Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Rating:
Summary: The whimsy world of Wonderland
Review: This British film version of the Lewis Carroll classic "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is without a doubt the most faithful adaption to date! (except for the addition of the Looking-Glass twins, Tweedle Dee and Dum.). A surperb cast, lead by the talented Fiona Fullerton, who makes a splendid Alice, is supported by some of Britain's finest actors as the inhabitants of Wonderland; Sir Ralph Richardson as the hookah-smoking Caterpillar, Michael Crawford as the ever-tardy White Rabbit, Dame Flora Robson as the head-hunting Queen of Hearts and Peter Sellers and Dudley Moore as the mad March Hare and his sleepy sidekick, the Doormouse. The American popularity of he last two mentioned actors is why the film was shown overseas here in the United States. Miss Fullerton may seem a bit too old for the title role, but I don't think a child actress would had enough scope to play Alice so well. (If you don't think so, imaging if Sherley Temple won the role of Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz". YIKES! ), but I digress. The musical score is beautifully haunting and so is the final song "The Me I Never Knew". This song and "Curiouser And Curiouser" are the only two songs that really stand out. Most of the other songs are corny little ditties with no sense of what the characters are thinking or feeling. The sets look like cardboard cut outs at times and the fast speed photography during the Lobster Quadrille and quick cut shots at the mad tea-party look campy and thus the overall British feel of the movie is lost. Despite all my negative insights, I found this film version of "Alice" filled with the wonderful, whimsical flavor that only Lewis Carroll himself could have provided. A must see for all fans of the famous book.

Rating:
Summary: The whimsy world of Wonderland
Review: This British film version of the Lewis Carroll classic "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is without a doubt the most faithful adaption to date! (except for the addition of the Looking-Glass twins, Tweedle Dee and Dum.). A surperb cast, lead by the talented Fiona Fullerton, who makes a splendid Alice, is supported by some of Britain's finest actors as the inhabitants of Wonderland; Sir Ralph Richardson as the hookah-smoking Caterpillar, Michael Crawford as the ever-tardy White Rabbit, Dame Flora Robson as the head-hunting Queen of Hearts and Peter Sellers and Dudley Moore as the mad March Hare and his sleepy sidekick, the Doormouse. The American popularity of he last two mentioned actors is why the film was shown overseas here in the United States. Miss Fullerton may seem a bit too old for the title role, but I don't think a child actress would had enough scope to play Alice so well. (If you don't think so, imaging if Sherley Temple won the role of Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz". YIKES! ), but I digress. The musical score is beautifully haunting and so is the final song "The Me I Never Knew". This song and "Curiouser And Curiouser" are the only two songs that really stand out. Most of the other songs are corny little ditties with no sense of what the characters are thinking or feeling. The sets look like cardboard cut outs at times and the fast speed photography during the Lobster Quadrille and quick cut shots at the mad tea-party look campy and thus the overall British feel of the movie is lost. Despite all my negative insights, I found this film version of "Alice" filled with the wonderful, whimsical flavor that only Lewis Carroll himself could have provided. A must see for all fans of the famous book.

Rating:
Summary: Worst DVD ever
Review: This DVD is the worst quality ever! Looks like someone make a copy of a bad tape...the colors change and look grainy.

Also, despite a lot of good stars, I have to guess they would be embarrassed to look back on this now. The songs are awful and the music is really blah.

I like the story and I could barely sit through it.

Rating:
Summary: Favorite ALICE, Lackluster DVD
Review: This is my favorite production of the ALICE books. I love the sets, songs, and casting. It's also very British, which I think adds another great element to the mix.

However, skip this DVD edition. I got it, excited to see ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND in widescreen and, perhaps a better print than what's previously been available.

No such luck.

The DVD appears to be struck from the same crappy VHS version that's been out there for ages. Faded colors. Pan-and-scan. In this age of DVD, quality like this is such a shame.

