Alice in Wonderland (Masterpiece Edition) Reviews

• This is no bad dream

  
  By A1YD20Z43RESOQ on 2000-07-15
  Because of critics' reaction to Alice in Wonderland in 1951, it is written, Walt Disney actually apologized for the movie and soon after his television show became a hit a few years later, he showed it in its entirety on TV, thus relegating it to his "minor film" category. The movie has never been able to shake this image, and that is a shame. We should remember that "Wizard of Oz" wasn't a giant box office hit in 1939, and only after it was made an annual event on television did it become a classic in the eyes of the public. "Alice in Wonderland" deserves far more attention than it has ever received. The characters are wonderful. The music is humable, even singable. It's a short film that takes the viewer into a dreamland, and Disney's animated version stands up against any of the other live versions that have popped up over the years. It's time to give this movie the credit it deserves as a classic in animation. Watch it from a child's point of view, with the amazing images of a cat that disappears, talking cards, and Alice constantly growing and shrinking. And then enjoy it as an adult for the dream world into which we are all swept. And furthermore, the DVD transfer is fantastic, with as many extras as one will find on a Disney non-special edition disc. Take another look at this one and be swept away.
  
  

• New Edition Coming

  
  By A1Q4ZU2Y929N0A on 2003-11-30
  Just a quick note here - if you are thinking of purchasing a copy of Alice in Wonderland now, just wait a little longer.

  As of January 27, 2004, Disney is doing a "Special Edition", two disc DVD release that will be similar to thier recent reissue of Sleeping Beauty.

  With all of the features that will be on that DVD, people who buy this DVD now will be disappointed if they don't wait.

  Disney will be including all of the "Making of", pre-production art, and other features that make their new "Special Editions" great, to this new edition.

  There are three other "Special Editions" due in 2004 - Mary Poppins, Lilo and Stitch, and Pocahontas. Alice will be the first released in 2004. Also, there's the "Platinum" edition of Aladdin in October 2004. Worth waiting for in my opinion. You have been warned. :-)
  
  

• Alice in Wonderland dvd

  
  By A38JDWKA8QDJ5A on 2004-01-26
  Yup, I got it yesterday, and watched everything on it. Here's my feelings on this dvd.

  The Prevews
  I really liked the previews on this dvd. Mulan 2 is a great one, and so is Mary Poppins. Home on the Range is ok. There is also a preview for the Brother Bear dvd, but it is almost the same as the original theatrical preview. It also has the "hot tub" trailer from Lion King 1.5.

  The Movie
  This was a real refresher to me because I've only seen "Alice in Wonderland" once or twice when I was really young (like 3 or 4). My favorite part is when Alice sings "A world of My Own". I also like the singing flowers in "The Golden Afternoon" and "The Unbirthday Song" (I remembered both of those songs from the Sing-along tapes I would watch over and over when I was younger). Overall I liked the movie. I liked the smoking caterpillar! The only parts I didn't really like were the part with the Walrus and the Carpenter, and the croquet game followed by the Trial.

  The Virtual Tea Party
  I did not like this at all! I felt like I was watching an episode of Barney! The only neat thing I discovered was if you click on the index of activities, you'll see "cookie recipies". Click on that, and there are three recipies fro Chocolate chip, Peanut butter, and Oatmeal cookies. I like to cook, so that appealed to me.

  The Sing-alongs
  I really liked these since I have always loved Disney's Sing-along Songs. It's also neat beacause these sing-alongs (of "The Golden Afternoon" and "The Unbirthday Song") show the film before it was restored. Speaking of the restoration, It's WONDERFUL! They did such a great job!

  The "Alice Set Top Game"
  One word, boring. This was even lamer than the tea party! It shows you, like 5 objects. Then, it asks you a question like "What does the Mad Hatter wear on his head?" You would then click on his hat....see, lame.

  "I'm Odd"
  I liked the song, but I wish they created new animation and integrated it into the film. What they did was just use their animation of the Cheshire Cat that was in the movie, and try to make it fit the new song. The song itself though, is enjoyable and very pleasing to the ear.

  "Thru the Mirror"
  This Mickey mouse cartoon was cute and interesting to watch.

  One Hour in Wonderland
  I LOVED this! It was very enjoyable to watch. The story was, Walt had the Magic Mirror from Snow White, and he entertained the girl that voiced Alice and some other people with it by having the mirror show them parts of Disney movies and cartoons. These included, "The Silly Song" from Snow White, A Mickey Mouse cartoon where Mickey, Donald, and Goofy were all cleaning a big clock, Zip-a-dee-doo-dah plus a little more of Song of the South, and a Pluto cartoon where Pluto took a bone from a bulldog. After that, they showed Disney animators playing "Jingle Bells" with trumpets, tubas, and other wind instruments. That was very comical . At the end, it showed "The Unbirthday Song" from Alice in Wonderland. Throughout the show, it also showed old advertisements for Coca-cola, and they were amusing to see as well.

  The Alice Comedy
  I didn't think it was very good. It just showed a real girl, going through a dull cartoon world. I thought it got boring after the first 3 or 4 min, (it's 8 minutes total).

  The Original Theatrical Trailers
  They were nice.

  Walt's TV introductions
  They were nice too.

  "Operation Wonderland"
  I really liked this "Behind the scenes" of Alice. I always look foward to this kind of stuff on Disney dvd's.

