We are all mad here!
It was a lovely weekend in Atlanta and Sis and I finally took the time to see Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland at our local theater.
I adore Tim Burton's visions. He has a way of taking what I visualize in my head but cannot express and then he takes it oh so much further. He is a modern day wizard and artist and everything he touches turns to creative gold. This is a person I would love to shadow for several days and just watch, listen, absorb and learn. This is a man who revels in the complexities of life and exhausts their display much to our good fortune. Alice is a crowning achievement with a cast handpicked for each character and enriched by what they bring to the table through their own talent and personalities.
Mr. Burton has given us a wonderful story line with a heroine who is inquisitive, smart, and strong. She refuses to be bound under social dictates and through her adventure realizes her true heart and potential.
For older children and especially teens, I would insist this film be part of their literature studies from the books to this film, the dialogue you can have with them would be memorable.
The costuming of Alice and how the clothing she wears morphs into her ever changing size throughout the film is magical. I wanted to own every garment on display. I leaned into my sister halfway through the film and said her dresses would be perfect for proms. Elegant, feminine, sexy fun without being lewd or whorey. They were all lovely.
A dark film at times, my advice to parents would be "know what your child/children can handle" or you will deal with nightmares. This film is not for young children or those who may frighten easily.
This movie is visually breathtaking and the attention to detail is incredible. You will believe in a deck of cards that is the Red Queen's guard. I intend to go back and revisit this film on the big screen just to view the details again (my kind of eye crack). I was in love with the mad tea party with its battenburg lace tablecloths and other linens, the many different English tea pots and bone china saucers, the sweet treats and the teas and within this visual piece were the rapid fire nonsense narratives of the mad tea party participants. It was heaven to say the least.
I wish I could have found stills of the tea party, but could not. However, I just came across this marvelous little clip of the dark tea party. Enjoy.
There is also some wonderful conceptual art for the film on the Alice in Wonderland film website, should you choose to need more eye candy.
Of course, as soon as I returned home, I went on a rampage looking for my vintage teapots, cups and saucers and pretty Edwardian white linens as I want to recreate a tea party display at the store. I do have a vintage, collapsible top hat that has seen better days, it may be perfect for a mad hatter recreation for the same display. If I pull this "rabbit out of my hat" I will be sure to take photos and post. For now, have a lovely week and remember, we are all MAD here!!! Sea Witch