Rating:
Summary: Better quality than previous DVD releases - but still needs!
Review: This is the best version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, starring Fiona Fullerton as Alice, on DVD. The previous editions were VERY shoddy - yet the film is so great that even those were watchable despite the fading colors and graininess. This new (2005) edition has had the colors brought back which really is nice. The graininess could still use some work though and it would be REALLY WONDERFUL if a major studio would buy the rights to this film and do a proper restoration. There is also music and an important scene that were cut from this film - two songs never made it to the theatrical release and one scene where Alice meets the Cheshire cat in the tree was cut before the original release - a very curious thing to do as that was a very popular scene in the book! It would be great if the next DVD release of this film could have a proper restoration AND ALSO include some special features. Many of the actors in this film went on to become major stars (ex - Michael Crawford of Phantom fame) Special features could include the deleted scene if it still exists and the original soundtrack recording as well as some interviews with the stars - like what has been done for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Willy Wonka. Don't expect any special features on this edition - there aren't any -- more surprisingly there is NO MENU at all - Bare bones, but still a classic and important film for Alice lovers - much more reminiscent of Lewis Carrols books and characters than the Disney film!

Rating:
Summary: Creeped Me Out as a Kid
Review: This movie creeped the hell out of me as a child. When I came across it here, I just had to have it. It stills creeps me out. The overall feeling of the film is what Wonderland is suppose be like, dark, dreamy, at times brooding, and altogether strange. The fx make-up is greatly done. It does move a little slowly at some points, but is well worth the watch for any Alice in Wonderland fan.

Rating:
Summary: An Alice to Remember
Review: This was my first Alice experience, when I was a just a little girl of 5. Back then, it scared me to my core...and then hooked me forever. This film is THE reason I am a crazed Alice In Wonderland collector. The musical numbers are adorable and more than the least bit catchy. I do admit that the sets and effects are a bit outdated. However, I found, as an Alice connoisseur, that those subtlties add to the vintage/antique effect of the story itself. I think Lewis Carroll would have been proud of this rendition.

Rating:
Summary: Monty Python meets Dances With Wolves
Review: Very, very similiar to the score in "Somewhere in Time," this beautifully haunting score to this wonderfully English movie is another of the great masterpieces written by the legendary John Barry, who brought us the scores to Born Free, Dances With Wolves, Out of Africa, Chaplin and co-wrote the James Bond Theme. It supplies a delicately nostalgic and quaintly victorian backdrop to the most faithful adaptation of Lewis Carroll's book that I have ever seen. A cavalcade of great British talent, Ralph Richardson, Dudley Moore, and Peter Sellers among others, dressed in character and performing many of the same painfully awkward and introverted jokes as any of the very best Monty Python skits. "If they lived in a treacle well, I should think they would be very sick!" "So they were - very sick indeed!" If you liked the movie "Somewhere In Time" mixed in with the most ribald and perplexingly human comedy of Monty Python, go back somewhere in time with Lewis Carroll. You may never leave Wonderland ever again. [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Not your typical musical
Review: When I first saw this film as a child, I was captivated. Even as an adult I'm still enchanted by the whimsy of Wonderland. This film isn't like the more commercially successful versions, but it's worth adding to your personal library!

Fiona Fullerton is a charming Alice. Most other versions of the film shows us a very young Alice. I don't think any other Alice could have portrayed the character quite like Fiona. She's a bit older, but possesses the ability to act the part very well, something I don't think many younger actors could do.

The musical sequences are at times breif and essential to the story. The film is rather old, and transfer to video was rather poor. There's some very conspicuous flaws in the video, but despite this, the story is just as wonderful and magical as ever. For a low budget and a superb cast (Dudley Moore, Ralph Richardson, et al) "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is a delight.

The sets were not extravagant, but very well done. Some of the backgrounds reminded me very much of "The Wizard of Oz".

I'm glad to have found this version of "Alice in Wonderland" since it was the first I'd ever seen. It will always be the version I compare others to, and despite the fact that this isn't a more commercially successful film, it won me over heart and soul.

Rating:
Summary: This is Alice...hard and gritty....Great Story!
Review: When I was a wee lad. I'd watch this story unfold on the tele, and as I grew older, I would stop turning the channels if I came upon this playing on the screen. Vcrs made it possible to record this and lazer discs have allowed me to keep it with me always. I fell in love with all the characterizations, and have tried to contack all of the stars from it. This movie has been the love of my life and made Theater a big part of it. I'll love Fiona Fullerton always. And the Lewis carroll my thanks!