Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

**Bearsy** · 07-10-2009 04:21 AM

Alice in Wonderland Fashion Battle: Tim Burton's New School vs. Cartoon Disney Old School

Tim Burton's film adaptation of Alice In Wonderland isn't out until next year, but if the promo photos are any indication, it's going to be the most visually arresting, luxurious Alice yet. Here's a look at how new Alice stacks up against older Alices from a fashion perspective.

1. Alice

The new Alice is played by 19 year old Mia Wasikowska. From the looks of her outfit--a slightly-longer than tea-length gown, white booties, fingerless gloves--in this photo, the film will be returning to Alice In Wonderland's Victorian roots. Her dress resembles cartoon Disney Alice's frock, but owes more in feel and attitude to Arthur Rackham's haunting, Earthy vision of Alice. Also, I just noticed this, but look how chubby cartoon Alice's calves are compared to her arms.

Also glad that Wasikowska-Alice isn't a super-blonde blonde.

2. The Mad Hatter

Johnny Depp was all but born to play this role. Or rather, it's a role he's been playing for film after film after film now. Looks like he's a redhead in Tim Burton's flick. He's also way more psychedelic and frightening than either Sir John Tenniel's imagining of the Mad Hatter or Disney's portly, nebbishy Mad Hatter (who by comparison looks like he is on his way to a congressional hearing instead of a tea party). The pink sash around the hat and pink shirt peeping out from behind the wacky cravat are a nice touch. Why does pink on guys always connote crazy? I expect we'll be seeing a lot of this on Halloween and at cosplay conventions.

3. Tweedledee & Tweedledum

Maybe it's the black and white prison stripe shirts, but Burton must have been channeling the Addams Family when he did his version of Dee and Dum. Matt Lucas plays both of them. They look menacing and slightly Mongoloid in this illustration--you wouldn't want to be running into this pair on the playground anytime soon. Disney's cartoon twins in their bright, primary color jumpers look like effete clowns by comparison. Tenniel's twins look like thugs.

4. The Red Queen

Loving the heart-shaped geisha style lipstick on Helena Bonham Carter's pasty white face. The candy apple red hair--also a nice touch. The crisp white collar winging up from the bodice of her blue velvet gown is a nifty homage to cartoon Disney Red Queen. I like that she's not decked out in head-to-toe red and that her gown isn't a giant heart card. And that she's not mannish and butch like both cartoon Disney and Tenniel's Red Queen. Women in power--especially the violent, vicious ones--are sexy these days.

5. The White Queen

There was no White Queen in Disney's animated version of Alice In Wonderland. The White Queen is a character who appeared in Lewis Carroll's sequel Though the Looking-Glass. Anne Hathaway plays her in Burton's film. She looks amazing and sort of like what every girl wishes she looked like at prom, or at her wedding. And wow, that blood red lipstick against all the white! Will her gown have those puffy white Michelin Man rings around the skirt? One can only hope.

6. Wonderland

The concept art for the world of Wonderland is just spectacular. It owes a lot to Mark Ryden. It's his jewel-toned, cool pastel, chiaroscuro color palette to a tee. Innocent with a hint of darkness, and a soupcon of psycho.

**Xox** · 07-10-2009 04:29 AM

OMGOMGOMGOMG

-collects self-

Yes, I can not wait to see this. Hope it lives up to expectations.

The pictures are very appealing, look promising. I think Wonderland may finally be pulled off right. The Mad Hatter looks insane.

I quite like this new Alice too, it's supposed to be an older Alice, if I remember correctly.

**Mes Tarrant** · 07-10-2009 05:16 AM

OMG aaahhh!! Thanks for the review man. I was interested in this before but your post got me REALLY interested. I especially love the second-to-last picture with the gate and flowers.

I don't get this CGI style though... How exactly did they do the red queen and the twins, for instance??

**slayer** · 07-10-2009 05:29 AM

I've been watching this ever since I saw the first Concept Art for the new Alice game. I've known about this movie for quite a long time now...

