I don't remember ever thinking that the Disney Cartoon of Alice was ever that spectacular. I remember watching it as a child and not really understanding anything except there are some really pretty colors, an evil queen, and a lost girl. Years later, I decided to read both of the novels of the series – I went on this let me expand my mind by reading the classics period – and though understanding more of the subtext, it was still largely confusing and always gave me the feeling that I needed to be tripping to truly appreciate what was going on.

Suddenly all this fervor erupted over the new Alice movie directed by Tim Burton. So my friends and I decided to see it a couple of days ago. The only reason I went to go see the movie was because Tim Burton was director, and Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my favorite movies of all time. Also, because Anne Hathaway is the White Queen in the movie – other than that I did not have much expectations. First of all the movie was in 3-D – a fact that I had completely forgotten. It seems that as of late movies are increasingly heading toward the direction of 3-D – a cop out in my opinion. Instead of having a solid movie with great dialogue, strong characters, and amazing settings, directors will just turn the movie 3-D so audience members will be so awe-impressed that they miss the fact that the movie sucks. Secondly, because it was a 3-D movie, it cost us $12.75 to get in. EXCUSE MMMEEEEEEEEE! I remember a period in my life when it was $3.00 to get into a brand new movie. I don't care if it is 3-D, that is the biggest crock of shit ever. Although I do not condone pirating and stealing of movies and music – suddenly the arguments make a lot of sense when prices are jacked up.

We walk into the movie theater and there was a large boisterous group of people recreating Alice in Wonderland …..... some small part of me hates re-enacters. They feel that they are superior because they spent all this time analyzing and understanding the character and have a delicious costume that they can strut around in. I just look at them and think “Honey you may be dressed up as the Red Queen but between the two of us, who is the actual queen” ;)

Overall the movie was just ok. Tim Burton's imaginary world of Wonderland was absolutely spectacular, so life-like and real. I felt that the 3-D ness of the movie might have taken something away from the overall production. I thought the movie was just ok. The story was generally so-so and the movie lacked real emotion and plot. I have been told that I cry when a grasshopper farts and my eyes were bone dry throughout the whole story. In my opinion the only things that really saved that movie from total devastation was Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Anne Hathaway as the White Queen, and Helena Bonham-Carter as the Red Queen. Johnny Depp of course is brilliant in whatever he touches but I really dip my tiara to Anne Hathaway. Her delivery was incredible, I am jealous of her walk, and she really brought the character to life. I liked that they tried to give the Red Queen more dimension about maybe why she is the way that she is. Also, because I love me a good showdown, I thought there should have been more interaction between the two queens. Last but not least, the only other selling point for me in this movie was the magnificent and gorgeous dresses that Alice wore throughout the movie. Every time that Alice changed sizes she would be fitted into a new gown or the previous gown would alter just slightly to make it new. So absolutely incredible!!! The drag queen in me was crying out through the movie about how I wanted to steal the dress right from her - especially the red one in the Red Queen's Castle.

I was sadly disappointed in most of the production. The movie, which has grossed in over $110 million dollars already, left me leaving the theater thinking that it was a decent movie with moments of hilariousness and genius but they were few and far between. I recommend going and seeing it in theaters if for no other reason then seeing the world of Tim Burton. Otherwise, wait for the movie to come out on DVD and do not see it in 3-D.