Alice (1988)
Closed CaptioningJan Svankmajer
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Plot Summary
When Alice follows the White Rabbit into Wonderland, so begins this dream expidition into the astonishing landscape of childhood, through many dangerous adventures, and ultimately to Alice's trial before the King and Queen of Hearts. Czech animator Jan Svankmajer has created a masterpiece of cinema, a strikingly original interpretation of Lewis Carroll's classic tale. Svankmajer's Alice remains true to the absurdity of Carroll's original, but bears the stamp of his own distinctive style and obsessions. Combining techniques of animation and live action, he gives a new and fascinating dimension to the timeless tale of childhood fantasies.
Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
100%- Reviews Counted: 18
- Fresh: 18
- Rotten: 0
- Average Rating: 7.8/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: Though [Jan Svankmajer] strips away all sweetness and light, he does not violate Lewis Carroll's story.
Fresh: It takes us back to a time in the history of movies when audiences responded to the images on screen with a combination of awe and fear, when in submitting to them, we felt as if we were submitting to a spell.
Fresh: Not necessarily for young kids, this is a surrealist version with a great deal of attention accorded to objects.
Fresh: Its glorious proliferation of magical transformations works like a charm on anyone who values the imagination.
Customer Reviews
Excellent surrealistic portrayal!
I heard of this on an art forum and decided to look it up. Low and behold I forgot the filmmaker's name, but one of the senior english teachers at my school was showing it to her literature through film class. I wound up watching the beginning half hour with her--she told me I'd love it.
I did. I'm the sort of person that LOVES horror and surreal art, writing, and films, but honestly most of it only thrills me temporarily. This left me amused, horrified, and faintly sick: it's DEFINITELY in the wrong section if it's under kids and family, but oh my goodness, it's excellent.
All the elements (well, most of them) in the book are represented, many of which, although distorted, are close to the illustrations, even (see: fish and frog). The undertones--math references, but moreso a sense of lost innocence--really correlate with Lewis Carroll as a person. He is a man that I'm quite amazed we still respect, considering his taste for little girls, and the overall feel of neglect about Alice, especially with her filthy dress, made me think of that. Also her antagonistic relationship with the White Rabbit is fascinating and again, gave me a sense of a strong undertone hinting at Lewis Carroll's darker side. Everything in the film seems to try to hurt her.
The surreal quality of the film itself is amazing, even detached from the story. Like any good dream, you can't tell what's coming next nor what just happened and it's alternately terrifying and almost humorous, but overall intriguing, creative, and completely bizarre.
I would highly recommend this retelling of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, not just because it's a different view of the book and the man behind it, but also just because it's so different from other films out there. Svankmejer really is incredible and from what I've read this film is a good introduction to his surreal style.
Best Alice in Wonderland ever!!
I saw this move a long time ago late, late at night on some Canadian broadcasting network. THought it was one of the weirdest movies. This is what Alice In Wonderland should be, nice this crappy cartoony stuff, Disney comes to mind, and now Tim Burton's crappy remake. it is like when they redid the Batman movies and made them more for kids. This was deliciously captivating and strange, and even though it might of not followed the original book as closely, the adaption and interpretation was flawless. To bad fantastic movies like this are hard to find, and lessor ones are more readily available.
One of my favorites!
This movie should NOT be in Kids & Family. It is the best example of how a film can be creepy and disturbing without being gory or shocking. Brilliant film!
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