Alice Through the Looking Glass

[Vlad]

I'm going to see it this weekend. I saw that critics were generally negative towards the film. I can't say I'm surprised, because the first one wasn't that great, to be honest. But I still wanna see it, because I'm sure it will be visually stunning, especially in IMAX. I only saw one trailer, when I went to see The Jungle Book, but that is it. It's not a film I'm particularly excited to see.

What did you guys think about it? Will it have the Beauty and the Beast teaser attached?

[Atlantica]

I saw it on Monday and it was fine; nothing special at all but a good movie to see at the cinema. From the glimpse of what we saw of the sisters back story, I think I would have preferred a spin off with just them !

Its just the scripts that are SO BAD with these things. . . . Alice 1, Oz, Maleficent . . . they almost all feel like one huge movie somehow ?!

It would be wonderful to see something that is completely character driven rather than just a vast CGI fest. Though I suppose that isn't what these films are about.

[kbehm29]

Right! Character driven movies.....like movies of the past, Citizen Kane, Hitchcock movies, etc. Today too much is put into CGI and not enough into character development. The scene in this movie where all of the Underland gang is just waiting at a table for Alice to arrive is just so simple it's laughable.

[Atlantica]

Thats exactly what I mean ! Sad that it probably wont happen again, only in animated form I suppose.

[Disney's Divinity]

It would be wonderful to see something that is completely character driven rather than just a vast CGI fest. Though I suppose that isn't what these films are about.

Well, Disney are clearly responding to the audience's wants. When you look at their recent films, the only one that isn't a CGI fest is Cinderella, and it's also the least of their fairytale remakes as far as the money raked in goes.

I think the problem is that people do want character-driven films, which is the reason nobody is interested in a sequel to this since they know the original wasn't one, but the CGI fest is needed to gets butts into seats in the first place. I haven't seen TJB, but it sounds like it found the proper balance between character-driven/CGI fest.

[Vlad]

I saw it this weekend, but I was not impressed. I did not go to the theater with very high expectations, so it did not disapoint me.

It seems to me the filmmakers focused more on the visuals and the CGI than the story itself. The first half of the movie was completely pointless. I was kinda intrigued when they mentioned time-traveling (Alice in Wonderland and time-traveling could be a very interesting combination), but it was a missed opportunity, IMO. What the heck was with that Transformers-type character (all the seconds combined as one)? It was so out of place.

The best things about the movie were the character of Time (great performance), the White Queen, and P!nk's song at the end.

[bruno_wbt]

and P!nk's song at the end.

P!nk's song from the movie, Just Like Fire, has entered in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100!!!


That means that it's the most successful Disney song since Idina Menzel's Let It Go, which peaked at #5.

[Disney's Divinity]

Let's not pretend it doesn't have everything to do with Pink's name value and nothing to do with the movie (or the song itself for that matter, considering it sucks).

[Matt]

I can't believe this flopped so bad. I haven't seen it yet but I was thinking it would have made more money than it has at the box office. They shouldn't have released it with X-Men. I think that's what helped it to flop too. Even the Ninja Turtle movie made more lol!

[Musical Master]

After seeing it a second time, I'm still quite shocked that this isn't doing so hot in the US. It's still a very good movie, sure with some flaws here and there but I still highly enjoyed it more than the first movie. I have to say that this is Linda Woolverton's most interesting screenplay she's done so far out of the three live action films she did (if you don't count her work on Homeward Bound).

[Disney Duster]

I am one of the few people to admit I actually liked both Alice films. I don't think they're very good, but I don't think they're awful. Anyway, so I saw this and I liked it. It was kind of hypocritical for Alice to give up her father's watch to "let go" but then in the end keep his ship over her house, but whatever.

[Musical Master]

I am one of the few people to admit I actually liked both Alice films. I don't think they're very good, but I don't think they're awful. Anyway, so I saw this and I liked it. It was kind of hypocritical for Alice to give up her father's watch to "let go" but then in the end keep his ship over her house, but whatever.

Actually Duster, Alice was more than willing to let the ship go much to her mother's surprise. It was Alice's mother who tore the paper and decide to help out Alice by creating a new shipping company at the end.

[Disney Duster]

True Musical Master, but I meant the film's message seemed to be hypocritical because of what they both ended up keeping.

[Musical Master]

True Musical Master, but I meant the film's message seemed to be hypocritical because of what they both ended up keeping.

Maybe, but from what I got out of the ending was that Alice does learns that both the pocket watch and the ship are not her father and she needed to let go of the "father" manifestation on both things. The reason why Alice gives Time the pocket-watch was both of a giving him a physical apologetic memento and in a psychological way letting go of the "father". Now when it comes to the ship situation, Alice again was willing to let go of the Wonder in both ways in her mind much to Helen questioning: "You want me to sign them? But what about the Wonder?" which Alice replies "It's just a ship, there's always another. But you're my mother, I only have one." It was Hamish's mocking towards Alice that causes Helen to finally have enough of his and society's BS and she rips the deed to the house. SURE they did keep the ship but they both did let go of the father manifestation that the ship once held, in a way the movie's message was to let go of things in a psychological way, not in any literal sense. I'm not sure that was what Linda Woolverton intended, but it makes for some interesting viewpoints on the ending and the films real message.

