Nice opening post!

Hopefully it's not too crass to summarize a few of my remarks on the new movie from the Present Movie Thread:

I enjoyed the movie in that it had something of a plot - unlike the original Alice, which I've read was part of a genre popular at the time which stayed away from plots; instead the main character went from random encounter to random encounter.

It was fun hearing parts of "Jabberwocky" again. (Incidentally, my first exposure to this poem was not in Carroll's works but in a 1943 science fiction short story called "Mimsy Were the Borogoves" by Lewis Padgett -which served as loose inspiration for 2007's The Last Mimzy).

I echo Bookwyrm's observation about this movie over in that thread:

...I really enjoyed it. The story is basically completely out of the movie makers' imagination, but it still felt like the books.

I really liked the look of the Cheshire cat, and the way it appeared and disappeared; Stephen Fry (the Guide/narrator in the 2005 film version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) was a great voice choice for that character. Other casting choices I liked were Alan Rickman (another Hitchhiker alumnus) as the Caterpillar and

Johnny Depp was good as the Hatter, though his voice seemed to vary between a Scottish accent and a lisp - maybe all the more to be 'mad.'

And it contains some of my favorite lines from "Jabberwocky":

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves...

Not to mention its inclusion of

Also, Lewis Carroll's works have been a tremendous influence in the world of the popular TV series Lost. Rabbits (both real, white fluffy bunnies and others such as scultures) have become icons on the show. Two episodes (season 1's "White Rabbit" and the season 3 finale "Through the Looking-Glass") draw their names from Carroll's works. Characters occasionally read from the books on-screen, and at one point an Alice in Wonderland poster can be seen.

Numerous other connections can be found on this Lostpedia page. 'Ware Lost spoilers!

Yay! I love Lewis' books and their randomness! 'Jabberwocky' might well be my favourite poem ever. I remembered it a few weeks ago when my little brother asked for suggestions on what poem to read for his English project. Naturally, I had to convince him to read it to his class.

I love the 1951 Disney animated version of the story. (Though I may be biased since it was my first encounter with Alice.) My favourite is Sterling Holloway as the Chesire Cat. (Sterling Holloway is awesome. ) It's not the most faithful adaptation of a book, but I don't mind - it's kind of a random collection of a few of the best parts of the two books.

As for the new version... I can honestly say it's the first Tim Burton movie I liked. *thinks of Batman and shudders* But it felt like there was something missing. I was surprised that it didn't feel mad enough to me, which was something I expected it to do well. Even after reading the books a couple times, and seeing the 1951 version more times than I can count, somehow they're still surprising in a way, and it still feels random. The new movie was just a little too predictable for me. I found the end particularly annoying - I felt as though I'd been duped into watching a tedious female-empowerment-story under the guise that it was Alice in Wonderland. I wouldn't go out of my way to see it again, but I did like it, though you might not be able to tell.

The Sisters Grimm series (which I love to bits) includes the vorpal blade and some of Lewis' characters, such as the Queen of Hearts and the Jabberwock (which everyone calls the Jabberwocky. I'm particular about names. ).

And speaking of names, I tend to call the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland rather than Alice in Wonderland as much as possible, in hopes that people will catch on and start calling it by it's proper name again.

I KNOW WHY A RAVEN IS LIKE A WRITING DESK!
My edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Alice's Adventures Through the Looking Glass and The Hunting of the Snark has an answer to the riddle which was published in the 1896 Author's note:

Enquiries have been so often addressed to me, as to whether any answer to the Hatter's Riddle can be imagined, that I may as well put on the record here what seems to me to be a fairly appropriate answer:

Spoiler

"Because it can produce a few notes, though they are very flat; and it is never put with the wrong end in front!"

This, however, is merely an after-thought: the Riddle, as originally invented, had no answer at all.

Every time the Hatter asked why a raven is like a writing desk, I kept repeating the answer over in my head.

EDIT:
I just watched the Disney Alice in Wonderland for the first time in years recently, and I must say that is one of the scariest things I've seen in my life and is hardly accurate to the book at all.

"Have some more tea!"
"But I haven't had any."
"Well, you can't very well have less, so you must have more!"

