screen locked up.

I'm not recreating it. It took too long the first time.

Suffice to say, he's such a talented man, and I wish someone would put the proper effort into adapting one of his works. Sweeney Todd might be my favorite of his plays, and the film was... mostly okay.

I'd really love to see an adaptation of Into the Woods with real, professional, talented singers. I'm getting a little sick of the trend of having actors who can kind-of-sort-of sing warbling nervously through complex, interesting songs, and killing them in the process.

[Mara]

Okay, I won't recreate the whole thing, but I must mention how awful the 1977 adaptation of A Little Night Music was, and how very little Miss Liz Taylor can sing. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7_0r8gVdwU&feature=related) Or act.

EDIT: If you want to skip the painful acting to see the painful singing, it's about five minutes in. And believe it or not, that's a beautiful song.

[Mara]

A real singer doing "Send in the Clowns." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyscZQmRc6w)

I'd love to hear Lea Michele doing it. Too bad she's about twenty years too young for the part.

[Mara]

Yes, still posting.

It's not a film, but a filming of the live Broadway play of Into the Woods is available from Netflix Instant Watch. And it's awesome.

[Sven]

Yes, still posting.

It's not a film, but a filming of the live Broadway play of Into the Woods is available from Netflix Instant Watch. And it's awesome.

Seconding this. Totally awesome. I watch it frequently.

[Bosco B Thug]

Sweeney Todd is good for reasons that aren't its fidelity to the source material. If all that was good about it was that it is, or is like, the original musical, I wouldn't like it as much as I do.

I already am dealing with my irritations about its divergences from the original musical, but I try not to hold those against it.

[Mara]

Sweeney Todd is good for reasons that aren't its fidelity to the source material. If all that was good about it was that it is, or is like, the original musical, I wouldn't like it as much as I do.

It was very faithful. The leads just couldn't sing.

Why couldn't it be a good film and have good singers?

[Bosco B Thug]

It was very faithful. The leads just couldn't sing.

Why couldn't it be a good film and have good singers?
I definitely agree with you about the singing thing, it would've been nice...

But I also think if there's anything more undervalued - or outright disparaged too, too often - about Sweeney Todd, it's Depp's and Bonham Carter's performances. I find what they offer the film pretty spectacular, actually.

But they do have very mediocre voices, I agree. I literally do not listen to the soundtrack album.

As for it being faithful, it is, but it's so good because of what it has added (and, as mentioned, irritating for what it's taken away).

[Adam]

Nobody has sung Sondheim in film better than Madonna (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUwSJkzo5Vw)

[Mara]

But I also think if there's anything more undervalued - or outright disparaged too, too often - about Sweeney Todd, it's Depp's and Bonham Carter's performances. I find what they offer the film pretty spectacular, actually.


I'm going to add an additional complaint, just to annoy you: they were both too young for the parts.

They are both excellent actors that really embraced the charactes, but that doesn't mean they were the best casting choices.

[Mara]

Nobody has sung Sondheim in film better than Madonna (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUwSJkzo5Vw)

Don't you start with me! My complaint about Madonna's singing was lost in my long post.

Better rendition. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5n-o80EX30)

[Bosco B Thug]

I'm going to add an additional complaint, just to annoy you: they were both too young for the parts.

They are both excellent actors that really embraced the charactes, but that doesn't mean they were the best casting choices. I demand someday a Sweeney Todd movie with a cackling, villainous Mrs. Lovett in tact. DEMAND.

I think HBC could've so pulled off the character with all the arch, old-hag verve of Lansbury, if HBC's other performances were anything to go by, but her and Burton resisted it for some reason. Oh well.

[Ezee E]

Watched the latest trailer on my X-Box, and I'm pretty amazed actually. Love this approach.

