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Show:		3.0
Picture:		8.0
Sound:		6.0
Extras:		8.0
Score:		5.0

Director(s):	Jonathan Miller
Writer(s):	Lewis Carroll (novel), Jonathan Miller (teleplay)
Starring:	Peter Sellers • Anna-Marie Mallik • Peter Cook • Michael Redgrave
Genre:	Drama • Fantasy
Release Date:	March 02, 2010

List Price:	DVD - $14.98
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Alice in Wonderland is always a trippy experience, and the BBC version is no exception. This black and white televised play, however, is quite a bit different from the upbeat and silly Disney adaptation and most likely the colorful and fantastical Burton flick. No, this is a darker, more disturbing account of Alice’s journey to Wonderland, one that takes this story from a tale for children to a horrifying, less engaging play no one under 40 would want to sit through.

The worst part of the film is Alice. It’s no surprise that this was Anne-Marie Mallik’s first and only acting role. Half the time she stares into space, even when she is supposed to be having a conversation. She barely ever faces the person she is talking to. And of course, while she’s having conversations and looking the other way, her lips aren’t moving. Are these telepathic exchanges, then? Or perhaps Alice is studying ventriloquism and is learning to throw her voice? Either way, the result is not impressive. When Alice is not practicing her telepathy and staring at the camera with a blank face, she is being downright rude. Her questions are not at all curious, and seem rather mocking. Altogether, she is a rather unsavory character, and if the queen had chopped off her head, no one would have cried about it.

While the other characters are much better actors (think Peter Sellers as the King of Hearts and Sir Michael Redgrave as the Caterpillar), it’s a bit hard to tell who’s supposed to be who. This is because the costumes are not animal outfits so much as Victorian garb. It is quite difficult to distinguish the Mad Hatter, Dormouse, and March Hare at first glance while they are all sitting around a table being boring, unless the viewer is very well versed in the Wonderland story and can identify them by dialogue. It took me nearly the entire scene to realize that Alice is speaking to the Caterpillar and not some other guy. The only one that is completely recognizable is the Cheshire Cat, who is played by a literal cat. While this is preferable to the version starring Whoopi Goldberg, it’s kind of weird when a cat face appears in the sky and Alice starts hearing voices.

Although the movie is rather terrible, the cinematography is beautiful. Every frame works to enhance the film, and each angle seems to have been carefully chosen to have the best effect. The musical arrangements (done by Ravi Shankar) add an air of mystery and wonder to the play and build tension at all the right moments. Yet despite this, the movie cannot be saved from the error of allowing Alice to become a self-indulgent impudent brat. Off with her head!

DVD Bonus Features

Along with a director’s commentary and a gallery of behind-the-scenes images, the DVD includes the 1903 silent film adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. Also, it contains Alice, the 1965 biopic of Alice Liddell, the real life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s original book. It’s an interesting look at the relationship between Carroll (whose real name was Charles Dodgson) and young Alice. His fascination with the girl is almost inappropriate at times, yet somehow he maintains an almost childlike friendship with Alice, despite her mother’s displeasure. This Alice is much sweeter and more agreeable than the one in the BBC movie, and it’s more fun to watch. The DVD is worth purchasing if only for this special feature.