Monday 22 March 2010

Alice, Alice, who the fuck is Alice?

I took my son to see Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland on Saturday.

Alice the child has grown into a 19 year old woman and once again follows the rabbit and falls into a hole following a marriage proposal which she is encouraged to accept.

She believes she is dreaming and revisiting characters of past night time imaginings and soon discovers her task is to fight the Jabberwocky, a dragon like creature owned by the Red Queen who terrorises the now barren kingdom of Underworld.

I loved this coming of age adventure. I'm no expert on visuals but these larger than life characters did spring out of the 3d screen for me!

My son enjoyed it but mid way clung onto me saying: "Mummy, I'm scared!"

I later asked him what had frightened him and he said: "That Alice would die."

I asked him who his favourite character was:

"The dormouse."
"The dormouse?! Why?"
"The Red Queen."
"The Red Queen?? Why?"
"Because she's violent."
"Because she's violent? Not because she has a huge head?"
"I liked the Hatter too. He was funny."
"Yes, I liked the Hatter aswell!

Johnny Depp is great as the Hatter as is Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen. Matt Lucas as Tweedledum and Tweedledee gives a comic performance, all old characters are renewed and refreshed. Thumbs up from me definitely.

I also have to say that the lessons that can be drawn from it were quite timely for me.

Alice, suffering a bereavement, has lost her 'muchness'. I lost my 'muchness,' ooh, around the age of 16 and am now 200 flipping years old for flips sake and still haven't got it back.

I have to find my 'muchness' now. I have to house my son. I have to fight to house my son securely. I have to win the fecking fight once and for all.

I have a chance to try and help our situation. It could help us, it could harm us but I have to be brave enough to use myself and accept the risks of doing so.

Feck feckity feck.

Nice quote from the Hatter though:

"There is a place, like no place on earth. A land full of wonder, mystery and danger. Some say to survive it you need to be as mad as a hatter, which I am."

Yes, so am I. I'll pitch a national paper this week. If they say no, no loss. If they say yes.... Well, I'll have to take my queue from Alice....

Alice, Alice, who the fuck is Alice?! (Stigger's finds Smokie's song quite catchy..)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like your review of this movie - I'll see whether I can see it sooner rather than later!

Stigmum said...

Thank you! On the big screen it's well worth it, being 3d 'n'all! Hope you enjoy it when you do!