  The Fred Waring Show
  I liked the first part of this, where Walt talked briefly abot Snow White, Cinderella, and Alice. After that though, I didn't like it at all. It was very weird seeing the people on the show act out some of the scenes in the movie. The Cheshire cat scene was particulary weird acted out with real people.

  Deleted Materials
  These were very good. "From Wonderland to Neverland-Evolution of a song was neat since "Second Star to the Right" was originally written for Alice with different words. "Alice daydreams in the park" was ok, and the "Song demos" were very fun to listen to.

  Art Galleries
  They are very nice pictures, but it would have been nice to see more.

  Well, that's my review! I hope you enjoyed it!
  
  

• One of the best animated movies of all time

  
  By on 2002-05-28
  The story of the animated film is similar to that of the first book, but contains parts of the second book. Dozy Alice is so silly she follows trouble by chasing a talking rabbit down hs hole. At the bottom, she drinks an unknown substance which helps her get through a talking door into Wonderland. Here she meets the Dodo, TweedleDum and TweedleDee (who tell her the story of the Walrus and the Carpenter), the Talking flowers (watch out for the snobby Iris!), the Caterpillar and the Cheshire Cat. She even has un-birthday tea with the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. However, Alice gets caught up in a game of croquet with the Queen of Hearts, and later a trial. The whole thing becomes such a nightmare, Alice realises she's had a dream while she dozed off.

  Firstly, I don't know why loads of people think this film is cheesy. I know Alice isn't for everyone, but when you look at the other films made based on Children's classics by Disney (eg- Jungle Book, Hunchback of Notre Dame), you'll see it's more faithful than those films to the original. However if you have read the books and haven't seen this film, some characters are missing (eg- Duchess, Mock Turtle, Knave of Hearts, White Knight). This may just think that Disney has ruined this classic forever. They haven't. It's the best adaption I've ever seen.

  Although I actually have the PAL version, I suppose the movie is just the same over in North America. The best bits are the Walrus and the Carpenter, the garden of singing flowers and flamingo croquet. And the Mad Tea Party is still the funniest part of a Disney classic. So buy this movie. Wether it's a video tape or DVD.

  (I also live near Carroll's birth place!)
  
  

• Don't do it!!

  
  By on 2002-11-10
  I watched this as a child but didn't recall the part where the little cute baby oysters come out of the sea with the walrus and the carpenter. They are really cute, and you think they will learn a lesson but be all right when they don't listen to their mother, but the big walrus guy eats them. When my little boy figured this out, his face just dropped. Before that he liked it because of the really cute baby oysters. This is NOT for little little ones. He's 4. The mad hatter has this tongue problem that his tongue is always hanging out of his mouth. Combine that with the obnoxious worm that keeps breathing smoke in Alice's face saying who are you very annoyingly and I was thoroughly irritated. Keep in mind, this is only my OPINION, but I wanted to take it back to the store and get my money back. Be sure you rent and watch anything from childhood before buying. Your memory of it is a child's. Mine had quite a few years in between. I hope this was helpful.
  
  
• Why Doesn't ALICE IN WONDERLAND Really Work?
  By AE8RQHFMSLN0D on 2000-07-24
  The Lewis Carroll book was always a top contender for the Disney studios. Yet somehow, when the movie was made, the book must have reined in the artists too much. They couldn't really indulge their creative fantasies as much as they could with the other major Disney features of the times, which were based on very short stories and hence had tons of room for creative innovation. So, ALICE IN WONDERLAND became a picture-movie of the book--delightful and all that, but somehow constrained, restricted. The book was meant to be a study in logical irony; obviously a movie couldn't do that and still make you root for Alice. But if you take the irony out, things happen to Alice that don't make much sense, and I suppose that kids notice this. They can't really relate to Alice. Of course, it's still a very fine movie. And with the DVD on a good TV or projection unit, you find what I consider the absolute best employment of cartoons on a totally black background. Disney kept the black, I suppose, to remind us that it was all a dream. But look at what the black does to the cartoon characters! It brings them out, it almost makes them three-dimensional. The colors become magical because you can focus on them against a solid background of black. There is nothing like it in moviedom except the marvelous ice-skating sequence in SUN VALLEY SERENADE where Sonja Henie skates on black ice!
  
  
• Disney's horror film?
  By A2CT2SA6KFE8GC on 2004-02-27
  Back in the day, Disney made some great animated films. In fact, you know it's decent if it was made when Walt Disney was still alive. Now, it's a money grubbing corporation cranking out flix and merchandise for $$ like Full Moon Productions. I mean, c'mon! Lion King 2? Little Mermaid 2? Lady and the Tramp 2? Aladdin 3? Cinderella 2? At least twenty different versions of 101 Dalmations? Lets wake up here. Disney used to put out some fantastic films, and Alice In Wonderland is right there at the top. It's the most experimental and disturbing of the Disney features. It's also hilarious! Naturally it doesn't follow the book(s) 100%, but I don't think I've ever seen an adaptaion of Alice that has(if Terry Gilliam got ahold of the rights, THEN you'd see something spectacular!). Some reviewers whine about how this is "boring", "confusing" and "inappropriate for children." Grow up, will ya? It's Alice In Wonderland, not Eraserhead! What kind of adult is "confused" by a Disney film that my daughter can follow? Believe me, this movie will NOT corrupt or traumatize your child. You have the Stanley Runk guarantee on that. Unless your child is a genius and more educated in the ways of the world than you are, they will not pick up on any kind of drug references. And it won't inspire your daughter to smoke a cigar if she sees a talking walrus doing it. My daughter and I watch this all the time. We laugh, we sing, we quote it, we have more fun with this film than any other Disney film. To my knowledge she hasn't started smoking cigars yet. So put that in your hookah and smoke it, Mister! If you haven't seen this(unlikely), pick it up for sure. It's so enjoyable and made in a time when Disney took chances and didn't adhere to the moronic P.C. formulas they do today.
  
