Alice in Wonderland Review: A Disappointing Adaptation

Alice in Wonderland Falls Flat

summarizeEditor's Summary

I was really looking forward to watching the Russian adaptation of Alice in Wonderland with my daughter Julia Peresild, but unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The storyline took way too little from the original tale, and the characters just didn't feel right. I wanted to see Julia shine in her role, but even she couldn't save this lackluster production. The Queen of Hearts was played by Irina Gorbachyova, who did a great job, but lacked a crucial aspect - some curves. The Duchess, played by Paulina Andreeva, was a jealous and bitter character, but her performance was overshadowed by the weak script. I was hoping for a more faithful adaptation, but what I got was a watered-down version of the classic story.

settingsSpecifications

KararKötü

HikayeKalitesi4/10

MüzikVeKoreografi8/10

KarakterGeliştirme6/10

KadronunPerformansı7/10

I was really looking forward to our Russian adaptation of Alice in Wonderland hitting the small screen. We settled in on the couch and started watching, curious to see how my daughter Julia Peresild would fare. I wanted to personally assess her performance.

So, what's this 'Alice in Wonderland' all about? They took way too little from the original story. The rabbit isn't even a rabbit, the Hatter's there, but that's it. The Queen is Irina Gorbachyova, a loving, kind-hearted woman with an inflated ego. The Duchess is Paulina Andreeva, a jealous woman ready to kill and betray. And so, the conflict begins.

The Queen is played by the slender, tall Irina Gorbachyova. She did a good job, but I felt like she lacked one essential thing - some curves. A woman is a mother, a caring, loving, and healthy one. Health isn't just about being thin. They could've gone for a more realistic approach.

The pink dress isn't the worst part of this movie.

Anna Peresild plays like her mom, but Julia has been acting for a while now and gained popularity after her role in 'Time of Firsts', where she even flew to space. Anna, on the other hand, is still learning the ropes. Her face just isn't that appealing. The operators deliberately shot her from angles that highlighted her already prominent cheekbones. Her chubby lips kept popping up in the frame, along with her slender legs. It looked a bit silly.

The whole time, there are songs playing and everyone's dancing. The actors themselves are performing the songs. The music is simple, like in a musical. The lyrics are straightforward. The choreography is thought out for mass dance numbers.

I've seen some actors who can't sing, but Paulyana Andreeva and Milos Bikovich? They sound like they're belting out 'The Ballad of Love' in their living room. The song's strong, but their singing is off-key. When they sing, their movements are in sync. It's just a bunch of arm flailing, but it doesn't look awkward or out of place. The whole thing is really well-coordinated.

The song lyrics are taken from the play, written by Vysotsky. It's like a clever hook to grab your attention. The way they deliver the lines is especially interesting, and some phrases stick with you: 'face and two ears... Gusev's not a caterpillar... even the most well-behaved kid will turn into a pig in the future.'

'Alice in Wonderland' is a separate entity, with moments from the original film inserted throughout. The cook starts to get feisty and suddenly we're in a scene where Alice is called a pig. There are plenty of these flashbacks, and they feel like a test: do you remember how it was in the original?

But it's not a caterpillar on a caterpillar - that's Burunov (he's a good actor) in a long, fluffy parka. There's no question about their acting skills. Why the helmet with a beard? Why the parka?

The mouse with the long tail, no, with the bob. Yes, the mouse has a long, beautiful bob. The actress is charming, and she plays the mouse lively. She shows it to the audience with her little nose, which is always sniffing around.

The hatter in this version is more like a nerd. He's not the crazy, creative hatter from the original, but a wise guy in ordinary wide-brimmed hats who's secretly in love. Everyone's in love in this film, it seems: the mouse loves the boy, Alice loves the boy, the Queen of Hearts loves the Hatter, and the Duchess loves the Hatter too. It looked like they were all going to get married in the end, but that's for another episode.

I've gotta disagree with everyone trashing Anna Peresild. She's actually a decent actress. Her expressions are on point, and she's got some real conviction in her performance. I think they wrote the role specifically for her.

But the thing is, the script is pretty weak. The characters are all underdeveloped, and the plot is just a mess. A lot of the time, the characters are just standing around doing nothing, and when they do interact, it's just shallow and unconvincing. Where's the depth? Where's the complexity? It's like they phoned it in.

The background score is actually pretty good, though. It's catchy and engaging, and it does a good job of setting the tone for the film. But the script is just a disaster. They took every lazy cliche from the past few years and mashed them all together into one big mess.

live_helpFeatured FAQ

What was wrong with the script?

The script took way too little from the original story, and the characters just didn't feel right. It was a weak and lackluster production that failed to engage me.

Why didn't Julia Peresild shine in her role?

Even Julia's talent couldn't save this lackluster production. The weak script and poor character development held her back.

What did you think of the costumes and set designs?

The costumes and set designs were impressive, with intricate details that transported me to Wonderland. They were a highlight of the production.

Was the Queen of Hearts a good character?

Irina Gorbachyova did a great job as the Queen of Hearts, bringing a sense of authority to the role. However, she lacked a crucial aspect - some curves.

What did you think of the Duchess?

Paulina Andreeva's portrayal of the Duchess was memorable, even if the character's motivations were unclear. She was a jealous and bitter character, but her performance was overshadowed by the weak script.

Was the cinematography good?

The cinematography was visually stunning, capturing the whimsy and wonder of the story. It was a highlight of the production.

What was wrong with the pacing?

The pacing was slow and plodding, making it hard to stay engaged. It felt like the story was dragging on forever.

Was the dialogue clunky?

Yes, the dialogue was clunky and unnatural, with characters speaking in ways that felt forced. It was a major distraction from the story.

Why was the production a disappointment?

The production was a disappointment because it failed to live up to my expectations. The weak script and poor character development held it back.

check_circlePros

•The costumes and set designs were impressive, with intricate details that transported me to Wonderland.
•Irina Gorbachyova did a great job as the Queen of Hearts, bringing a sense of authority to the role.
•Paulina Andreeva's portrayal of the Duchess was memorable, even if the character's motivations were unclear.
•The cinematography was visually stunning, capturing the whimsy and wonder of the story.
•The cast had great chemistry, even if the story didn't quite come together.
•The production values were high, with a clear attention to detail in the props and set dressing.
•The Queen of Hearts was a standout character, with Irina Gorbachyova bringing a sense of depth to the role.
•The costumes were a highlight of the production, with intricate designs that added to the whimsy of the story.

cancelCons

•The script was weak and lacked the imagination and creativity of the original story.
•The characters felt like cardboard cutouts, with little depth or development.
•The storyline was convoluted and hard to follow, with too many plot holes.
•The pacing was slow and plodding, making it hard to stay engaged.
•The dialogue was clunky and unnatural, with characters speaking in ways that felt forced.
•The overall tone was inconsistent, veering wildly from one emotion to another.
•The characters' motivations were unclear, making it hard to invest in their stories.
•The production felt like a missed opportunity, with a weak script holding it back.