Alice in Wonderland

This movie may take its place as one of my all-time favorites.
That being said, it was weird. Just like the book! In the old Disney animated film, I was sure something was out to get me. There were evil, stuck-up flowers that were your friend one minute, your bitter enemies the next. There was that horrid carpenter and the Walrus. Alice had a shrill voice, and she kept screeching. The Red Queen... no words to describe how disturbed I was about her. Combine Captain Hook and Cruella De Vill and you had her. So imagine my surprise when I opened up the book one day, and discovered the real Wonderland, full of zany and lovable characters who were more than a little crazy, situations that didn't end up stressing out the reader, and Alice as a curious fun girl with quirks. It was one of the happiest moments of my life to read the books. The books are some of my favorites.
When I found out they were going to make a movie, I had my doubts. When I found out it was Tim Burton, I felt better. That's a little backwards, but if anyone could capture Wonderland, it was him.
And I wasn't disappointed! From beginning to end, the whole movie was so imaginative, brilliant, and enjoyable. I don't think I'd let small children watch it, he made this movie very deep, with quirky characters and disturbing monsters. It all turns out for the best at the end, just how it should. Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter was perfect. He's an amazing actor, and Alice was fantastic! She was everything she should've been, and quite recovered her muchness. The only complaint was that I wanted it to be longer, I just loved it. The Cheshire Cat, which has always been a favorite of mine in the book, was even better in the movie. Stephen Fry voiced him with that perfect amount of charm and craziness required by the Cheshire Cat. The March Hare was another favorite of mine, as I also go mad in March... ;) The computer animated characters looked real.
And as for the Red Queen, she was fantastic. I loved how she was like a spoiled child. The White Queen was a presence I sorely missed in the animated version, and Tim Burton re-thought her perfectly to fit into Wonderland (or Underland). Anne Hathaway was a perfect fit to play her, gracious and slightly insane.
THE JABBERWOCKY!!!! Find one of the original illustrations from Through the Looking Glass with the Jabberwocky, and then imagine it stepped right off the page. I thought the Jabberwocky made the Balrog look like a lap dog, but that's just my opinion. Computer animation has drastically improved.
And as always, Danny Elfman created a wonderful soundtrack that enhanced the movie.
I loved the quotes from the movie. One of my favorites is when Alice's Dad is talking to her at the beginning of the movie:
Alice. "Do you think I've gone round the bend?"
Dad. "I'm afraid so. You're bonkers! But do you know what? All the best people in the world are."