Two of my absolute favourite books as a child 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Alice Through the looking glass', this story has delighted children, both boys and girls for over a century. I was a little annoyed when I started watching the film as the title is misleading. As far as I can remember, the story being told in the film was alice through the looking glass. Apart from the fact she does fall down the rabbit hole at the beginning, this is the story of Alice's return to Wonderland.
Now don't get me wrong the film is visually stunning and amazing to look at but as Alice is one of my favourite characters I had hoped they (Hollywood) could just get the story right just this once. For an adult film, one would have thought they wouldn't run the two stories together as they usually do for children.
Anyway the Jabberwock and Tweedle Dee and Dum are from Looking Glass and it was nice to see these characters nevertheless. But the Queen of hearts (cards) only features in the first book and it is the chess piece the red queen that Alice must defeat in the second book.
I did enjoy the film as a stand alone film and Alice played by Mia Wasikowska was acted quite well. Johnny Depp as per usual did not let us down and it was nice to see Cripin Glover (Marty Mcfly's Dad) back on screen as the Knave of Hearts. Helena Bonhem Carter was also a treat to watch. However Anne Hathaway's eyebrows and fake delicacy was annoying to watch. What was up with the black eyebrows, they really could have done a better job on her makeup, the white hair didn't suit her darker complexion and the delicacy didn't suit her character. I would much rather have seen her with a sword and shaved eyebrows rather than the helpless queen in the background.
The ending was poor however and truly unbelievable and unrealistic. Alice's character probably would have wanted to embark on an adventure and become and independent and educated woman, but i thought the story line they chose was a little unlikely.