  
• ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVOURITE DISNEY ANIMATED FILMS
  By AQRNI6QDWMWHL on 1999-12-22
  I highly recommend this to anyoen who loves Disney Animation and also for those who love fantasy/fiction films. Its a BRILLIANT adaptation of Lewis Carrol's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking Glass'.....infcat, I liked this BETTER than Lewis Carrol's books. Its fast-paced, the characters are SOOOO funny, specially the Queen of Hearts....Alice makes a VERY inetresting heroine, and even though the critics may not aprove the songs, I really enjoy listening to them. IMO, this is MUCH better than recent Disney films like 'Hercules' 'Mulan' and 'Tarzan'. A MUST for all Disney fans and Lewis Carrol fans.... I first watched it when I was about one and a half years old, and now I've been hooked onto it ever since. This is ONE Disney animated classic which I will NEVER EVER get tired of watching.....even if I keep watching it non-stop....The script is TERRIFIC, teh scenes are hillarious and so are everything else.....
  
  
• A Restored Wonderland
  By AEXGGB9P0MOTN on 2004-02-17
  This isn't the best adaptation of Lewis Carroll's "Alice" stories, but it's a charming, fun film with great animated set-pieces. I'm staggered to see how beautifully the film has been restored: a comparison of the old video with the new reveals all sorts of detail in dark areas, especially backgrounds. Certain scenes now take place in day when they originally seemed to be at night! Without a doubt, this is the best restoration of a classic animated film I've ever seen.

  The supplements, though, are wanting. The kiddie features are simply atrocious. The "Virtual Tea Party" is probably the most noxious DVD extra I have ever, ever encountered. Watch as character impressionists and a bunch of kids cavort around a tea party set, torturing the viewer with awful songs and games. "We're Painting Our Noses Red" is actually one of the better ones.

  Other 2-disc Disney titles have similar bilge, but boast commentaries, documentaries, and restoration featurettes - none of which are on Alice. As a result, there is next to no modern perspective offered on the film itself, or the twenty-year quest to get it made. Aside from the segments on deleted songs, casual fans are left to guess at the significance of most of the `grown-up' supplements, including TV specials and a 1923 silent short. What's here is nice, but only for those in the know.

  This is a great release for fans of the film, because of the beautiful restoration. Try and find it cheap, though, because the second disc isn't worth all that much.
  
  

• Certainly Disney's finest hour.
  By A24GYTKSRBTR7P on 2001-05-12
  Although there have been many film versions of Lewis Carroll's classic story about Alice's adventures in Wonderland, Disney's 1951 animated version is by far the best. The "Alice" stories themselves are timeless classics that deserve to be passed down from one generation to the next, and this film deserves to be handed down along with those original stories.

  "Alice in Wonderland" is by far the best animated film to ever come from the Disney studios, and is easily one of the most magical and imaginitive films ever made...period. I still remember the first time I saw this cinematic gem when I was around 3 years old, and have loved it ever since.

  I also now own the Disney CD soundtrack which contains not only all the wonderful songs from the film, but also the entire original, and extremely delightful, instrumental pieces heard throughout the film. (By the way, any LP version you might happen to find of Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" soundtrack is simply an imitation with re-recorded versions of the actual songs heard in the movie. The recently released CD/Cassette version I'm referring to is truly the film's original soundtrack."

  I highly recommend buying both the film itself, and its enduring original soundtrack. Trust me, you won't be disappointed with either purchase.

  "Alice in Wonderland" is truly a wonderful, magical animated masterpiece that can be enjoyed by the entire family, both young and old. I just wish that "Di$ney" would stop releasing the crap they're putting out now and try to regain the magical quality that left the studio after Walt's death.
  
  

• A Disney Treasure
  By AMI1NVLZ74LQ0 on 2004-05-19
  This is one of the best DVDs to come out in a whlie. Though the movie it contains is not neccessarily Disney's most readily accessible title (except for during the sixties when they found out it had gained popularity on college campuses, know-what-I-mean, nudge-nudge) it is two discs of pure Disney magic.

  Setting aside the feature, which we all know is one of the best adaptations of Lewis Carroll's works (and if not the most accurate, certainly the most "watchable," as it is just dark enough to keep that edge but...well, let me put it this way: have you SEEN another version of "Through the Looking Glass?" I need a stiff drink before getting into that) the real highlight of this disc is the special features.

  Two TV introductions by Walt, a 1950's making-of featurette, vintage television programs includin the historic "One Hour in Wonderland" the first Disney TV show, a whole album's worth of demos for songs that were never used, concept art galleries and more. This disc is an essential for anyone, like me, who is in love with Disney animation.

  If for no other reason than the "One Hour in Wonderland" show features a clip from "Song of the South." It's worth buying the whole disc just for that, since it's the closest that movie's ever going to come to a DVD release in this lifetime.
  
