In Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, the White Queen tells Alice about her rule regarding jam consumption: it’s allowed “every other day,” which actually means “jam to-morrow and jam yesterday — but never jam to-day.” If you like jam, that’s a pretty annoying rule, but in the case of the new Alice in Wonderland movie from Tim Burton, we’re with the White Queen all the way. In other words, watch this movie every other day, but NEVER ever to-day.

That’s right — two big frowny faces for this film. Why? Watch our video review to find out:

Want something to listen to while you’re falling down a seemingly endless hole? Download the audio!

Have you seen the movie? Leave YOUR review of Alice in Wonderland in the comments!

Unless you’ve been living in a hole*, then you know that on March 5th, Alice will visit Wonderland once again — this time in Tim Burton’s cinematic interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s classics, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.

Nancy and I have already marked our calendars for opening weekend**, but it’s still quite a while to wait. Luckily, Avril Lavigne has provided some entertainment to tide us over: a new music video for her song, “Alice (Underground),” which will play over the opening and ending credits of the upcoming movie. Check it out:

So, what do you think of the video? I love that Avril’s wearing jeans and a T-shirt when she falls down the hole and is suddenly rocking a huge goth dress when she emerges on the other side. But I’m definitely NOT a fan of Avril’s face being superimposed everywhere, especially when she’s sitting at the Mad Hatter’s table. Also, how does she escape Wonderland at the end? She just runs on out of there?

Well, at least there’s a juicy montage of scenes from the new film!*** The movie looks like it’s going to be WAY different from the books, but that’s not going to stop me from following the White Rabbit all the way to my local movie theater. Leave a comment if you’re planning to see it too!

— Karen
 
 
* A hole such as the one Alice falls into, perhaps?

** What, you think we have other social engagements? Sadly, no.

*** For more, check out the official movie site.

Recently, I was spellbound by details about the upcoming Harry Potter theme park and I salivated over the concept of a real-life Willy Wonka chocolate factory (sadly, not actually in the works). I was also reminded of a dream book-based theme park that I’ve always longed for: a replica of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll.

My idea is that actors would be stationed all around the park, which would feel like an enchanted forest. Groups of visitors would be let in at regular intervals throughout the day, and they’d walk on a specific path and experience all the same things that Alice does in the book.

Visitors would chase after the White Rabbit, wander through a hallway that’s too big and a house that’s too small, paint roses in the royal garden, and meet Tweedledum and Tweedledee. And for lunch — why, a tea party at the Mad Hatter’s place, of course!

Obviously, there are some problems with my plan. Mosts notably, it requires all the groups to go at the same pace so they don’t bump into each other. I guess this could be solved by turning the entire thing into one giant ride, but I feel like that would ruin the whole thing. The point is to make the visitor feel like Alice, wandering through a mysterious new world and interacting with all its crazy inhabitants. Maybe some of the slower-moving guests could get scooters…

Anyway, I know I could work out all these details if only someone would give me the means to create an Alice in Wonderland theme park. So, if you know anyone with bags of cash just sitting around, send them my way!

No, seriously: karen@kidsmomo.com

(I also take checks.)

— Karen

PS – I’m curious: if you could create a theme park based on any book, what would you choose? And what would the attractions be like?

Has anyone watched the trailer for the Alice in Wonderland movie coming out next year? Yes? Watch it again. No? Check it out!

So I’m just going to say it — I don’t care how dreamy you think Captain Jack Sparrow is, Johnny Depp looks… frightening to me. BTW, it looks like this movie (like many other Alice adaptations) is going to include characters from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland AND its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. Did you guys know that Tweedledee and Tweedledum only appear in Through the Looking-Glass? I did¹, and now you do too!

Also, he (it?) isn’t in the trailer, but the Caterpillar is going to be played by actor Alan Rickman (AKA PROFESSOR SNAPE!), and his face was composited onto a digital caterpillar body. I hope the nickname “Snape-pillar” catches on.

In other Alice news, I read recently that somewhere on the Internets an Alice-themed virtual world is in the works. I’m not sure how I’d feel about encountering the Mad Hatter online, but they should make more virtual worlds based on books *cough*Harry Potter*cough* — what books would you want to see made into virtual worlds?

— Nancy

¹An online “hi!” to Mrs. Corwin, who gave me my first copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and also taught me English. If she hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have written this blog entry. Also Kidsmomo might not exist. Whoa, trippy…