Indeed up until this film was released, I had not watched a single other film due to the fact that I had so many projects going at once--I had not taken time to spend on viewing a good cinema screenplay. . . or film via DVD or web for that matter.  =) I was more than glad to take a moment for the ever awesome and inspirational Alice. The first time I viewed Alice In Wonderland on the big-screen was this amazing Tim Burton directed rendition March 5th, 2010, at Cinema 16 while in Georgia. ^_^ 

The first time on the 'small screen' I viewed Alice In Wonderland was on a recordable VHS my father had 'bootlegged' using a VCR and camcorder to transmute a copy of the Walt Disney directed version (1957) of Alice In Wonderland rented from the Marine Corp Logistics Base Library--no kidding. ^^; ["Dad can you tape this for us" I recall we would ask when we saw a movie we'd rent from the Library--and later video rental stores--that we really liked and wanted to see again =)

Back then, I had not ever even thought of it as bootlegging. The first NEW VHS tape I recollect being purchased--and I emptied the trash free for weeks without allowance because I wanted to have the 'actual tape' as I used to say--was Walt Disney's The Lion King from Sam's Club. I got mom to buy it on her Sam's Club Card. In fact--still got it ^_^ Indeed. We hardly ever purchased any VCR tapes new from Sam's Club and Wal-Mart--we'd rent and record! I used to wonder why... but THAT'S another story and has little to do with this review!] To say the least, I was amazed to see this release of Alice In Wonderland so extravagant!

The theatre I viewed this fine film in included the 3-D Goggles (not 'Googles' ^^;) for two extra bucks so I got to see 'In-Your-Face' animation which was so well done and rendered that at one point--it brought a young child to tears O.O [Hint... it was just after Alice Kingsley screamed, "Off With Your Head!"] I was very intrigued to find that the storyline was really and truly more of a 'continuation' of the tale of Alice In Wonderland [Alice at 19 and being forced to married against her will] than just simply 'just another re-hash.'

I honestly enjoyed the message that "Wonderland" truly was Alice's World rendered as she'd imagine it and do believe that there are many emphasis about the ability and awareness of the Subconscious Mind that it is apparent some critics completely missed. [some are included among my very own family and friends--and the IMDB.com community =p]. "But if you stray from the path...!" "I MAKE the path!" I truly did enjoy that line. Another reference to the power of the subconscious mind and literally 'rendering physical thought' in your 'own world'--at least--'through Tiger's Looking glass.' ^_^

There are a lot of strong messages in this excellent film and I do confide in the writer, director, producers, actors and production crew in taking the time to relay messages such as, "You do not HAVE to get married to be happy and find purpose!" [Alice's excellent decision at the end] "Not all relationships are honest and loving" [we see this when Alice catches her sister's groom kissing another woman at the wedding; when 'patch-eye-guy' rushes to attempt a desirable affair with Alice as 'Um from Umbridge;' and finally when 'patch-eye-guy' tries to kill the queen when he is to be banished along with her-he desired her power, status and prestige--not her ] and "There is no prince" [only compromise and honest passion found in purpose--be that in another human being or in a full-time career as Alice chooses or otherwise found].

These 'stabs into the heart' of "Conditioned North American Society" I do personally believe is one reason that IMDB collectively gives this amazing film a 6.7 rating and other films with a common theme that show the 'maiden off and married' at the end or 'the prince in shining white armor [black armor these days typically ^^;]' running off with the woman he has so saved--or both riding into the sunset in each other's arms after a high adventure. The 'stable solidarity' and 'audacious independence' of 'Alice' in Tim Burton's directed screenplay of  'Alice In Wonderland' I do say--I truly admire. As an independent man I truly do equally respect an independent woman.

Accordingly--a great deal of the negative feedback I received regarding this independent and path-blazing film with its world-shaking view--came from not surprisingly: mothers, expecting mothers, men angry with their independent girlfriends. . . mothers-to-be, 'nice-guy' single men who WANT to depend on a girlfriend or wife for happiness, girlfriends who are upset with their boyfriends and boyfriends and husbands feeling 'stuck' in life. I enjoy the fact that even though I continued to hear "Oh it's ok" and "yeah... if we could all kick butt like the Mad Hatter..." responses in conversations regarding this film--after reviewing Wikipedia.org--the film made OVER One Billion in revenue in the theatres alone and is the first to reach that amount of income for a PG release. Indeed, an excellent and world-changing Spring for Hollywood yes? ^_^

I also understand that DVD buyers enjoy receiving the film as well in a more personal and tangible format. Someone once said, "The higher you fly, the more people that are going to want to try to take shots at you." This film does indeed soar high, and despite the jealous critics, I do confess this is indeed a world changing film. The focus on people who 'think outside the box' [from Alice to her father to the Mad Hatter and beyond] and who are poked fun at and sometimes even labeled "Mad" due to not floating on the stream of "Standard-Minded Society"  is indeed intriguing. One point in this film that I realize many seem to miss is that although the story is 'retold' in an original way [an extension of "Alice In Wonderland" so to speak--Alice at 19 that is]--it refers to countless renditions of this amazing classic tale of self-understanding and overcoming challenge.