  

• Underappreciated and overlooked
  By AIWDJ3S85O10Q on 2003-04-11
  Right from the stunning (hand drawn!) opening sweep of a verdant riverbank on a lazy summer's day, "Alice in Wonderland" is one of the most beautifully animated of the Disney films of the 1950s. Unfortunately, this film has always been one of the most maligned in the Disney canon.

  Many books on the subject of Disney's animated films will often only devote a paragraph or two to the film, and in that short paragraph it will invariably mention how "Alice" was a financial flop, how Walt Disney himself wasn't very fond of it, how it's a chilly film. I don't find this film chilly, I find it refreshingly free of sentiment or cliche that can often weigh down other Disney films.

  To start with, we have Alice. Unlike Cinderella or Snow White, Alice has a lot of personality. Who among us hasn't been very frustrated that Cinderella just took all the abuse from her stepmother and sisters and was powerless? Alice, on the other hand, is not one of the "shy little violets" and operates on more than just one emotion; she gets mad, befuddled, disgusted, amused, angry and, best of all, she stands up to adults (how odd for the 50's) and tells them when they are being ridiculous. This film has a subversiveness that may have been unintentional in showing how the world of adults, with its rules and logic, can be purely nonsense and that a child can be the only sane person in the lot. (To be fair, this sentiment is in keeping with Lewis Carroll's original books.)

  Alice is beautifully voiced by Kathryn Beaumont (who did a similarly excellent job as the voice of Wendy in "Peter Pan" a few years after.) The real appeal of Alice here is that unlike many other Disney heroines,Kathryn Beaumont was a young girl when she recorded the voice and therefore, Alice looks and sounds like a girl of a certain age. Contrast that to Mary Costa's voice and the animated figure of Sleeping Beauty who looks as if she could be a 1950s pinup model despite only being 16.

  The story itself is a wild trip through an ever shifting dreamscape most notable for the wild color schemes that anticipate the 1960's motifs. This is not implying that "Alice in Wonderland" is one big drug reference; it is not. Many people who worked on this film have commented that it felt like the film was getting away from them, that the characters took on lives of their own. This is evident as the film just gets wilder and wilder as it goes on with the introductions of the most bizarre and colorful characters Disney ever brought to life.

  The only real flaws in the film include a scene when Alice breaks down and berates herself for never following her own advice, this moment stops the film cold in the middle of what has been a non-stop thrill ride. The extremely abrupt ending of the film is a very strange choice. I think even an extra 20-30 seconds between Alice and her sister at the conclusion of the film would have made the film a little stronger.

  The DVD has some interesting extras, but again, I feel that the Disney studios still do not have a high regard for this film and just threw it together on DVD. I have heard that the LaserDisc version had many more interesting extras, and it would be my hope for this film to get a rerelease on DVD with some more extras restored.
  
  

• This Movie was 'NOT' released in widescreen to begin with!
  By A1LEUW5C4V9ZDG on 2004-02-26
  The Alice in Wonderland DVD is released in its original theatrical aspect ratio of approximately 1.33:1 - or as we know it, fullscreen. Before you start bagging any dvd for not being released in widescreen you might want to find out of it was in widescreen to begin with.

  Further, to all those who are offended by "bong" smoking or the "magic mushrooms" you really need to wake up. Kids don't think of drugs when they watch this film, they see it on a completely different level. When I watched it as a child all I saw were funny characters and a world of wonder - It was amazing!
  
  

• Curiouser and Curiouser!
  By A34ZRDJ51VLE8T on 2001-03-09
  I am a fan of both Lewis Carroll and Disney, and as such, I can appreciate the merits of both the literary classic, and the animated adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. True, 'Alice' is not your typical Disney fare, and it is weak in being episodic and rather disjointed. Still, the film remains a colorful, tuneful, funny, high-paced, VERY imaginative rendering of Carroll's classic. The studio merged elements from both 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking Glass' and some may object to the omission of certain characters. But the film succeeds on many levels, particularly the wonderful voice characterizations! I adore The March Hare and Mad Hatter, the Queen and King of Hearts, The Caterpillar and the talking flowers in particular. Adapting the verbal humor of the book to film was no easy feat, but considering the challenges, the movie holds up very well. I found the new DVD splendid, particularly the extras! Great fun to see the old Black/White films with Walt Disney, Kathryn Beaumont and Edgar Bergen. As for the film itself, the remastered color is amazing and the animation wonderful, particularly in Alice's facial expressions and human characteristics. I think the film is one of the best versions made and far underappreciated!
  
  
• Classic Walt Disney
  By A35XFZN4MWNKK4 on 2002-12-16
  Why Disneys Alice In Wonderland is not considered to be on a a par with Walt Disney's other classics such as Snow White And The Severn Dwards, Dumbo, The Jungle Book etc is beyond me. The animation is positivley beautiful, colourful, effective, fast paced and makes for fun and highly entertaining viewing throughout the film. Though lovers of the book by Lewis Carroll may have qualms about the Americanisation of some of the more familiar characters it does actually stand as a fantastically animated offering of the story done in Disneys own inimitable style. Kathryn Beaumont is the voice for a cute version of Alice that bares slight resemblance to the Tenniel origanal. The story is vastly similar to the origanal story with just slight variations although like seemingly every other film version it does draw segments from Lewis Carrolls sequel, Alice Through The Looking Glass. There are such imaganitive, larger-than-life creations here with the Mad Hatter, the bumbling White Rabbit and the hilarious, bellowing Queen Of Hearts. All sequences surprisingly work from the Mad Hatters tea party sequences to the talking flowers sequences to the game of Croquet with the Queen of Hearts. Lots of fun to endure that all kids will just lap up. Masterfully done, I strongly rate and recommend this as one of Disneys true, enthralling masterpieces ranking right up there with some of his more famous work. Incidentally if you're looking for a live-action version to enjoy then you may prefer to check out Alices Adventures In Wonderland (1972) starring Fiona Fullerton as Alice.
  
