Tim Burton and Alice in Wonderland is like a match made in heaven; like champagne and strawberries, or vegemite and toast (this is an Australian mag after all). Anticipation and giddy excitement has accompanied every announcement about this pairing, from Johnny Depp signing on as Mad Hatter*, to the confirmation that it was going to be released in 3D, to the first images revealed from the set. And now, arguably the most eagerly awaited movie of 2010 (yes, we’re already looking towards 2010), Alice in Wonderland is now the proud owner of a Trailer Teaser.
Behold!
This truly stunning teaser introduces us to our beloved players: Alice (played by Australian actress Mia Wasikowska), the Red Queen (Helena Bonham-Carter), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), Tweedledee and Tweedledum (Matt Lucas), the Cheshire Cat (voiced by Stephen Fry) and of course the White Rabbit (voiced by Michael Sheen). Perhaps a slight worry is the fact that Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter seems to be taking centre stage though his narration and table dancing routine.
However, the storyline seems to confirm this is all about Alice. Deviating from Lewis Carroll’s original tale, screenwriter Linda Woolverton now has Alice as a 19 year old, escaping a Victorian garden party and an undesired engagement. She ventures back down the rabbit hole and returns to Wonderland, but with no memory of her first visit. Such a clever conceit will surely allow the audience to rediscover their childhood experiences of Alice, alongside the character herself.
Visually, Tim Burton looks to be in his element. The seamless mix of CGI and live action speak to the huge advances in technology that have allowed Burton free reign to create his own version of Wonderland. It’s a far cry from the renowned 1951 Disney animation, though both represent huge cinematic achievements.
No doubt Burton’s adaptation will introduce this classic tale to a whole new generation. One can only hope they return to Carroll’s fantastical source material Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking Glass And What Alice Found There (1871) and learn more about the dark, weird and wondrous world of Wonderland.
4 March 2010. Mark this down, Australia. You’ve got a very important date.
*Tim Burton and Johnny Depp being of course another heavenly duo. Alice in Wonderland marks their seventh collaboration.
To whet your appetite …
Here are the official character posters and some stills from a Vanity Fair spread. Enjoy.
Images courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures
Tim Burton has a unique style when making his movie. I love Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands.’~-
Tim Burton is an eccentric director in my opinion but he has his own unique style,*”
Tim Burton is just a very talented director and i love all his works”‘*