rls0812
Once I started to watch this movie, it immediately became apparent that the director assumed the audience read the book first. I would think any one who never read the lesser known classic, would be totally lost.The film, for the most part, did good job sticking to the books story line, though they dropped some stuff, and added others.The weirdest part was casting an adult actor to play the role of a child ... "I am 7 and 6 months old", said the 20+ year old .The interactions never seem right with a "childish" adult.For the most part, the looking glass world looks about what I imagined it to be from the book, though things were changed around a bit.The oddest part was, one of the Tweedles looking like the guy from A Clockwork Orange. Over all, it's an all right movie ( if the watcher first read the book ), geared more for younger folks.Definitely worth a watch.
Sperry23
Warning: Contains possible spoilers for anyone not familiar with Lewis Carroll's book Alice Through the Looking Glass. (Are there such people?)This is one of the best, if not THE best versions of Through the Looking Glass I've ever seen. Far truer to the story than most, it isn't the usual mish-mash of both books that so many portrayals are. It was, however, disappointing that so little of the book was included. Still one must take what one is given.Visually beautiful, the scenery draws the viewer in. The film presents in a more dreamlike, even psychedelic, manner than the other versions. Much more in keeping with the book.Well-acted by everyone involved, especially Kate Beckinsale (Alice) and Sean Phillips (Red Queen). The venerable actors Geoffry Palmer (White King), and Sir Ian Holm (White Knight) provide touching and amusing performances, and all provide splendid and new interpretations of their characters.Speaking of the Red Queen, her costume, though a great departure from the standard interpretation was amazing, as were all the costumes. I especially liked the way Alice's clothing changed throughout, enhancing the surreal feel of the film.One might wish to quibble with the choice of having Alice as the mother drifted off to sleep while reading the story to her daughter. But I find it a refreshing change and quite in keeping with the spirit of the book. As adults, who wouldn't like to re-live the wonder and amazement of being a 7-year-old first being introduced to Carroll's Wonderland.All in all, a film worth seeing again, especially with older children.
tvce
I only had a passing familiarity with the works of Lewis Carroll, (I had a children's book of Alice in Wonderland and gave a reading of Jabberwocky for my tenth grade English class) so I couldn't comment very authoritatively on the literary significance of this movie. I can say I thought some of the readings were very good...Humpty-Dumpty and the White Knight for instance. But I especially liked Kate Beckinsale's performance. She is very beautiful and talented, and by herself would make the picture worth watching.
JulietV
I taped this for my four year old daughter, who is obsessed with the Disney version and was watching it twice a day if I let her. This was a charming, wonderful change. The actress playing Alice is fantastic, she is really like the character, even though she is an adult. I was shocked that she was also Darlene in "Brokedown Palace" ...she really can play a wide range. This movie is very aesthetically beautiful to watch. It's fun watching humans play the animals and picking out who is whom.
AD
