I will say right now, I wasn't expecting this to be perfect, because to me perfection is a rarity. Was it perfect? No. Is it worth watching? Absolutely! This mini-series does have its flaws, but as a 17 year old female, who grew up on animation and likes her fair share of classic film, I really liked it, after seeing it on YouTube today. I respect everybody's opinion, but there is some of the harsh negativity that I don't get. This is not an adaptation, this is like what happens many years later hence the contemporary feel to it. I haven't seen Tin Man, so I can't compare.
For one thing, I liked how it was filmed. The sets are picturesque looking and the costumes are wonderful, Mad Hatter's was a delight, but I particularly loved Dodo's, it made Tim Curry look suave and debonair. The special effects for a mini series are not that bad at all(I have seen a lot worse in films like Addams Family Reunion that make the film itself look cheap). In fact, in terms of effects, the only disappointment was the Jabberwock, somehow I was expecting it to be more scary looking, despite looking exactly as he is described in the books. The music was above decent, with some eerie sound effects and a contemporary sound that worked for this.
The story is fast paced in general, and is exciting enough. Of course it has a couple of holes, like how did Hatter get the boat back. I did like the references to the original books, which I adore, while putting its own contemporary spin on it. The script has its weak spots too, Alice saying something about getting a black belt in karate or something or other was a tad random, but there are some nice witty exchanges particularly between Alice and Hatter that really did sparkle. There are some effective scenes too, like Alice's reconciliation with the man who turns out to be her long-lost father.
That just leaves the acting. Well there were one or two disappointments, not because the actors gave terrible performances or anything like that, but it was all to do with screen time. Harry Dean Stanton as the Caterpillar just didn't get enough screen time to shine. Tim Curry as Dodo was better, as I've said already I loved his costume and he is a truly wonderful actor, plus there is a really cool fight between him, Hatter and Alice in her attempt to escape. But then afterwards, you don't see him again after that, the character of the Dodo just disappeared just like that without explanation. And while he was better in the second half, as the White Knight, at times I felt Matt Frewer overacted, but there were also parts when he was indeed entertaining.
That said though, I really liked Caterina Scorsone as Alice. I liked the fact Alice was spunky, determined, pretty and headstrong. These are qualities that I love in heroines, and qualities that I myself would strive for. Kathy Bates is deliciously frosty and icy as the Queen of Hearts, and Phillip Winchester was good and very low-key as Jack. But my favourite performance in the whole mini-series, and do forgive me if I repeat what others have said, was indeed Andrew Lee Potts as Hatter. He was funny, he was charming, he was witty, he was handsome, he was perfect. He and Scorsone had great chemistry, and the look on his face when Alice went with Jack instead of him made me feel ever so sorry for him.
All in all, this mini-series is not perfect, but it is well above average and if given the chance it is worth the watch. If you don't like it that's fine, as people have different opinions on everything, so long as you don't go thinking it's only your opinion that matters. 7.5/10 Bethany Cox