[Winston*]

Sountrack

1. "Alice (Underground)" performed by Avril Lavigne
2. "The Poison" performed by The All-American Rejects
3. "The Technicolor Phase" performed by Owl City
4. "Her Name Is Alice" performed by Shinedown
5. "Painting Flowers" performed by All Time Low
6. "Where's My Angel" performed by Metro Station
7. "Strange" performed by Tokio Hotel and Kerli
8. "Follow Me Down" performed by 3OH!3 featuring Neon Hitch
9. "Very Good Advice" performed by Robert Smith
10. "In Transit" performed by Mark Hoppus with Pete Wentz
11. "Welcome to Mystery" performed by Plain White T's
12. "Tea Party" performed by Kerli
13. "The Lobster Quadrille" performed by Franz Ferdinand
14. "Running Out of Time" performed by Motion City Soundtrack
15. "Fell Down a Hole" performed by Wolfmother
16. "White Rabbit" performed by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

:|

This is going to be a bad film, isn't it?

[Watashi]

I have heard of one of those bands.

I assume all of them suck giant camel balls, correct?

[Henry Gale]

Ahahaha that's even ten times worse than the Nightmare Revisited soundtrack they did a few years ago. Franz Ferdinand is the only one of those that I respect at all. Holy shit that's as bad a collection of artists as anything I could've come up with.

Hopefully none of these are in the actual movie similar to that Nightmare one, because my god would it be a disaster.

EDIT: Ok, didn't notice Robert Smith. His cover could be decent as well.

[D_Davis]

I still really like Robert Smith.

The rest, not so much.

[Wryan]

I loved Burton's Sweeney Todd and I liked what Depp and B-Carter did with both their characters and their characters' songs. More personality singing rather than professional and I think it served the film well. Plus for someone who just said, "Yeah I can probably do that," Depp sounded pretty good. Plus, Alan Rickman.

[Grouchy]

Huh, dogshit. I don't think I wanna hear Avril Lavigne and Franz Ferdinand in a Tim Burton film.

I feel like Homer in the episode where everything turns gay.

[Henry Gale]

Huh, dogshit. I don't think I wanna hear Avril Lavigne and Franz Ferdinand in a Tim Burton film.

I feel like Homer in the episode where everything turns gay.

I don't think any of the songs are actually going to appear in the film, but it's still sad to see any soundtrack looking like that attached to a movie that could show some promise.

[Grouchy]

I don't think any of the songs are actually going to appear in the film, but it's still sad to see any soundtrack looking like that attached to a movie that could show some promise.
So, I don't understand... How is it a soundtrack then?

[Henry Gale]

So, I don't understand... How is it a soundtrack then?

The same way this (http://www.amazon.com/Nightmare-Revisited-Danny-Elfman/dp/B001AUKV08/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1264060404&sr=8-1) is.

I remember Manson even performed "This Is Halloween" on Leno when it came out.

[EyesWideOpen]

The same way this (http://www.amazon.com/Nightmare-Revisited-Danny-Elfman/dp/B001AUKV08/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1264060404&sr=8-1) is.

I remember Manson even performed "This Is Halloween" on Leno when it came out.

When I bought the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack (the real one) it came with a second disc which had a Marilyn Manson cover and a Fiona Apple cover that were quite good. The rest of the songs on the second disc were crap and I thought it was the same disc as Nightmare Revisited but after looking at your link they seem to be different except for the Manson cover.

[Henry Gale]

When I bought the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack (the real one) it came with a second disc which had a Marilyn Manson cover and a Fiona Apple cover that were quite good. The rest of the songs on the second disc were crap and I thought it was the same disc as Nightmare Revisited but after looking at your link they seem to be different except for the Manson cover.

Hmmm... the Amazon link also has some actual Elfman score mixed in. But no matter what form the songs took on any particular disc, it's obvious Disney wants to duplicate its success(?) here, even with some of the same bands.

[KK2.0]

I know a few artists but only Robert Smith and Wolfmother interested me.

Similar alternative soundtracks like these were released to Godzilla and Judgment Night, correct? The latter had some cool reunions between metal and rap artists, yes, this sounded like a good idea during the 90's.