I've enjoyed the books for almost as long as I can remember, and there are really too many favourite little episodes to count, but one of my other favourites is from Through the Looking Glass and involves the non-sleeping king and his messengers. "Begin at the beginning, keep going until you reach the end, then stop."

The 1985 TV version was pretty accurate as I recall (it's been years since I saw it), and ever since I've been measuring scary against its version of the Jaberwock. (Did I say it right?)

I love the book and have it at home.

I love the most recent movie- especially the inside jokes.

I remember liking the TV series shown in the 1980s that had John Stamos and Beau Bridges.

Ooo, lots of fodder for discussion.

Johnny Depp was good as the Hatter, though his voice seemed to vary between a Scottish accent and a lisp - maybe all the more to be 'mad.'

I quite enjoyed Depp's performance, but I had this lurking feeling that I was seeing half Jack Sparrow and half Will Wonka. I don't think this hurt his performance any--I quite enjoyed it--but I felt like Depp had lost much of his Depp-ness.

it felt like there was something missing. I was surprised that it didn't feel mad enough to me.

Really? I had some friends who didn't like it because they felt it was too mad. I could have done with a little more madness, of the sort where the tea-party turns into one big non-sequitur or it is discovered that everyone has some sort of prosthetic ("It smells as if you dropped something!"), not of the plain ol' strange stuff that makes your head hurt, like the battle was.

Consequently, did anyone beside me wonder why on earth Alice

Spoiler

didn't kill the jabberwock(y) earlier? She had about a half-dozen chances to kill it earlier (sticking its neck in front of her sword, her falling under its belly, etc), and she never did...and in the end she didn't even do it the way the scroll pictured it.

My favourite is Sterling Holloway as the Chesire Cat.

I personally quite enjoyed Whoopi Goldberg's rendition. I'm not clicking on which version Holloway did, though?

I wouldn't go out of my way to see it again, but I did like it, though you might not be able to tell.

lol, I couldn't, quite. I am, personally, hoping for a sequel set in

My edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Alice's Adventures Through the Looking Glass and The Hunting of the Snark has an answer to the riddle....

I have never read The Hunting of the Snark. Is it a third Alice book, or an Underworld book, or just another Lewis book?

"Because it can produce a few notes, though they are very flat; and it is never put with the wrong end in front!"

I like that. I shall have to endevour to use that at some point in the not-too-distant future.

I just watched the Disney Alice in Wonderland for the first time in years recently, and I must say that is one of the scariest things I've seen in my life and is hardly accurate to the book at all.

* backs up so as to avoid any rotten tomatoes *

Disney has a habit of doing that. Not only did they do it to Alice, but they also did it to other classics such as the Mary Poppins series, Aladdin, and last but not least, Prince Caspian. As long as I completely detach the film from the real story, I quite enjoy them, but the minute I must associate the film with the book(s), I cringe and have to think about something else.

I've enjoyed the books for almost as long as I can remember, and there are really too many favourite little episodes to count, but one of my other favourites is from Through the Looking Glass and involves the non-sleeping king and his messengers. "Begin at the beginning, keep going until you reach the end, then stop."

I think you should have opened this topic. You achieved what I could not, which was a sweet, short, book-referencing opener. I do love that part, too, lol.

Mel and Aravis Narnia, would you recommend renting the TV series?

What is the tv series? I think there's some version with Martin Short as the Mad Hatter in it. Is that the one yall are talking about?

Oh, has anyone seen Syfy's version called "Alice"? I liked that one too. The Mad Hatter in that one was funny. He I liked it.

Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking glass are two of my favorite books, though I haven't read them in a while. I always liked how they'd seem like a dream (well, technically they were), with all the crazy random encounters one after another.
I haven't seen the movie yet, but I want to.

Consequently, did anyone beside me wonder why on earth Alice

Spoiler

didn't kill the jabberwock(y) earlier? She had about a half-dozen chances to kill it earlier (sticking its neck in front of her sword, her falling under its belly, etc), and she never did...and in the end she didn't even do it the way the scroll pictured it.

