December 8, 2009
It was probably a week ago when my friend called and told me about the series, Alice, that was coming out. I was quite intrigued since I, like her, had been fascinated with Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventure in Wonderland. Of course, the fact that Tim Burton, who was one of our favourite director was going to revisit the fantasy in his upcoming Alice in Wonderland movie made it all the more popular for the masses. To be honest, I've never been someone who enjoy something that was mainstream or deemed extremely popular. So I was interested and a little worried. There's always that little worry that somehow the tv show or movie will destroy what you loved about a certain character. You probably understand what I mean if you've watched a movie and loved it, only to have it ruined forever for you because of its sequel. What's a good example? Ah.. the Matrix. The second one for me was terrible and the third? Let's not get into that. For now, let's concentrate on... Alice.
To sum it up quickly, Alice is a two-part TV series directed and written by Nick Willing (UK director who directed Alice in Wonderland in 1999). Or one of those "made-for-television" types of movies. Despite this, the first part has had an extremely clever take on the World of Wonderland. Definite uses of Carroll's characters and his poems. For those who loved the book, you'll love this. Especially if you're a quirky individual, it will make you dance, perhaps with glee.The cast is made up of mainly Canadian and UK actors and are quite the bunch, if I do say so myself!
To sum it up quickly, Alice is a two-part TV series directed and written by Nick Willing (UK director who directed Alice in Wonderland in 1999). Or one of those "made-for-television" types of movies. Despite this, the first part has had an extremely clever take on the World of Wonderland. Definite uses of Carroll's characters and his poems. For those who loved the book, you'll love this. Especially if you're a quirky individual, it will make you dance, perhaps with glee.The cast is made up of mainly Canadian and UK actors and are quite the bunch, if I do say so myself!
Main Characters
Alice Hamilton/Alice of Legend
Alice Hamilton/Alice of Legend
We meet Alice Hamilton, who is played by Caterina Scorsone, a native to Toronto (<3). She is a young and innocent-looking black-belted karate (maybe even judo) sensei. Her father disappeared when she was young and because of this, she is wary of all men. When her boyfriend, Jack Chase, is kidnapped by the mysterious Agent White, she sets out on a mission to find him and bring him back. While pursuing Agent White, she falls through the Looking-Glass and ends up in the world of Wonderland.
Jack Chase/Jack Heart
Jack Chase, played by Philip Winchester, the engimatic boyfriend of Alice Hamilton who is first introduced to us as a white-belted student in Alice's dojo. During a dinner with Alice and her mother, Carol, he receives a text message telling him to run. He is later kidnapped and taken to Wonderland under the orders of Agent White, but not before leaving an important ring in the hands of Alice.
Agent White/The White Rabbit
An agent of the Queen of Hearts, Agent White, played by
Hatter/The Mad Hatter
True to his name, Hatter, played by Andrew Lee Potts, wears a hat that is a cross between a top hat and a pork-pie hat. A wily tea-seller who might give Johnny Depp a run for his money, meets Alice in Wonderland and calls her the "Alice of Legend". He owns a tea shop and does business with the people of Wonderland as well as refugees who have hidden underground. He tries to help Alice find Jack and leave Wonderland, but his true intentions are unknown.
The Queen/Queen of Hearts
Played by Kathy Bates, an American actress best known for her role as Annie Wilkes in the horror movie, Misery, the Queen of Hearts is ruthless and unrelenting. She rules Wonderland with an iron fist and wants only more power. To do this, she commands Agent White to bring back "oysters" to harvest them in order to create instant gratification elixirs for her citizens.
Dodo/Leader of the Resistance
Ah Tim Curry, of course, how could you have a story about Wonderland and Alice without Tim Curry? In this first part, we only see him for a bit, but it is clear that he knows Hatter and is the leader of the underground resistance, the people who don't believe in instant gratification that is given to those who willing submit themselves under the Queen of Heart's ruling. A little quirky (as he always is) but dangerous as well, he wants Alice's ring.
White Knight/Charles (Charlie)
The White Knight, played by Matt Frewer, is the sole remaining knight in Wonderland after the Knights battled with the Queen of Hearts. He lives in the ruins of the Chess Kingdom, where he spends his time setting traps, defending his beloved city, inventing interesting contraptions and as he says, "dabbling in black arts". Another lovable fellow with a French-inspired moustache/beard and will give Monty Python fans a faint reminiscence of John Cleese and his French Knight/Black Knight routine.
Dinah/The Cheshire Cat
Oh yes, the Cheshire Cat did make a quick appearance. Alice Hamilton thinks that the Cheshire Cat is her own kitten, Dinah. Yes, what a coincedence! But I do like how they tied the original story in.
While there are many more characters, I think I'll introduce these ones first. Of course in the course of this first part of the mini-series you will see:
The Carpenter and the Walrus (who actually uses parts of the "The Walrus and The Carpenter" while walking through a scene), the Dormouse (manages the tea-market, much like the stockmarket), the March Hare (who is known as Mad March, an assassin)...
As well as several Card Suits (diamond dancers, clubs - looking like bishops, spades - kind of like the Men in Black!)... "suits" my blog! Har har har. :D
Dr. Dee and Dr. Dum (Tweedledee and Tweedledum), some of Little Alice and Carol Hamilton, Alice's mother.
And of course the King of Hearts, the Duchess (who wasn't actually described by Carroll but was illustrated as hideous by John Tenniel, the artist), the Duchess' child - the Pig (was actually a child before, but later turned into a pig).
Will post more about Alice later! Probably a detailed summary on both parts, keep checking!
December 4, 2009
You never know if it's really happening or not, but just as you enter that state in which we call sleeping, you feel yourself falling away, just drifting. You feel a little lightheaded but it's not uncomfortable. And then the darkness begins to cover you and you might not even realize it. Moments pass... hours, but to you, it may only seem as if a few minutes or seconds have passed. There is no time and truly, time here, is useless and can be stopped.
Your mind just seems to play tricks on you. You feel emotions: happiness, sadness, anxiety, fear... You may even feel pleasure or pain. You are in a world where, like a playing card, you bend to the will of the player. But who is the player? Your subconcious mind? A flight of fantasy as one might say. But are you sure? What is real? What is not. At this point, you cannot say. Like Salvadore Dali's paintings, what are you sure of? Nothing. Surrealism. You have no choice but to follow where this world takes you.And just as suddenly you wake up, from the dark and almost weightless environment. Coming to your senses, as one might say. Your eyes focus and you remember, you're still on earth and not in whereever you were a few seconds ago. You might forget what you've experienced almost immediately; however, there are still those few dreams where you will muse and mull over while you are going about your day. Why do we see what we see?
No one knows for sure why we see images or feel certain things during sleep. Some say it's your subconcious mind trying to bring something to light and other say that they are the images and motions of reality that are replayed during the mind's rest. And yet, what it really is... IS Wonderland. I refer to the Wonderland that is described by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson a.k.a. Lewis Carroll. You and I may not realize that, but during the time we are immerse into this "other" world, there are plenty of absurd scenarios that we readily accept even if there is a flicker of doubt that cross our minds. We cannot explain Wonderland. It is how it is. You can try to figure out its puzzles and riddles, but you will never be sure as to why it is as it is.
I've always been drawn to this Wonderland. A place of childlike innocence where things can't be explained. In the same way, I can't explain why I'm drawn to it, just like I'm drawn to Lolita fashion. Strange than I am, it can't be explained other than the fact that I love the concept of elegance and doll-like fashion. In a world where everything is overly critiqued and examined, just keep an open mind and with a little imagination, perhaps you'll catch a glimspe of my Surreal Wonderland.
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