[number8]

They did that for the Spawn soundtrack, they got electronic artists to remix metal songs.

[megladon8]

They did that for the Spawn soundtrack, they got electronic artists to remix metal songs.


The Crystal Method remix of Filter's "Trip Like I Do" was frickin' awesome.

[number8]

The Crystal Method remix of Filter's "Trip Like I Do" was frickin' awesome.

And to counter it, the "For Whom the Bells Toll" remix was a disgrace.

[megladon8]

And to counter it, the "For Whom the Bells Toll" remix was a disgrace.


Yeah, a lot of the album sucked. But I still love "Trip Like I Do".

Better than the original.

[[ETM]]

I remember being quite fond of "One Man Army" from that album.

[megladon8]

I just cannot get into the incredibly artificial look of this movie at all. It's not doing anything for me.

[number8]

What the fuck, journalism?

http://www.ugo.com/movies/alice-in-wonderland-press-conference

[Wryan]

What the fuck, journalism?

http://www.ugo.com/movies/alice-in-wonderland-press-conference

Reporter: "Well I never see you out partying, and I never see you without panties."

Anne Hathaway: "I'm happy that you haven't seen that."

Is this shit a put-on?

[dreamdead]

Seeing this Friday. Not too hopeful that it'll be up there with Burton's best, though I suspect Carter will be wonderful.

[Winston*]

Seeing this this afternoon in 2D. From what I've read it doesn't seem like something where the 3D is a must, unlike Coraline or Avatar.

[Winston*]

Ugh. This was dispiritingly un-Lewis Carrolly, like the makers had only ever overheard snatches of conversation about the two books and decided to make a sequel based on that. So generic and literal, where's the wit and whimsy and whatnot?

EDIT: Oh, and Avril Lavigne plays over the credits.

[Pop Trash]

I've kind of given up on both Depp and Burton lately. It just seems like in the last ten years they've been resting on their laurels creatively, whereas in the 90s (or the 80s as well for Burton) both of them seemed to be pushing themselves in their respective arts (acting and filmmaking). They just seem to make the type of movies/give the type of performances people expect from them. I hope I'm wrong and both of them do work in the future that really blows me away.

[Rowland]

My favorite Burton from the last decade has been Big Fish. The rest of his '00s output I've found alright at best. That said, I'm probably against the grain by finding the vanilla Planet of the Apes less overtly irritating than Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; even though the former isn't even of passable quality, I find it at least admirable for being restrained enough to not be chock-a-block with Burton cliches.

[Ezee E]

I've kind of given up on both Depp and Burton lately. It just seems like in the last ten years they've been resting on their laurels creatively, whereas in the 90s (or the 80s as well for Burton) both of them seemed to be pushing themselves in their respective arts (acting and filmmaking). They just seem to make the type of movies/give the type of performances people expect from them. I hope I'm wrong and both of them do work in the future that really blows me away.
Depp was wonderful in Public Enemies. And while many of the movies he's in may not be good, I always think he's good in them.

[Ivan Drago]

Seeing tonight at midnight.

[Dead & Messed Up]

My favorite Burton from the last decade has been Big Fish. The rest of his '00s output I've found alright at best. That said, I'm probably against the grain by finding the vanilla Planet of the Apes less overtly irritating than Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; even though the former isn't even of passable quality, I find it at least admirable for being restrained enough to not be chock-a-block with Burton cliches.

I haven't seen Sweeney Todd, but of the ones I've seen, Corpse Bride was the one I most appreciated. Big Fish's manipulation grew more crass and cheap the more I thought about it, Charlie misguidedly focused on Willy Wonka, rather than Charlie, and Planet of the Apes, go figure, was missing a crucial sense of humanity. Then again, I've never been a big fan of Burton as a storyteller, Ed Wood notwithstanding.