  
• The most criticized Disney movie... and a Pink Floyd trick
  By A1WL2EKE4TAEJP on 2004-11-29
  Yep... why is this animated classic constantly bashed? One reason is how it "doesn't follow the book." As much as I hate hearing about that gripe from book fanatics, I can't say much because I myself haven't read the book. But judging from some slight criticisms, the movie may have missed more important stuff. But do kids care? Most likely not. They're just interested in this odd world that Alice stumbled upon, all the colors, and all the strange creatures.
  
  Another reason is perhaps the most asinine statement I've heard: the movie contains "drug references" or "it's about a drug trip." Oh God, how low can some people go? Just because there's a catepillar smoking doesn't mean he's "toking it." Just because Alice takes a few bites of some mushrooms doesn't mean she's "hallucinating." Just because there's a bunch of weird things going on in this movie doesn't make it a "stoner movie." First of all, what made you come to this conclusion? Someone said it? You yourself watched this movie "under the influence"? If you want a stoner movie, go watch "Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke" or "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle."
  
  Anywho... "Alice in Wonderland" was my sister's favorite when she was a wee lass. She learned every word and scene. I picked up on it when I was small as well, but it wasn't my favorite. Watching this now as a 19 year old bum, I see it as art. This movie is something more creative than anything Disney has ever done. Alice goes on a strange journey through a place full of wonder. And the "it was all a dream" theme might be played out, but it's still an amazing story to witness. Probably my favorite out of the movie is the Walrus and Oysters story. Funny and great storytelling.
  
  The DVD is enough to keep the hardcore DVD enthusiast happy. A couple of featurettes and a documentary as well as a Mickey Mouse short that was based on Alice's journey (yep, the mouse himself embarks on a strange journey as well). And the picture... crystal clear. It's always great to see an animated film on DVD. Everything becomes clearer and sharper, you can see every little drawn and colored detail. And the sound... hey, it's 5.1 surround sound. What more do ya want?
  
  "Alice in Wonderland" is a great movie for the kiddies to watch. Being a former youngster whilst watching this movie, I was in awe and dazzled by what the movie offered. It's one of my favorite Disney movies as well, ranking up with "Beauty and the Beast," "Lilo & Stitch," and others. This movie is a classic in my eyes.
  
  Note: For all you people that still think this is a stoner movie, try this lil' trick out. Remember that lil' "Wizard of Oz/Dark Side of the Moon" trick? Well, if you have this movie as well as Pink Floyd's grandioso rock opera masterpiece "The Wall"... yep, listen to Pink Floyd's "The Wall" while watching "Alice in Wonderland." Here's a lil' instructional guide. Stick in the first disc of "The Wall" and put on pause while you load up "Alice in Wonderland." Right when the movie starts playing, unpause "The Wall." The only catch is that "Comfortably Numb" MUST be skipped... and of course, pause the movie when you change discs. Once done, resume. Yep... then just sit back and enjoy "Alice in Wonderland" like never before.
  
  Here's some "things" to see if your in-sync (don't read if ya wanna be surprised):
  
  - When Alice picks up her cat, a baby sound should be heard and "The Thin Ice" should sync up pretty good when Alice sings.
  
  -"Another Brick in the Wall, pt. 1" should start up as soon as Alice falls down that hole and descends into "Wonderland."
  
  
• Excellent Fantasy, with Provisos
  By A2AOZQ3WTNVVOK on 2006-07-03
  The story of "Alice in Wonderland" was controversial from the moment that the Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, aka Lewis Carroll, wrote it. Some took the story as horror rather than a childhood fantasy. Others consider Alice's journey as a trip into or through insanity. For better or worse, Disney did capture many of these elements, and the same criticisms of the books that form the basis of this film apply to the film. However, there are also those who loved the books and loved the film. Normally I recommend Disney classis without reservations. In the case of this movie, I will keep a couple of provisos.
  
  Alice is a young girl bored by her lessons. As the length of the lessons grows, Alice soon drifts off, until a white rabbit passes by, muttering to himself that he is late. Alice follows the white rabbit and falls into a rabbit hole that seems to fall forever. Luckily for Alice her dress opens out into a kind of parachute and slows her descent.
  Once at the bottom of the hole, Alice discovers a door into which she is unable to pass because the door is too small. However, there is a vial labeled "drink me" that Alice discovers makes her small enough to go through the door.
  
  Alice is soon on her way into a series of surreal adventures that are in the best tradition of adult animation. Indeed, Alice might have worked better as an adult story given the number of references to adult vices and frailties throughout the film. Even the fundamental basis of Alice's journey through Wonderland owes as much to psychological references as it does childhood fantasies. The ending of Alice's journey in particular is quite frightening, especially to younger children, embodying all that can be horrible in nightmares. I remember seeing "Alice in Wonderland" as a child, and I remember I thought the ending was scary, and I was relieved when Alice was able to escape back to the normal world.
  
