Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Spencer Morton

Hooray! The 7,984 adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” is on its way. Tim Burton has decided that he wants to get in on the mix. He says he wants to give the story “emotional grounding,” and a “framework” which, according to him, previous versions have lacked.

In all seriousness though, if there was ever a book Burton needed to adapt, it’s “Alice in Wonderland.” Burton’s adaptation isn’t an exact remake of the classic children’s book from 1865--it’s a whole new story. The film takes place 10 years after Alice’s original encounter with this mystical land. Now, she is 17 and is going back to fulfill her true destiny--stop the Queen of Hearts’ reign of terror.

The trailer provides a lot of new looks into what the film has in store. We’re going to get some amazing CGI, funny one-liners from most every character, and a lot of action and adventure. Burton’s wonderland certainly is dark and gloomy, but that’s what made the original cartoon so mesmerizing. Unlike Mariah Carey's world, it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies.

From the trailer, it seems everyone involved is having a grand ole time. Johnny Depp, who plays the Mad Hatter, seems as crazy as usual. The Queen of Hearts, played by Helena Bonham Carter, seems perfect. I enjoyed her line in the trailer about how she “…loves a warm pig belly for my aching feet.” The only thing this trailer is missing is a glimpse of how they will portray the Caterpillar, played by Alan Rickman.

The past few years have seen many entries into the “family-adventure-kids-saving-the-day-in-a-magical world” genre. We had the “Chronicles of Narnia” movies, “The Golden Compass,” “Where the Wild Things Are” and all the “Harry Potter” films. So, what will set “Alice in Wonderland” apart? That’s easy--Tim Burton.

Burton has some of the keenest and most creative eyes in the business. He can take dark material, turn it into something even darker, and yet he still can provide laughs, tears and lessons applicable to the real lives of child and adult viewers.

The trailer shows that this wonderland will be a place both adults and children will enjoy. “Alice in Wonderland” hits theaters on March 5, 2010.

View the trailer for "Alice in Wonderland" below. Thoughts?