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Pu the Owl · Apr 9th, 2008, 01:58 PM

I think there are too many versions of Alice already, but none is very good IMO.

I liked the Disney version because I liked most Disney stuff as a kid. That one was nicely bizarre to be a "classic" cartoon. Not as much as Dumbo though - I think I am the only person I know to be completely crazy for the pink elephants part of Dumbo. I think I've watched that part gazillions of times... everybody else hates it, why?!

The Czech version you're talking about must be Svankmajer's Alice? I'm very fond of Jan Svankmajer. His Alice is very peculiar, very creative, but it's not like Carroll intended it, I'm afraid.

You don't have to have the perfect adaptation of a book, or books like in this case, because if you're expecting it you'll be disappointed. I know it. But I think all movies about Alice missed the point, or lack something. They choose one aspect or the other of the books. They never try to keep their complexity.

Burton has a thing for stories like Alice, it's true. All his movies are more or less about the same themes. I was sure either him or Terry Gilliam, or both, were going sooner or later to make their version of Alice. Gilliam sort of made it with Tideland. But though he mixed together pretty well fantasy and humour, he went too far and underlined the disturbing elements and the dark humour. Well, Tideland is a completely different story anyway, but I'm sure Carroll's books were one of its main inspirations. I'm waiting to see if Burton can make a good and balanced work without making it too weak or obliterating the insanity from it.

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Apr 9th, 2008, 01:58 PM	#25
Pu the Owl Useless Oracle™ Joined: Jan 2002 Location: Everywhere Posts: 5,136	I think there are too many versions of Alice already, but none is very good IMO. I liked the Disney version because I liked most Disney stuff as a kid. That one was nicely bizarre to be a "classic" cartoon. Not as much as Dumbo though - I think I am the only person I know to be completely crazy for the pink elephants part of Dumbo. I think I've watched that part gazillions of times... everybody else hates it, why?! The Czech version you're talking about must be Svankmajer's Alice? I'm very fond of Jan Svankmajer. His Alice is very peculiar, very creative, but it's not like Carroll intended it, I'm afraid. You don't have to have the perfect adaptation of a book, or books like in this case, because if you're expecting it you'll be disappointed. I know it. But I think all movies about Alice missed the point, or lack something. They choose one aspect or the other of the books. They never try to keep their complexity. Burton has a thing for stories like Alice, it's true. All his movies are more or less about the same themes. I was sure either him or Terry Gilliam, or both, were going sooner or later to make their version of Alice. Gilliam sort of made it with Tideland. But though he mixed together pretty well fantasy and humour, he went too far and underlined the disturbing elements and the dark humour. Well, Tideland is a completely different story anyway, but I'm sure Carroll's books were one of its main inspirations. I'm waiting to see if Burton can make a good and balanced work without making it too weak or obliterating the insanity from it.