Alice Through the Looking Glass

I never did care too much for 2010's "Alice in Wonderland" but I saw both that movie and its sequel because I could see them for free. "Alice Through the Looking Glass" has the same problems as its predecessor but I can't say that neither film is terrible; they just don't appeal to me. As is usual with a sequel to a Tim Burton film, he acts as a producer and has someone else assume the directors chair. In this case, it is James Bobin. It's not like Disney had to go far to find him as the director of "The Muppets" and "Muppets Most Wanted". Both franchises have a lot of differences and so Bobin is an interesting choice. I am glad that "Alice Through the Looking Glass" is just as good as the original film but as mentioned, I don't really care for a fantasy film that values spectacle over story. At least the movie became more entertaining as I watched it.

The story didn't feel very good at the start but it turned out to be decently crafted by the end. I appreciate a story with plot points that are quietly introduced but come to have significance later in the plot. The characters were a noteworthy element of the first film and they were just as intriguing this time. The opening chase with the pirates was quite exciting and I like how microscopic the difference was between victory and defeat in the climax. I also was pleased how at the end of the movie, James Harcourt leaves the Ascots to work for Alice. There were faults with the script unfortunately. I felt that having Alice drop in on all the supporting characters of Underland at once wasn't the best way to become reacquainted with them. The scene felt rushed and we didn't get the needed screen time with each returning character. The tea party with the play on words with Time was funny but by the end of the movie, these lines got old. The biggest problem with the story is that it was given a back seat to the visual look and special effects of the movie. I will admit that this movie was pretty cool in IMAX 3D, the time travel scenes in particular. The new settings were also quite good in terms of design. Tim Burton always like a lot of gray in his movies contrasted with lush colors. For this sequel, there is a lack of grey in exchange for more appealing colors. While the film doesn't look quite the same thanks to a new director, it still is very pleasing to the eye. The special effects that impressed me the most in "Alice Through the Looking Glass" was the advancement in the technology used to create the Tweedles. It has vastly improved in six years.

This movie appears to be a "Sweeney Todd" reunion because Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen all acted in that film. Bonham Carter and Baron Cohen were also in "Les Miserables" with Anne Hathaway. I knew I recognized King Oleron from somewhere. In another fantasy film franchise, he is King Under the Mountain. This was Alan Rickman's last film role as Absolem by the way. It appears that James Bobin brought along Matt Vogel from his Muppet films to perform the voice of Wilkins. I was grateful Danny Elfman reprised his off screen role as the musical composer. The world needed to see the imaginations of Tim Burton and Lewis Carroll put together but a sequel to that project was not needed. I know how important the visuals are to any movie but the difference between an art gallery and a movie cinema is that one employs a narrative to entertain. A story must be strong and supported by the visuals used to tell it, not overshaddowed by them.

3 Stars