My Thoughts on the 2025 Alice in Wonderland: A Russian Twist on a Classic Tale

I still remember watching Tim Burton's adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, which left me with a sense of wonder and curiosity that lingered long after the credits rolled. The same feeling I got from reading Lewis Carroll's classic book...

But then, BAM!

The Russian version of Alice in Wonderland dropped, and it was like a lightning rod for all the hate and negativity. People were trashing everything from Anna Peresilid's acting to the costumes, locations, and script...

I didn't rush to the theater on the first day, or the second, or even the third. But the more I saw the reviews and comments, the more I felt compelled to see it for myself, even if I'm not typically a fan of Russian cinema...

So, here goes nothing! I'm sharing my thoughts on the Russian interpretation of Alice in Wonderland.

Let's dive in!

The story begins in a Moscow school, where our protagonist, Alice, is navigating the ups and downs of adolescence. We see her dealing with school, relationships with classmates and parents, and her first crushes... And then, in a bizarre twist of fate, Alice finds herself transported to a fantastical world where everything is the opposite of what she's used to...

I've got to say, aside from the modern world, it's all pretty familiar - the usual Alice in Wonderland vibe. But what's it like in reality?

I'm not a fan of mashing up different styles and eras to create a new-fangled take on the classic tale. I mean, I'm open to it, but it's a tough sell to make it work. You've got to balance the modern world with the old-school magic, and still make it look and feel fresh, interesting, and engaging. That's no easy feat.

When it comes down to it, I think the goal of any film is to be something people want to watch, and keep watching. And when you're remaking a classic like Alice in Wonderland - especially one that's already been done justice by Tim Burton - what are the chances it'll be a hit? It's a big risk, because when you're trying something new, it's all about the unknown, the excitement, and the mystery. But when you're rehashing something that's already been done, it's hard not to compare it to the original...

Let's be real, the storyline is pretty similar to the 2010 film, but with some added twists and changes. They've taken some scenes and reworked them, or just copied them and swapped out the decorations...

In my opinion, there are some minor plot holes, but overall, it's not a huge deal compared to the original film.

Okay, let's start with Aniela.

Anna Peresil'd - she played the lead role and got a lot of hate for her performance, but I think she did a great job. It's not perfect, but there are moments where she just nails it and feels so authentic and alive.

There were a few scenes, especially those with (in my opinion) awkwardly inserted lines in the dialogue, where she seemed off to me and overall, those spoken words seemed strange. There were moments when I thought she was just trying to fill space.

I have to say, her performance in this film as the main character was about 70% to my liking, but I wouldn't say it was a total failure. She's actually quite suited for the role of Alice. A bit quirky, but that's what I liked about her.

And to those who say she always has her mouth open and the same expression on her face, no way. There are plenty of scenes with her mouth closed and various emotions. She cries a bit childishly, but she's a kid, after all.

So, don't believe all the negative reviews. Sure, there's room for improvement, but it's not all bad news.

Milos Bikovic - Alice's dad... He's a character that's not fully developed in my opinion, but despite that, the actor's performance was completely natural.

I actually really liked the character, but unfortunately, he was underutilized. He's the kind of character that could've made the film more engaging, but they didn't quite nail it. Still, I liked him.

Sergey Burunov - the caterpillar. He's actually really cool. The way he played the caterpillar, with a completely serious face, like he's a proud and unflappable insect, was spot on.

Polina Gukhman - I'm a big fan of hers, and I think she's a talented actress. She often plays teenagers, and her character type is really familiar to me, but this role was a bit of a departure for her, and I loved how she played it in this film.

It was great to see her bring this character to life in such an organic, interesting, and lively way.

Irina Gorbachyova - Alice's mom. In real life, she totally nailed the role of a mom who's not strict, but just exhausted.

I love how my partner handles the stress of everyday life with a mix of optimism and patience. The golden middle ground is always elusive, but that's what makes life interesting.

Irina's performance as the queen is stunning, and there are moments where she truly shines. However, there are times when I felt she lacked the necessary depth and power in her acting.

Artem Koshman - Alice's classmate. I noticed him for the first time in this film, and I have to say, he's definitely worth keeping an eye on. He's got a lot of potential and could go far in his acting career.

He's an interesting actor with a great face and a knack for playing his roles convincingly.

Oleg Savostyug - Dodo (not pizza, haha!).

I'm a fan of the young actor in this movie. He nailed the character and emotions of a teenager, it all felt so real and enjoyable to watch.

However, I felt like we didn't get to know the character well enough. We didn't get much insight into who he was.

Paulina Andreeva - she's a stunning actress. I loved her performances in the movie.

But, to be honest, she played the negative character a bit too sweetly at the beginning. It was a nice contrast to her later portrayal.

Many of her lines were delivered effectively, she was sly and cunning, but also soft. Maybe that was the intention, I'm leaning towards that interpretation...

I have to say, not all characters were fleshed out enough for me to fully understand them. Take the Hatter, the Queen, and Dodo, for instance. I felt like I was left with a ton of questions, and some of the answers only made sense because I'd seen the previous movies. It's like they're relying too heavily on the original story, rather than letting the new one stand on its own.

The story here is a bit different, even if it's based on the original Carroll production. They've added, changed, and left some things out, and I'm left wondering if there'll be a sequel someday. Honestly, I'm not sure I'd want to watch it, but the feeling lingers.

And then there's the nod to 'Dumb and Dumber'.

I have to admit, I didn't quite get the point... I mean, the logic is clear, but the meaning...

At least two moments in the film really caught my attention. There might be more like that, but my frustration was specifically with these two.

So, the first thing: Alice is grabbed and held by two tough guys, the next shot is her standing there looking confused, but the guys aren't holding her, they're nowhere to be seen. And then the third shot, they're holding her again. I hope I'm making sense - the continuity of the shots is messed up... It's not a huge deal, but it's noticeable.

And the second, without giving too much away, I'll just say it's a bit of a head-scratcher. Imagine this: someone's clothes get ripped, but then in the next shot, they're perfectly fine and the scene just keeps going like nothing happened. I don't get it... Is the film supposed to be for kids too? But doesn't logic have to apply, even in this kind of absurdity?

I'm not a fan of musicals – I never have been. I'd rather watch the characters' everyday actions than their dance numbers and songs. Even though this movie isn't a musical, it still has its fair share of songs and dances... Sometimes I found myself rolling my eyes, to be honest. Although, some of the dance numbers were actually pretty interesting.

But overall, I'm not a fan of that – I prefer straightforward storytelling.

I enjoyed some of the modern twists on dialogue – the snappy comebacks, sarcasm, and humor. Some of the characters' lines, though, were a bit ridiculous. It seemed like they were asking obvious questions with obvious answers. I counted a few of those.

Still, some of the dialogue was enjoyable and engaging.

Honestly, I'm left with mixed feelings about this movie... The dialogue has its moments, but some parts feel pointless and cheesy. The characters are a mixed bag too - some are well-developed, while others feel like they're just going through the motions. The story takes some liberties with the original, and you won't see all the characters or plot twists from the source material. They've also added a modern twist, but it feels like they're missing that magical atmosphere. Some scenes feel over-the-top, like they're trying too hard to impress. It's not because of Peresil'd's performance, but because the movie itself just doesn't hold up to repeat viewings.

If you're curious, you might want to watch it once, but I wouldn't recommend re-watching it. It's a bit of a snooze-fest, with some bright spots like Burunov's performance, but overall, it feels underdeveloped.

Here are some movies and shows I'd recommend checking out:

Dream House (2011, movie) - review

A Monster Calls (2017, movie) - review

Bridge to Terabithia (2007, movie) - review