  Given that this film is well over fifty years old, I was disturbed by the smoking caterpillar, if for no other reason than our current knowledge of what smoking does. The smoke did negatively affect Alice as it made her cough. Perhaps there is an object lesson for children here. While some consider many of the references to allude to drugs, I think that is a modern interpretation. I think eating or drinking items to get larger or smaller was merely a convenient plot device for the author rather than an allegory for drug use. Remember that this story was first published in 1869.
  
  I believe this film is excessively criticized by those who do not like its style and the post-era associations with negative elements that were never intended by the original author and by Disney.
  
  For all these provisos, this film is excellent. It matches "Fantasia" in its surreal visions, and the construct and tying together of the individual stories is superb. The animation is marvelous as well, readily illustrating the vision of Alice's journey.
  
  This movie is one of those rare Disney films that I am unable to recommend to all viewers. Whether you will enjoy this film is strictly a matter of personal taste. If you enjoy animation oriented toward adults, then you may find this animation a treat. If you are open-minded about the story and consider when the story was written and animated, you may also find that you enjoy it. I do recommend this movie for slightly older children, perhaps 8 and above, considering some of the disturbing images. Good luck!
  
  
  
• Lewis Carroll's Nightmare Disney Style
  By on 1999-04-16
  One of the weaker Disney videos. The story is as disjointed as the book. Full of unsympathetic characters. A lot of things happen in the movie but not much substance. Has a dreamlike feel to the whole production. The better Disney features usually have a meaningful lesson or a strong story and they would do better in the future. I liked the Cheshire Cat, though.
  
  
• A Horrible Movie for All!
  By on 1999-11-23
  Alice in Wonderland" was not all that great, and the movie stands as the worst thing Disney studio has ever turned out. The characters are the most unsympathetic, nasty, insane bunch ever gathered together, and that includes our heroin. You never feel like anyone in this movie is worthy of our support. The score is not that great, the script lacking a basic storyline, and some aspects of this movie really make the whole thing seem like a drug trip (and a bummer at that). Only the remarkable Ed Wynn, Jerry Colona, and their marvelous "Unbirthday Song" really stand out positively in the mind. Disney has turned out so many quality films over the years. Get "Snow White," or "Pinocchio," or "Dumbo," or "Lady and the Tramp." Just not this.
  
  
• A BEAUTIFUL ANIMATED DAYDREAM THAT CHARMS THE IMAGINATION
  By A8V74RZY8TIRJ on 2006-03-18
  Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" is one of their most underrated animated masterpieces that finally gets the 2 disc special edition treatment that it so very much deserves. The animation is pleasing to the eyes, the songs are pleasing to the ears, and Alice's adventures are charming and interesting to behold. The classic childhood story written my Lewis Carroll, is given a brilliant boost with great animated characters that bring Alice's adventures to glorious life. Kathryn Beaumont give's Alice a voice that is so sincere with each amazing discovery in the Land of Wonder, so that the character seems more real than simply animated. Kathryn also does a great job as the voice for Wendy in Disney's "Peter Pan." This dvd release is loaded with tons of extras that are very enjoyable to watch. I especially like the Walt Disney tv special, starring Kathryn Beaumont and Bobby Driscoll (Treasure Island) that introduces "Alice in Wonderland" to the public and features excerpts from "Song of the South" and other Disney films. I highly recommend "Alice in Wonderland : The Masterpiece Edition" to fans of classic Disney animated films and to fans of animated childhood stories and fantasies. "Alice in Wonderland" is a beautiful daydream that definitely should not be missed!
  
  
• Not Disney's best work.
  By A1PH5WKMM0FM2S on 2000-07-26
  If Lewis Carroll had seen this he would have disliked it so much that he would have refused to have his name in the opening credits. Just like Michale Ende did with the film version of his "The Neverending Story". They ommited a lot of things. In the book the Knave of Hearts is on trial for stealing the tarts. In the film Alice is on trial for causing the Queen to lose her temper. And they leave out some important characters. The Duchess, the Frog Footman, Humpty Dumpty and the White Knight. They said that this film had no "heart" I saw a Warner Brothers version that had as much heart as this one had comedy. But the Childrens Company Theater version is my favorite.
  
  
• Literally, a Dream Come True!
  By A27NTH2Y9DAR31 on 2000-06-07
  What has stayed with me, all these years later, is the scene where Alice first encounters the Cheshire Cat, wonderfully rendered in his pink and purple stripes. The dreamy singing of Sterling Holloway and the fading in and out of Cheshire Cat combined with flashes of color in the trees made a very agreeable, lasting impression on me and which still fascinates me today. I love the supercilious Caterpillar, voiced with distinction by Richard Hayden (Mr. Trout from radio)with all his little shoes and his beautiful metamorphosis into an angry butterfly. Jerry Collona's over-the-top March Hare and of course, the Mad Hatter represented in style by Ed Wynn are so much fun you want to join the Tea Party. From the opening sequence, which is breath-taking, to the theatrical entrance of the Queen of Hearts, this feature is so beautifully drawn and so fantastically presented it's hard to fasten on just one aspect of what sets this animation apart from the others. I visit there on a regular basis; I find it very reassuring...an excursion back to my childhood just waiting to take me there as often as I want. Add this one to your collection and enjoy the ride!
  