Seen the movie for the third and last time in theaters and I still really admire it, flaws and all.

[Disney Duster]

You're right Musical Master, but I think it's like the film, and Alice and her mother, having their cake and eating it too. Also, I would think living in an actual, nice house would be a better life for them, but I could be wrong about that.

[Mickeyfan1990]

Blu-ray/DVD coming October 18th (the former containing a smorgasbord of extras!!!):

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=19581

"Walt Disney Home Entertainment has announced that it will release on Blu-ray Alice Through the Looking Glass. The release will be available for purchase on October 18.

In "Alice Through the Looking Glass," the all-star cast from the 2010 blockbuster is back with Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter who's desperately searching for his family; Anne Hathaway as Mirana, the kind, mild-mannered White Queen; Helena Bonham Carter as Iracebeth, the short-tempered, big-headed Red Queen; and Mia Wasikowska as Alice, the heroine at the heart of the story. Sacha Baron Cohen joins the ensemble as Time, a magical being that is part human, part clock, and the late Alan Rickman—to whom the film is dedicated—is the voice of Absolem, the blue Monarch butterfly who metamorphosed from the blue caterpillar "Alice in Wonderland."

Four-time Oscar nominee and GRAMMY-winner Danny Elfman ("Milk," "Big Fish") returns to compose the film's score, which includes melodies from 2010's "Alice in Wonderland" and additional themes inspired by both new and developing characters. The film also features "Just Like Fire," an original, hit song performed by GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter P!nk.

Special Features:
• A Stitch in Time: Costuming Wonderland – Three-time Oscar®-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood ("Alice in Wonderland," "Memoirs of a Geisha") explains how costuming helps shape the curious characters of Underland and reveals hidden Easter Eggs within the cast's ornate outfits.
• Music Video: "Just Like Fire" by P!nk – "Watch this madness, colorful charade" in P!nk's music video for "Just Like Fire," the hit song featured in "Alice Through the Looking Glass" that powered to the top 10 on Billboard's Hot 100.
• Behind the Music Video – Go on set with P!nk for production of her "Just Like Fire" music video, featuring fantastical imagery, aerial stunts, Underland character cameos, and guest appearances by P!nk's family.
•Behind The Looking Glass – Jump back and forth through time during this in-depth look into the making of "Alice Through the Looking Glass," hosted by director James Bobin.
•Time On… – Delight in this discussion with the unpredictable and witty Sacha Baron Cohen who plays Time, the keeper of the Chronosphere, a metallic sphere that powers all time.
• Alice Goes Through the Looking Glass: A Scene Peeler – View a side-by-side comparison of raw production footage and final scenes, as Alice enters Underland through a magical looking glass.
•Alice Goes Through Time's Castle: A Scene Peeler – View raw production footage alongside final scenes, as Alice enters Time's castle of eternity.
• Characters of Underland – Get to know the quirky and colorful supporting characters in Underland, such as the tubby twins known as the Tweedles (Matt Lucas) and Absolem (Alan Rickman), the blue caterpillar turned blue Monarch butterfly.
•Filmmaker Audio Commentary by James Bobin – Director James Bobin delivers scene-by-scene insight into the creation of "Alice Through the Looking Glass."
• Deleted Scenes with Director Commentary – Bobin introduces five never-before-seen scenes that didn't make the final cut of Disney's spectacular adventure.
Technical Specs: •Audio: Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA & 2.0 Descriptive Audio Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks
•Languages/Subtitles: English, French & Spanish/English SDH, French & Spanish"


DVD News Flash on Facebook reports that the DVD will include the A Stitch in Time: Costuming Wonderland featurette.

[Vlad]

Cool! This looks like an excellent release. I'm actually looking forward to buying it. I've seen it a second time in the theater, and it wasn't as bad as I remembered.

[Disney's Divinity]

Finally saw this last night. I was a little disappointed, but I think I’d still rank it above the first film. Most of the scenes in the past with Mirana and Iracebeth just felt weird. I guess because their parents and the Hatter’s parents acted like real people instead of like they were living in a crazy world… Nothing was really new there to me, since we know Iracebeth is crazy because of the accident that made her head overlarge. I wish we’d seen how she made an ally out of the Jabberwocky. Btw, the Hatter in his first scene when Alice comes back to Underland really creeped me out. The extra purple on the side of his face that made his face look heavier made him look really disturbing. The Caterpillar/now Butterfly’s design was a lot nicer than in the first film, thankfully. Sad hearing Alan Rickman’s voice again.

I have to say I thought Mia was better here than in the first one. Hathaway and HBC were still the stars for me though, and SMC as Time was great, too. And I’ll admit I liked “Just Like Fire” a little more than I did when I heard it a long while back. (Talking as a Pink fan.)