For anyone wondering about the game, there was a very old game released for the PC called American McGee's Alice in Wonderland. Alice's parents died and she was in some mental place or something, and she returns to Wonderland as a teenager and kills things.

I think the newest game that is being made is either a re-make or a sequel to American McGee's version.

Here's the concept art that was released.

**Mes Tarrant** · 07-10-2009 05:32 AM

Was the game any good?

**Bayside** · 07-10-2009 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

Was the game any good?

It got really good reviews, and I've heard a lot of good things about it. Personally, I didn't enjoy the gameplay itself all that much, probably mostly because it just seemed a little outdated. But the concept itself was awesome, and the layout and images were all really great. I'd say it's worth it just for the concept and the imagery in the game.

**slayer** · 07-10-2009 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

Was the game any good?

I never got to play it first-hand. My sister owns the game, but all of our computers are to "up-to-date" to play it. It won't run on XP or higher (and I think Windows 2000).

I did see my sister play some of it a long time ago, and it looked somewhat good. I think it ran on the Unreal Tournament engine.

Here's a drawing of what the Cheshire Cat looked like in Alice.

**Clairity** · 07-10-2009 03:25 PM

Wow.. this movie looks fantastic and visually beautiful!!

.

**ninja9578** · 07-10-2009 04:11 PM

Yay, Not sure if you can tell by my location, but I love that story

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Are they calling it Alice in Wonderland? The real name of the store is "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"

**slayer** · 07-10-2009 10:47 PM

I thought the new movie was just called Alice?

**Xox** · 07-10-2009 11:02 PM

I think they're just calling it Alice In Wonderland, according to imdb and wiki.

**Jeff777** · 07-10-2009 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by Elis D.

3. Tweedledee & Tweedledum

Maybe it's the black and white prison stripe shirts, but Burton must have been channeling the Addams Family when he did his version of Dee and Dum. Matt Lucas plays both of them. They look menacing and slightly Mongoloid in this illustration--you wouldn't want to be running into this pair on the playground anytime soon. Disney's cartoon twins in their bright, primary color jumpers look like effete clowns by comparison. Tenniel's twins look like thugs.

That's scary.

**ninja9578** · 07-11-2009 01:06 AM

Tim Burton is a madman. I can't wait to see Coraline

**nerve** · 07-11-2009 01:14 AM

oh god. I've dreaded this ever since I heard "Tim Burton" and "Alice in Wonderland" in the same sentence. I'm not going to waste my time or money. he's just going to take a huge dump on this great classic.

I was excited when I heard they were going to make a new alice, and it seemed like it was going to be awesome at first, I think manson was even going to play the red queen which would have been great. it was going to be called "Living Neon Dreams" if I remember correctly.

I will see this instead, if it ever comes out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantas..._Lewis_Carroll

**ninja9578** · 07-11-2009 01:22 AM

Disney ruined Alice in Wonderland, I thin Tim Burton will be truer to the story.

**Shift** · 07-11-2009 01:35 AM

Originally Posted by rottingteeth

oh god. I've dreaded this ever since I heard "Tim Burton" and "Alice in Wonderland" in the same sentence.

I agree. I like the book the way it is. Though, after the last chocolate factory film, I realized that even staying true to the book doesn't mean your movie won't suck balls. So, I'm wary. Very very wary.

**Black_Eagle** · 07-11-2009 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by ninja9578

Yay, Not sure if you can tell by my location, but I love that story

.

Are they calling it Alice in Wonderland? The real name of the store is "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"

Alice in Wonderland was a combination of both "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass". I don't think Disney ruined Alice in Wonderland. I think they did pretty good transferring the entire story into an animated film form.

I'm not so sure about this film though...