  
• Absolutely GORGEOUS DVD!
  By A2KBYH0XNP5ASH on 2000-12-03
  Disney has done a superlative job transferring "Alice in Wonderland" to DVD. The colors are eye-popping, the picture is razor sharp and there is no visible grain at all. I was blown away by the picture quality.

  Now, on to the film. "Alice in Wonderland" has always had problems. Even Disney himself did not feel it was very good. He said once that it lacked "heart." I don't know what it lacks, but I do know Disney made a MAJOR mistake in allowing the voice of Alice, Kathryn Beaumont, do her own singing in the film. The girl had a HORRIBLE singing voice, so horrible that Darlene Gillespie of "The Mickey Mouse Club" actually re-recorded Beaumont's vocals for the "soundtrack" album.

  Another problem is one that is inherited from the book, which is a meandering, episodic storyline, each segment having absolutely nothing to do with the last. "Alice in Wonderland" is really an unfilmable book -- there have been at least half a dozen screen versions made, and none of them have been very good. And frankly, I doubt if anyone ever WILL make it into a good movie. It's just not a book that lends itself to being filmed.

  Another problem is one that Disney ran into in "Mr. Toad": His characterization of the British is not quite on the mark. His characters are CARICATURES of the British. Disney didn't quite seem to understand the whole British sensibility, which is key to Lewis Carrol's humor. Disney's "Alice," as well as his "Mr. Toad," seem too Americanized, like he didn't quite "get" the books on which they were based.

  In addition, the character of Alice doesn't seem to have much of a personality, and what personality is there is not very likable. She's kind of a whiner.

  All that said, the Mad Hatter's Tea Party is wonderful and so is "The March of the Cards," which also is my all-time favorite instrumental from a Disney film. And Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee are PERFECT (their "That's logic!" line actually makes me laugh out loud), although I don't particularly care for the Walrus and the Carpenter sequence. There are also many brilliant pieces of visual invention in the flower garden and forest sequences.

  So, for adults anyway, "Alice in Wonderland" is a mixed bag. Not one of Disney's best -- but it sure makes a great-looking DVD!
  
  

• Cancel this item
  By ACH67RGQZ91NB on 2001-05-09
  Neither appropriate for kids nor for adults. This movie is boring and confusing at the same time. Don't buy it.
  
  
• Alice in Wonderland (1951) ~ Kathryn Beaumont
  By A3FBTJCCNQXW2U on 2003-02-02
  I love this film and it will forever be my favorite Disney film. I have always been a total off the wall funny guy who prefers nonsense to the everyday stressed and boring real world. Its amazing the stupid things people get so serious or stressed about in todays world; their job, driving, their relationships, etc, etc...
  
  i can relate to Alice and her desire to escape to a wonderland of nonsense, but this movie delivers an important message about how you need a little bit of serious and nonsense. All serious or all nonsense is never tolerable.
  
  This DVD is great for children or fans of the story. I am 23 and I still love this movie. The DVD has some great extras including some behind the scenes films of how the movie was made. Its amazing the amount of work that Disney put into his movies and it really shows in his old classics. His animators where far ahead of their time and the fluidity of the cartoons still outrank many of todays cartoons.
  
  
• The Aptly Titled Masterpiece Edition
  By A2UQIIJ2CD8REE on 2004-02-05
  "Alice in Wonderland" is back on DVD, and LOADED with awesome extras! It's Disney's classic story of a little girl named Alice, who followed a white rabbit into a hole in the ground, and came out in a world of pure fantasy! All the flowers and animals sing and dance, and they're all quite mad! Alice meets one zany character after another, from a bumble-headed dodo bird and an insane Cheshire Cat, to the hookah smoking caterpillar and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. She grows and shrinks and grows again, and eventually finds herself at the funniest tea party that ever took place! Alice soon has her fill of the madness of Wonderland, but before she can make it home she'll have to face the Queen of Hearts. "Off with her head!"
  
  It's sad to hear the negative comments this film has endured since its release. Not everyone is a fan of stories that revolve around pure nonsense, but even Walt himself never realized what a masterpiece he and his team had created when they transformed Lewis Carroll's story into their newest animated classic back in the early fifties. The film is lighthearted fun from beginning to end, full of brilliant colors and characters, all of whom are unforgettable, from the well known Cheshire Cat, to minor characters like Bill the Lizard. The animation is some of Disney's best, especially on the lead character, who really comes alive on film. The plot may be mere endurance and survival, but that's all you need in a movie that is such a feast for the eyes and ears, with more songs than any other Disney animated feature. The lovely Kathryn Beaumont is outstanding as Alice (just as she was in the role of Wendy in Disney's Peter Pan). Sterling Holloway and Ed Wynn are brilliant as usual, and Jerry Colonna is hilarious as always in the role of the March Hare. But the real treat on this new, 2 disc edition is the special features menu. Disc one and disc two both have a nice selection. Of course, there's the expected stuff; Mickey Mouse in his classic short, "Thru the Mirror," some sing-along-songs, a set top game, but they don't stop there! One of my favorite extra features was the program, "One Hour In Wonderland," which I had been waiting years to see! This was a Christmastime television special sponsored by the Coca-Cola company, Walt's first TV program in fact, designed to promote the upcoming release of "Alice In Wonderland." It features Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Mortimer Snerd, Kathryn Beaumont in full Alice dress, Bobby Driscoll, a collection of teenage party guests, the Magic Mirror (played to perfection, as usual, by the wonderful Hans Conried), and of course, the young Walt Disney himself, accompanied by his teenage daughters. The setting is a Christmas party at the Disney Studios, where Kathryn Beaumont is the guest of honor. She and her friends are treated to a handful of clips, courtesy of the Magic Mirror, and a serving of refreshing Coca-Cola, courtesy of the Coca-Cola Company. Young Miss Beaumont is delightful, and the entire program is a wonderful piece of nostalgia I'm overjoyed to finally have in my personal collection.
  
