Wonder(land) Weekend

So. Another busy weekend. Out for a meal at Around The World In 80 Dishes on Friday evening. Alice In Wonderland on Saturday evening followed by birthday drinks for Markuus in Scruffys, and then a last minute, impromptu trip to Eddies to rock the night away. Today I recovered with a bit of light shopping, a bento for lunch with lots of re-hydrating Calpico and then to Mum's for a slap-up Roast Lamb dinner. Awesome, I think you have to agree.

Alice. Well. I was a bit disappointed at our Imax seats... although the 3d effect was still very much watchable, I didn't get the full on effect because we arrived only ten minutes before gates opened so we didn't get great seats.

I'm not sure where to start. I left feeling slightly underwhelmed which was probably my own fault for a) not getting there early enough for some better seats and b) for being so freakin' excited about this for months. Still, Tim, as you would expect, didn't fail to disappoint in terms of visuals. So stunning and so familiarly-Burton-esque, it was like being welcomed back home. I loved the Queen of Hearts castle, so sumptuous and rich with beautiful deep colours and textures. Mr Depp was superb... and not quite as scary as he looks which I wasn't sure was a good thing or not. The story lacked punch, but you come to expect that from Burton and the visuals and characters more than made up for it. Alice was slightly more limp than I expected her to be, but then I don't know the story all that well having never read it. I think my favorite characters were the Cheshire Cat and the Caterpillar voiced excellently by Alan Rickman. You could almost touch and smell the smoke coming from him.

It was slightly slower paced than I expected, probably due to the story lacking slightly. Not as dark or scary as some of the trailers and marketing portrayed but the detail in some of the scenes and visuals made up for it.

Having been out and about this weekend I can see the film is already filtrating it's way into the shops. I've seen countless earrings with teacups, teapots and old victoriana style jewellery which have been obviously brought out to coincide with the film's release. Lots of shop windows slapping on playing card window stickers too, just to avoid feeling left out.

All in all... another visual feast from Mr Burton. I wasn't blown away... more comfortably satisfied that Burton had delivered exactly what I imagined he would for the settings and characters in the film. I would have loved to have seen what he could have done with the original story. Me thinks it would have made for a much darker and uncomfortable experience which is maybe what I craved in the first place. I would mark it at 7.8/10. Not his best, personally I don't believe his stop motion has ever been beaten by his live action films, but worth watching and enjoying just to be transported somewhere so colourful and sumptuous. Also definitely worth the 3d aspect for the falling down the hole scene which makes you feel like you're falling with along with her.

And then to follow it all in true style by rocking out at my favorite club. Perfect. :-)