I actually wondered that as well. But I can kind of understand why they did it - it was much more dramatic that way

Spoiler

than if she had just killed it right away on the ground. That way everyone else could gaze up at her in admiration after she killed it.

My favourite is Sterling Holloway as the Chesire Cat.

I personally quite enjoyed Whoopi Goldberg's rendition. I'm not clicking on which version Holloway did, though?

Holloway voices him in the Disney version. I meant more that he was my favourite part of that adaptation, as opposed to my favourite version of the Cheshire Cat. Which version is Whoopi Goldberg in?

I think I really ought to track down some of the other movies/tv series. I've only seen the Disney versions.

I wouldn't go out of my way to see it again, but I did like it, though you might not be able to tell.

lol, I couldn't, quite.

Oh dear. I think I would have liked it more if I hadn't been expecting so much. I like your sequel idea though.

I just watched the Disney Alice in Wonderland for the first time in years recently, and I must say that is one of the scariest things I've seen in my life and is hardly accurate to the book at all.

* backs up so as to avoid any rotten tomatoes *

Disney has a habit of doing that. Not only did they do it to Alice, but they also did it to other classics such as the Mary Poppins series, Aladdin, and last but not least, Prince Caspian. As long as I completely detach the film from the real story, I quite enjoy them, but the minute I must associate the film with the book(s), I cringe and have to think about something else.

I lovelovelove Disney, but I have to agree. But as long as I can make myself forget about the original book, I love them. (I couldn't do that with PC, unfortunately.)

Out of curiousity, did you guys go see the new Alice in 3D or not? My friend and I saw the non-3D version, partly because it was cheaper and 3D glasses are annoying (especially for those of us who are already wearing glasses) and partly because I don't think 3D really adds anything to the movie-going experience. Has anyone seen it in both?

I loved Alice in Wonderland! It wasn't as funny as I thought it would be, but it was still really good... they should make a prequel with Alice as a little girl!

I haven't seen the movie (yet), but I like Lewis Carrol a lot!
Btw, I'd call him Carrol rather than Lewis - Lewis would be his first name and Carrol his surname (disregarding the fact that Lewis Carrol was his artist's name).
I don't want to mix it up with the name of someone who had Lewis as his surname

I've got a couple of versions of Alice, including one with illustrations by Tove Jansson. Moomin Trolls, anyone?

Ooo, lots of fodder for discussion.

My edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Alice's Adventures Through the Looking Glass and The Hunting of the Snark has an answer to the riddle....

I have never read The Hunting of the Snark. Is it a third Alice book, or an Underworld book, or just another Lewis book?

It's another Lewis Carrol book - a poem, actually. I've put it on my Carrol page - you can read it here

You achieved what I could not, which was a sweet, short, book-referencing opener. I do love that part, too, lol.

Well, I for one am glad that I wasn't the one to open this SF. (If only because I attributed the second quote to the wrong book. Ah... oops. ) I think you did an excellent job!

I was going through my copy of Through the Looking Glass and I think I've finally connected the dots. I've always wondered why in the two, three, film versions I'm aware of there's been a mix of Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass since they're two different games and there are no returning characters. Well, this time, I noticed that the messengers in Tenniel's illustrations look like the March Hare and the Hatter. (Hatter, Hatta, bread and tea, just got out of prison?... Well, okay MAYBE there's a connection. Not sure about the hare and Anglo-Saxon, though.)

And yes, I think you'd enjoy watching the TV series, and I'd love to know what you thought of it!

Spoiler

in the end she didn't even do it the way the scroll pictured it

Out of curiousity, did you guys go see the new Alice in 3D or not?

I did! It was the first 3D movie I'd seen in almost forever, so I was pleasantly surprised by the experience. I also have glasses, so I was a bit apprehensive about that myself. However, the theater I went to had what I have been told are 'nice' glasses, so I guess there are different qualities of the 3D viewing experience. These were black and slipped on easily over my glasses and after the first few minutes I didn't even notice I was wearing them.

Overall, though, I'm not sure that the addition to my viewing experience was worth the extra money. It was cool and all, and some of the landscape shots were really amazing, but I bet they're still amazing on a regular screen.