  The wonderful extras continue though, with "Operation Wonderland." This is a promotional featurette on the making of "Alice In Wonderland." We also get treated to some deleted material, which includes some terrific song demos for songs that didn't make it into the final cut, often for characters that didn't make it into the film. In the deleted material we get to see those characters some fans of the Alice stories missed in the film, such as the Jabberwock, the Lion, and the Mock Turtle. There's the usual, but much appreciated art gallery, a fine explanation of how one deleted song ended up making it into "Peter Pan" a short time later, a deleted story concept, trailers and TV introductions by Walt Disney, a new Cheshire Cat song, and even a card game set included in the DVD case. On top of all that are two more extras worth more detailed descriptions. One is the excerpt from "The Fred Warring Show," a musical television show from the 50s that, in this particular episode, showcased the music of the soon to be released "Alice in Wonderland." Kathryn Beaumont, again in full Alice get-up, guest stars with Sterling Holloway in some live reenactments of several scenes from the film with the Fred Warring cast. The picture and sound quality on this program isn't the highest, but it's still one of the coolest extra features on the 2 disc set, if you`re into nostalgia that is. The last extra feature I'll mention is the Virtual Tea Party on Disc 1. It's mainly for kids of course, but I found it quite entertaining. There are a number of things to discover by selecting objects from the table, each object causing the party guests and hosts to play a new game or sing a new song. I suppose what I found interesting about it was the performances of the two cast members in the roles of the Mad Hatter and Alice. The Hatter was highly entertaining with his creepy Ed Wynn impersonation, and Alice, well, Alice was charming and quite a cutie. I only regret that I never found a cast list for this segment. Don't wait for this one to disappear, folks! Order your copies of this wonderful DVD now, before time runs out!
  
  
• Loses Spirit of Author and Disney
  By A1QI1EJSEN2EBB on 2004-07-24
  I was so disappointed after reviewing this with my 3 year old grandson. For some unknown reason, "they" decided to make this a more contemporary version. It's too fast, jumps all over the place, too many animation details, redone characters don't fit the story, the original songs are revised, cut short, and hyped-up, to give just a few examples. I am at a complete loss to understand why this wonderful story had to be tinkered with. I sure hope they don't do this to Bambi, Pinoccio, or the original Pooh. The reason these originals are so valuable, (especially Pooh), is that the characters have personalities. They relate to one another and they take time to have a conversation and work on mutual problem solving or just having simple fun. They teach a moral that doesn't get lost in the quest of being "modern". My three grandchildren, age 3, age 3 1/2, and age 5, are inthralled with the originals. They can even sing, completely, every song in each.
  
  
• Even More Curious ...
  By A3RYIN4KHLR3Y1 on 2005-04-03
  Now this is what I'm talking about. I do have one of the original classic versions of Disney's: Alice In Wonderland on DVD. This; however, is what I've been looking for all along!
  
  The film is still a beautiful little story that Disney animation brought to life of Lewis Carroll's classic tale of a little curious girl with a wide imagination called Alice. Who one day enters a world called Wonderland. And upon entering she finds herself growing up, growing small, meeting unforgettable characters such as: The Mad Hatter, The Caterpillar, The Cheshire Cat, Tweedledee/Tweedledum, The White Rabbit, and everyone's favorite mean queen The Queen of Hearts. Not to mention the talking and singing flowers & the loveable story of The Walrus & The Carpenter.
  
  It's all about the beautiful extra's in this DVD. Generally if I'm happy with the old version of the DVD I don't buy another similar version. This was one of those exceptions - not too mention it's Disney. Mainly because it has: Thru the Mirror (my all time favorite short original Mickey Mouse feature), all sorts of games with songs & more, trivia, a new additional song, An Alice Comedy, Operation Wonderland (which is featured on the original VHS/DVD version I believe), & just tons more! If your a fan of Alice in Wonderland this is the DVD to buy!!!
  
  
• BORING...BORING...BORING
  By A2AMQC9GHANQ9F on 2001-05-04
  Not one of Disney's better animated films, this 1951 adaptation of the Lewis Carroll classic is pretty lame. The songs are one-note. The dialogue is uninspired. Do yourself a favor. Skip it and read the book. UGH!
  
  
• its a great movie, but wait until 2004 for the 2-disc ver.
  By on 2003-11-03
  I love this movie, i had it on VHS from the 80s, however, it got wrecked, i was going to buy this gold collection version, however, when i bought Sleeping Beauty Special Edition on DVD, it came with a booklet and said that in sometime in 2004. Disney will reissue this film in a 2-disc special edition. The 2-disc will probably show the film im widescreen. So everyone If u can wait, save your money for the 2-disc special edition of this film! Alice in wonderland is a great movie, i highly recommend it!
  
  

• Cinderella (Two-Disc Special Edition)
• Peter Pan (2-Disc Platinum Edition)
• Aladdin (Disney Special Platinum Edition)
• Dumbo (Big Top Edition)
• The Little Mermaid (Two-Disc Platinum Edition)