Alice in Wonderland & Green Zone
Film Review
I have been fortunate enough to go to the cinema twice over the last few days. There are a number of good films out at once right now and so I thought i’d give my very own review of them. I’m no Barry Norman but this is what I think about Alice in Wonderland and Green Zone.
Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland 3D
I went in to the cinema to see AIW with an open mind. I wasn’t 100% sure how the original story went so I couldn’t be one of them snooty people that want the film to be word for word in comparison. I watched the film simply as a film, with no preconceptions.
I just came away with the attitude of: “It’s ok”. The 3D was ok, the effects and imagery were good, typical for a Tim Burton film. The acting was ok, I thought Helena Bonham Carter was very good and the use of Matt Lucas as Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum was always amusing. As a viewer you can’t take a great deal away from it. In order to enjoy AIW you simply need to rid your mind of any thoughts and live in the Wonderland for 100 minutes. I enjoy Johnny Depp in most films and in this he doesn’t disappoint. I think the role of the Hatter had to be played by him.
There are positives to be taken from the film however. The film doesn’t try to ram any kind of moral code down your throat and it’s not at all political. The film has a heroine in Alice that was a refreshing one. She is a young girl who makes her own decisions and won’t be bullied. There was no desire to get involved in any kind of romance and she simply wanted to do her own thing. This was refreshing to watch and provided a pleasant film. There are too many terrible films that simply surround girls and their mental willingness to get married!
I didn’t see the film as good as Avatar from a 3D perspective despite it taking more money early on. I think that Avatar has given the 3D cinema industry a real kick and this is why more people have gone to see AIW.
In summary, AIW is not at all a bad film. It’s fine but that’s it. It’s simply an escape from reality for 100 minutes.
Rating:
Green Zone
Green Zone
I have to admit Green Zone is just my sort of film; an action/war film that has some reality. I enjoyed the Bourne films that Greengrass directed and Green Zone didn’t disappoint. Matt Damon plays a Special Forces soldier looking for weapons of mass destruction, the reason we went to war. After some poor results he goes looking for his own answers.
Greengrass’ style of direction has a marmite effect on people it seems. Personally i’m a fan. The shaky camera style really gives the viewer the feeling of being immersed in the action. I have to say I did feel a little nauseous toward the end and had to briefly look away! I had the same problem with Cloverfield. This style made the battle skirmishes and fight scenes fantastic.
I have to say the film seems to be well written too. It’s also bravely written. The film doesn’t try to butter up the Americans’ role in the Iraq war and also brings some truths to the mainstream cinema goer which was refreshing and surprising. The writing along with the direction ensures that the film is continuously tense and enthralling.
In summary I think it is a very good film. The film does what it says on the tin and that little bit more. The subject matter gives realism to the plot which adds to the overall experience.
Rating
March 17th, 2010 at 13:37
I saw Alice last week, I do think your okay remark is a bit too kind.
There’s no story of any worth, Burton has decided to go with the zany route, but backed it up with a dull script. I was bored and I didn’t like Depp. Carter and Lucas were the only saving grace. This was very much a Hollywood cash-in.
Also as a kids film didn’t you find it odd that Alice had to walk over giant severed heads to get to the castle?
March 17th, 2010 at 21:04
I love the fact your writing articles about film – its great =D…..
I did get the same feeling about the film, its ok, gum for the mind, moreover it was not entirely Tim Burton. The film is filled with Disney ideologies which is inevitable as Disney is the main instution therefore Burton had to follow their rules and regulations, in answer to the question about walking the giant heads – that was Burton trying to inject his eccentric and idiosyncratic style into the film no matter how minute it was.
I am quite disappointed with the film in all honesty but also believe that Burton is not the one to blame, for a Disney film it had to follow the typical narratives – a protagonist defeating evil with a change of equilibrium at the end which has to be ‘happy’.
True the effects and use of 3D is pretty poor, and Avatar has definately created hard competition for any new 3D film and many directors are going to want to beat the high grossing film, however the use of 3D was fun and again goes back to the idea of the film being gum for the mind.
But I had a great time watching it =D
March 17th, 2010 at 21:18
You’re right about having to follow a simple (Disneyfied) path. I quite liked the severed heads thing to be honest. There was never any mention of it from Alice or anyone else for that matter. She seemed oblivious to it as if she cannot be afraid of anything that she simply made up in her head. In essence the film is a big metaphor for confidence and being able to overcome any obstacle if the frame of mind is correct.
March 18th, 2010 at 20:29
Yeah i love that metaphor idea but i do think she should have acknowledged the heads as it would have drawn more emphasis onto the them.