I saw Alice once.. I must say, I did like it a lot.. The plot was basic, true, but still enjoyable.. although that purple beam that the jabberwock has is really hard on the eyes.. that's the only thing I don't like about it.. >.<

I thought Johnny Depp did fine as the hatter, as well as other characters in their roles.. and I *loved* the cheshire cat! ^^
My fat cat, church, and the Cheshire cat are both gray with big, green eyes.. so they remind me of the eachother.. ^^

and Yes, I've seen syfy's Alice.. The Hatter was cool.. I wrote a fanfiction piece on a fanfic site about syfy's Alice meeting the cheshire cat (tim burton's version) and he takes her to the a very rude hatter and hare for something to eat from their table.. ^^

I actually wondered that as well. But I can kind of understand why they did it - it was much more dramatic that way

Spoiler

than if she had just killed it right away on the ground. That way everyone else could gaze up at her in admiration after she killed it.

True, it was much more dramatic, but then we all got to

On the same topic,

Spoiler

She didn't? There was all that build up to put her in the right position and in the end it wasn't used? I... didn't notice that it differed much.

The difference was that instead of

Holloway voices him in the Disney version. I meant more that he was my favourite part of that adaptation, as opposed to my favourite version of the Cheshire Cat.

I guess I first watched the Disney version was I was so young that I didn't care about who did what.

Which version is Whoopi Goldberg in?

Apparently Goldberg actually did it for TV, although I saw it on video. IMDB lists it as Alice in Wonderland (1999) (TV) .... Cheshire Cat

I like your sequel idea though.

Thank you. * bows in all directions *

they should make a prequel with Alice as a little girl!

I thought about that, but I wonder how much Mairi Ella Challen has aged/grown since they filmed that? If it was one of the very first things they did, she could be eleven or twelve (or older) by the time they get around to doing the prequel.

Out of curiousity, did you guys go see the new Alice in 3D or not? My friend and I saw the non-3D version, partly because it was cheaper and 3D glasses are annoying (especially for those of us who are already wearing glasses) and partly because I don't think 3D really adds anything to the movie-going experience. Has anyone seen it in both?

I've only seen it in IMAX 3D, however, a friend and I may pop over and see it normal after work on Friday. My opinion on 3D: it is awesome, until something is coming straight at you and then goes off the side of the screen. For 3D to work for me, I have to sit so close that, to see the edges of the screen, I have to turn my head. Also, I'm used to going to movies with people that I lean up against, and 3D glasses don't work when one is sideways.

It's another Lewis Carrol book - a poem, actually. I've put it on my Carrol page - you can read it here

Ah! Thank you. I just read the intro, but then realized how late it is. I'll have to read the rest later.

Now....just because things keep getting curiouser and curiouser, I was wondering--even though this was supposed to be originally just a children's tale, any ideas about political satire here? One of my friends from England told me that the Queen of Hearts or the Red Queen was supposed to be Queen Elizabeth, but I wondered if she was so obsessed with cutting off heads, wouldn't she be Queen Mary? Now I can't figure out who told me that, and they all deny it, so if any of our good British friends could clear up my confusion, I would be highly grateful.

In other political satire, I found a note on wiki that

Bill the Lizard may be a play on the name of Benjamin Disraeli. One of Tenniel's illustrations in Through the Looking-Glass depicts the character referred to as the "Man in White Paper" (whom Alice meets as a fellow passenger riding on the train with her), as a caricature of Disraeli, wearing a paper hat. The illustrations of the Lion and the Unicorn also bear a striking resemblance to Tenniel's Punch illustrations of Gladstone and Disraeli.

It would follow, to me, that the queen should be Queen Victoria, except for the fact that Queen Victoria is nothing like the Queen of Hearts, so I think we can throw out Bill the Lizard as Disraeli. If she (VR) was any of Carrol's Queens, I would think Queen Victoria would be characterized as the White Queen--she most definitely wasn't as fly-off-the-handle as the Queen of Hearts, that's for sure. Anyway, that would fit with the illustrations mentioned above, along with the fact that Gladstone and Disraeli did fight it out until everyone was sick and tired of it, if I understand it correctly.

It is late, and my clock is reminding me to sign off... * sigh *