[Watashi]

Jesus. This film sucked. Winston is right. It's way too straightforward and banal to resemble Alice in Wonderland. The girl who played Alice was bland and Depp was embarassing. The only remotely good thing is that it had some neat visual moments. Most of it was a blur.

[Sxottlan]

Hmm. Yeah, not really sold on this. I guess I can't comment on the story as I realized I've never read the actual books, but the action climax seemed gratuitous (complete with pithy one liner before the big kill). The movie certainly looked great thanks to Darius Wolski, but there wasn't much sense of wonder or thrills or even laughs.

I simply could not understand half of what the Mad Hatter was saying. And I couldn't understand anything the mad hare was saying.

The biggest surprise performance was Anne Hathaway as the white queen, always self-consciously walking around with hands up in the air like she was the good witch of the east, but as soon as no one is around she's kind of clumsy and awkward.

[Watashi]

This thing is going to make 120 million dollars this weekend. Jesus.

[dreamdead]

Yeah, this is unsurprisingly disappointing. Alice's narrative doesn't feel like it has nearly the amount of linguistic wordplay central to the story. Naturally, that kind of thing is hard to translate to film, but Alice's character feels lazy and unconnected throughout the proceedings. And while Carter's Red Queen is easily the most developed acting achievement here, it's not the bravura role that I'd hoped that she would have.

Instead, the film suffers under the lax approach that Hathaway's hand movements provide (a physical tick that surely wasn't her choice but one that doesn't work at all, and so should have been edited around), the disjointedness of Depp recycling Ed Wood vocal mannerisms amidst his war damaged psychosis, and an unconvincing set of dance routines, in addition to lazily conceived feminism. Just bland in every way beyond its sumptuous visuals.

[lovejuice]

the story is like a fan fiction written by a teenager -- or more precisely, a studio executive -- who has grown up on LOTR and believes fantasy only means manichean battle.

the visual is pretty nice though. if they had stuck to the original material, this could have been something. and i enjoy most of the performance for what they are.

[number8]

I'm more interested in this.

pW7fKqSet0Y

[trotchky]

at some point i realized it had my least favorite type of plot structure: the kind the feels like progressing in a videogame. i went in high and twenty minutes from the end had an incredible urge to smoke a cigarette, so i did. i got locked out of the theater because they were technically closed.

on the ride home my dad couldn't stop raving about it. he asked me if it was less impressive to me because i play videogames and spend more time than he does in "worlds that are not our own." i said i guessed. he called it stupendous and called tim burton a genius. i didn't really agree but tried to humor him that i did, just because i was excited that he was excited.

[Skitch]

I'm still trying to figure out if I'm going to review this as "harmless" or "better than being hit in the face with a sledgehammer, but only slightly".

[soitgoes...]

Depp's dance was one of the biggest groan inducing moments in all my theater going experiences. An awful, awful moment.

[Fezzik]

I still haven't quite decided what I thought of this. On first blush, I was very disappointed in it but as I think back, there are more and more things I remember with increasing appreciation.

I thought HBC and Depp were very hard to understand through most of the film. Other than Alice, my favorite characters were all CGI creations, the Bloodhound most of all.

Nobody seemed comfortable in their skin, and I don't know if its because of Burton's direction or what, but it just didn't flow.

Oh, and the CGI used on Crispin Glover was horrendous. They really should have fixed that before release.

It was definitely a beautiful film, and it might be worth revisiting with some friends, but overall, meh.

I do want a pet Bandersnatch now, though.

[NickGlass]

I don't understand why everyone is saying this is "visually immersive but surprisingly very, very dull" as if it wasn't what they expected. It's a new Tim Burton movie, duh.

[KK2.0]

I'm more interested in this.

pW7fKqSet0Y


probably more faithful to Carrol's spirit than Burton, right?

[Spinal]

Good god, this was horrible.

[Spinal]

I don't understand why everyone is saying this is "visually immersive but surprisingly very, very dull" as if it wasn't what they expected. It's a new Tim Burton movie, duh.