**nerve** · 07-11-2009 03:03 AM

Originally Posted by Shift

I agree. I like the book the way it is. Though, after the last chocolate factory film, I realized that even staying true to the book doesn't mean your movie won't suck balls. So, I'm wary. Very very wary.

it's not just that, it's TIM BURTON. I think what made me realize that Tim Burton is shit was that movie "The Corpse Bride." what was special about that movie? nothing. but just because Tim Burton directed it (and Johnny Depp voiced the main character) everyone had to see it/obsess over it. at some point (I guess after Edward Scissorhands?) someone up in hollywood realized that Tim Burton + Johnny Depp = $$$. since they hit on that formula they can put out any garbage and it's a guaranteed blockbuster. the only movies of his I can stomach are Beetlejuice, and maybe James and the Giant Peach, but that may have something to do with me watching it like everyday with my little sister when we were little.

another reason I hate Tim Burton is, if you haven't noticed, at least half of his fans are those insufferable goth wannabe types. now, if I really like something, I won't let shitty fans ruin it for me. but who could like anything that those types not only like, but adore and worship? seriously, to Burton's biggest fans, he can do no wrong. if they watch a movie knowing he directed it, it's automatically gold, they're blind to the actual content.

the awful defilement this classic will undergo at the hands of this can-do-no-wrong-now-because-of-past-success monster almost makes me want to cry. :'(

**Bearsy** · 07-11-2009 03:41 AM

To denounce an artist because of his fans is pretty fucking retarded. As a fan of ICP you should know that.

He is a phenomenal film maker, he tells great stories and he does it in a fresh*, entertaining manner.

And how can you shoot down something before you see it? I agree, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Corpse Bride weren't nearly as good as they could have/should have been, but that doesn't mean everything he does in the future will be.
I was wary of how he would interpret Sweeny Todd and I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it. He handled that splendidly.

*Yes, he has very similar styles in nearly every movie, but no one else except for copycats have a visual style like he does.

**Oneironaut Zero** · 07-11-2009 03:52 AM

I agree with Elis D about denouncing an artist because of his fanbase.

I think Tim Burton is badass, because of his style. I couldn't give a shit less about some goth trend that I'm not a part of, and have complete and utter apathy toward. I think of Tim Burton and I think of movies like Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice, Batman/Returns, Mars Attacks, and Sleepy Hollow.

No amount of hyperbole could convince me that he doesn't have style.

**KingCarnie** · 07-11-2009 03:54 AM

Originally Posted by rottingteeth

it's not just that, it's TIM BURTON. I think what made me realize that Tim Burton is shit was that movie "The Corpse Bride." what was special about that movie? nothing. but just because Tim Burton directed it (and Johnny Depp voiced the main character) everyone had to see it/obsess over it. at some point (I guess after Edward Scissorhands?) someone up in hollywood realized that Tim Burton + Johnny Depp = $$$. since they hit on that formula they can put out any garbage and it's a guaranteed blockbuster. the only movies of his I can stomach are Beetlejuice, and maybe James and the Giant Peach, but that may have something to do with me watching it like everyday with my little sister when we were little.

another reason I hate Tim Burton is, if you haven't noticed, at least half of his fans are those insufferable goth wannabe types. now, if I really like something, I won't let shitty fans ruin it for me. but who could like anything that those types not only like, but adore and worship? seriously, to Burton's biggest fans, he can do no wrong. if they watch a movie knowing he directed it, it's automatically gold, they're blind to the actual content.

the awful defilement this classic will undergo at the hands of this can-do-no-wrong-now-because-of-past-success monster almost makes me want to cry. :'(

I have to disagree, rottingteeth, as I genuinely enjoyed Corpse Bride. There WAS something special about it. The soundtrack. The music in that movie was absolutely brilliant. It wasn't Tim Burton that made that film a hit, IMHO. It was Danny Elfmann.

People like you are one of my pet peeves. You simply cannot claim a director's success is entirely based on past hits; nor you can you base it on "insufferable goth wannabe types" as they simply aren't a large enough part of the population. Just because you don't like some of his fans is no reason to assume everything he'll ever produce will be shit. Most of his stuff was at least good, and he's put out one or two gems.

**nerve** · 07-11-2009 04:17 AM

I knew I'd get blasted for that. that is the least of the reasons I dislike the director. the least. in fact, forget I said it's another reason I hate him, and let's say I was just pointing out that a lot of his fans are annoying and ignorant. WAIT- notice I said a lot, not all. :|