Some of the same events that occurred in the first book/movie happened in this one as well. The same characters were there and recognized her, but the story seemed to be written like everyone in the audience had no idea what had happened. I understand that a percentage of the film’s viewers haven’t been introduced to the movie/books/story, but things were explained only to a level that made us consider them strange and unrealistic, but then made us wonder why they were only mentioned. The story seemed like it was so dumbed down for the masses. There was an unfilled prophecy aspect to the story that ruined the movie for me. They told her what was going to happen, she denied her own ability, and then it happened. It just became boringly predictable and barely even entertaining. (Honestly, I started making up my own story involving a long drawn out romance between Alice and The Mad Hatter. It was pretty awesome, actually.)

There are some unanswered questions that still bother me when I think back on the film. So, Alice had been having a dream since she was very young. A dream which turned out to be her reliving her already lived experience as her first time in Wonderland. So, if she had been constantly dreaming the same thing over and over again, why is it that she didn’t know exactly what to do when presented with the same situations and conflicts?! For example, the consumption of the shrinking liquid in the bottle and the growing potion of the cakes. Why was she so confused if, in theory, she had dreamed the same event every night that week?! Also, if she had been there before and everyone else remembered her, why didn’t the Queen of Hearts recognize her?!

Anyways, I thought Mia Wasikowska was cast pretty well as Alice. She reminded me SO much of the girl from Disturbia, I just couldn’t stop thinking about that. Then again, it’s kind of hard for me to completely agree or disagree with their casting decisions because I don’t have any other idea of Alice other than the 1951 animated film, so with that knowledge, I’d say she did a pretty good job.

I feel that if Disney didn’t have such an important role in the making and production of this film that it could have been so much better. Throw in some humor or innuendos for the adults stuck in the theater. Something.

Well... kids will enjoy it at least, but only because they don’t know any better : (