Alice in Wonderland

You know you’re going to see a good film when it’s directed by Tim Burton (Edward Scissorhands) and stars Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean) and Stephen Fry (QI). This Alice in Wonderland is in fact an extension of Lewis Carroll’s original story and, as you might expect, contains all the popular psychedelic elements of Burton’s other films.

Alice (Wasikowska) is now nineteen years old. She attends a party at a Victorian estate which, unbeknownst to her, is actually an engagement party planned by her mother and sister. As she is proposed to by the snobbish Lord Hamish Ascot, she spots a white rabbit in a waistcoat carrying a watch. Running away from the party, she follows the familiar creature and falls down the rabbit hole into Wonderland.

Alice is reunited with her old childhood friends, including the Mad Hatter (Depp) and the Cheshire Cat (Fry). They request her help in overthrowing the Red Queen (Carter), who has taken over from the White Queen (Hathaway), and slaying the Jabberwocky, the dragon terrorising Wonderland.

Tim Burton’s direction remains true to form and Alice in Wonderland is a stunning and engaging film that everyone will enjoy. You will be glad to know that Depp’s acting is as wonderfully bizarre as ever and Stephen Fry makes a brilliant transition from panel shows and is a welcome addition to the star-studded cast. This is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year for a very good reason. If this review still hasn't persuaded you otherwise, it’s time to take a trip down the rabbit hole…

Sophie Carroll