I didn't even think the visuals were that great. Apart from Helena's head and some cool costumes.

[Skitch]

The more I think about this, the more I hate it, and am really disappointed when people come back with positive reviews.

[megladon8]

There are tons of videos of the Mad Hatter's dance.

Seriously, what the hell were they thinking with that?

[balmakboor]

Depp's dance was one of the biggest groan inducing moments in all my theater going experiences. An awful, awful moment.

I guess I humbly disagree with you. I thought it was about the only time in the movie something interesting happened. I actually wished the dance had lasted longer.

Of course we knew the dance was coming. It's one of the first things The Hatter says.

[soitgoes...]

Of course we knew the dance was coming. It's one of the first things The Hatter says.That really doesn't matter.

[balmakboor]

That really doesn't matter.

You made a rhyme.

It matters if someone -- and I'm not saying you -- thought the dance was just tossed in there without a purpose. The futterwacking is what completes his arc. I only wished that it had been a bigger and more satisfying moment. As is, we barely even get a glimpse of it.

[Cherish]

I guess I humbly disagree with you. I thought it was about the only time in the movie something interesting happened. I actually wished the dance had lasted longer.

Of course we knew the dance was coming. It's one of the first things The Hatter says.

I agree it was necessary, but soitgoes is right that it was "groan inducing." Why on earth was it CGI? Horrible.

[Grouchy]

Ugh, this was a mess. Like someone else here said, I just wished Burton had done a faithful adaptation of the first book - that actually could've been something. This "sequel" felt like an attempt to rationalize Alice and, in the way, the writers just lost every bit of the nonsense and philosophy that makes Carroll's work inmortal. Most of the jokes felt flat.

The most frustrating thing is that this is not completely terrible. Depp's Mad Hatter is another one of his consistently great creations (dancing aside, that was embarassing), Bonham-Carter is amazing and the quirky White Queen they created was funny - I wanted to see more of her. But the script is so dull all those elements are completely wasted. This isn't what Alice is about at all.

[Henry Gale]

What I make of Burton from the last 10 or so years:

Sleepy Hollow - ***
Planet of the Apes - Haven't seen it since I was about 11, never really liked it...
Big Fish - ****
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - ***½
Corpse Bride - ***½
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - ****

But even before general reactions and reviews came out I had very little interest in Alice. So I can definitely say I'm in no rush to see it, and considering the lack of enthusiasm towards the 3D I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything by waiting until home video either.

[Grouchy]

I've just realized the exact moment where you notice the 3D doesn't work on this movie and wasn't planned from the beginning, unlike Avatar - objects out of focus. Whenever a lens was used that showed the objects in front of the screen out of focus, the effect completely took me out of the picture and I started looking outside of the center of the screen to notice the oddity.

Yet another fail in this silly movie.

[Mysterious Dude]

I just found out this is the 17th highest-grossing film ever (http://www.imdb.com/boxoffice/alltimegross?region=world-wide). What the piss?

[Henry Gale]

I just found out this is the 17th highest-grossing film ever (http://www.imdb.com/boxoffice/alltimegross?region=world-wide). What the piss?

It would appear it's moved up to #9. (http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/)

And I finally saw it... I liked it a lot up until the last act, but even before then, it was mainly the flow of its vibrant and well-realised images, constantly adding new bits of colours and atmosphere to richen the world it was set that was compelling to me in place of an interesting story.

It is a weird little movie though. Every other scene has an offbeat touch thrown into it that helps to keep things refreshing for a while before it gets too serious. I just didn't have much to take away from it after I saw it. It's probably my least Burton film next to Planet of the Apes.

[KK2.0]

I agree with Grouchy that the script completely misses the point, although i was entertained by the endlessly charming Wonderland characters, the human world ended up looking more interesting - definitive proof that the film fails. Aside from the expected great visuals and some funny stuff, the film wasn't memorable, not even weird enough, not the worst i've seen from Burton but it just felt too safe (blame Disney? probably).