The Jabberwocky burns down the city the Mad Hatter and his friends live in. This is an allegory of a story rendition of Alice In Wonderland in which her home is set-ablaze and she loses her parents and 'escapes to wonderland mentally' in order to cope with this traumatic event during her childhood. The headless king in the moat surrounding the Red Queen's castle. This in my humble opinion and according to my own perception 'through the looking glass' is a reference to a closing scene in Mashumaro Jyuubaori's adult manga series "Alice In Sexland." The White Roses painted to look like Red Roses [and thus they 'pretend' to be red roses].

This is Alice using 'force' to go against 'the natural flow of things' and thus "The Red Queen" is born and the "White Queen" [the white roses] are 'Supressed' by the 'Red Queen' [the red paint] and desire to be "Natural" again--but are 'shrouded' in fear. Alice's desire not to be married; Alice's mother attempting to force her into a marriage; Alice seeing the potential of marriage as a negative thing; Alice's uncertainty of what she desires for her future just yet. These... all of these... in addition to her childhood challenges [the burning down of her home comes to mind--in this scenario she was the "Mad Hatter" and his friends psychologically]--The Jabberwocky is born. This creature is an embodiment of her various fears and uncertainties and the only way that she is able to move forward to her 'Natural and Desirable Path' is to defeat this 'Hellish Fiend' that is nothing more than a collage of her very own fears.

All of the characters and things living within "Alice's Wonderland" [her 'fantasy world of existence' which only exists due to her 'circumstances in her own individual reality'] fear "The Jabberwocky" because indeed each of the characters are and make up "All of Alice" as a person--and since as a person she fears "The Jabberwocky..." "The Jabberwocky" is in effect--ALL of her challenges and fears. An allegorical embodiment of fear which she must battle within her mind before moving forward in her "Fantasy Life" or her co-existing "Life In Her Actual Reality" [outside of her 'fantasy']. In the end, Alice overcomes all of her fears within the 'Realm of Fantasy' as well as 'Her Current Realm of Reality.'

She beheads the Jabberwocky and the 'Life of Fear' [The Jabberwocky's blood or 'The Blood of Fear itself'] she takes into herself [accepts] and thus no longer fears it for now she 'gets' what she should do--and is promptly returned to her 'Jabberwocky' [challenges] in 'Reality.' She decides NOT to get married, but rather oversee a career as one of the world's "First Career Girls" in her time. [An 'Athena' or 'Artemis' in modern terms of understanding] *Back after a break!*

I was well aware this would take a bit of time to write out and I am more than pleased to be taking this time now to record my thoughts regarding this excellent screening of modern storytelling for certain. =) One of my favorite points of this amazing film [which I find is often missed] is that due to fear of the Jabberwocky, Alice's characters were suppressed to the reign of the red queen [which may easily be seen as her demanding mother who is attempting to coerce her into marriage just as Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum are very obviously characters inspired by Alice's friends who are twins who do practically everything together--even finish one another's sentences].  The Red Queen liked 'status' and 'big' things and so those around her 'pretended' to be 'big' and of 'high status' [one reason why the scene where one of the castle inhabitants 'big noses' begins to fall off the Mad Hatter who you would think is against her--actually rushes to her defense].

However, the desire to please the Red Queen was much due to the highly allegorical existence of the Jabberwocky who consists of all the 'Fear and Challenges' of 'Alice's World' [in other words, her very own reality outside her mind physically and which directly inspired her 'Fantasy World' known as 'Wonderland' within her mind]. So in essence--Alice realizes that her mother simply desires her to get married due to status and she is figuring within her head how to overcome the expectations and challenges of her mother and the world around her. In effect... we are treated to see the world as Alice sees it: Through the 'Wonderland' within her own mind i.e. her perception of her current circumstances rendered in 'Her World.' [living body of existence. She as an individual].

I truly did enjoy [and during one discussion learned I most certainly was not the only! ^_^] where she is battling the Jabberwocky as the 'Champion of Challenges' and recalling aloud the 'Six Impossible Things' she does each day before breakfast. Of course, 'Breakfast' is shown in a flashback about 3-quarters through the film and she sits as a child having tea time with The Mad Hatter and Hare and Dormouse in a  'once peaceful' world [it is implied before the fire and losing her father].

These implications were apparently missed by some--but many desired to see this film and I am glad. Although the response to the film is relatively mixed--I do believe that the 2010 release of Alice In Wonderland phenomenally directed by Walt Disney Pictures, Tim Burton and crew--most certainly deserves to be the #1 Grossing film [thus far] of 2010! I think I will go do some impossible things and laugh the next time someone [including myself] tells me I may not! ^_^ I MAY!

Forever In Love With All That Which Exists
(That Which Is Seen & Unseen, Known & Unknown),
-Tiger M. Gales [Sunday]
-11:57 PM (6/6/2010)

<This Writing Began: 8:42 PM, June 6th, Sunday 2010 Writing Finished 11:57 PM, June, 6th Sunday 2010>

P.S. O.O It just occurred to me that it has been EXACTLY 4 months since I saw this film. Today is the sixth day [6 is harmony in Numerology] of June just barely now and I viewed this film the evening of March the day before during relatively the same time O.O [I watched the evening showing of it...]. Awwwwesome... O.O
-DJ, TIGER M