Ultra Hip, Free-Style Adaptation

    The channel 4 Kate Beckinsale adaptation of "Alice Through the Looking Glass" is an ulta hip, free-style adaptation of Lewis Caroll's literary masterpiece. Having read "Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" many times as an child and an adult, I was immediately suspicious of this version because of Alice being played by an adult and it's contemporary approach. I was suprised to find the film to be more than satifactory.
         The film is told from the viewpoint of Alice's mother, played by Beckinsale, who dreams the adventure while reading the book to her daughter. The opening scene takes place in our current time.
          The film has a very modern free-style approach which plays out the Carroll story with much hilarity.
           The poem ' The Walrus and the Carpenter ', recited by Tweedle Dum and Dee is done in a MTV rock music video style and the two Tweedles sport ' Clockwork Orange' style eye liner. When the Tweedles decide to battle, Tweedle Dee uses the Beatles ' Sergeant Pepper ' album as armor.
            The rest of Carroll's story is given the same strange,irreverent treatment. And yes, the ' Jabberwocky ' poem is played like something from ' The Blair Witch '.
           Even though the film has a unorthodox visual style, the dialouge from Carroll's book is basically intact. They even went as far as to include the poem ' The Wasp and the Wig' which Carroll removed from his original manuscript because of length. The result is a hilarious yellow wig when the actor removes his hat.
         Some might say Kate Beckinsale is too old to plat Alice. In fact most of the Alices' from past films are older actresses. Notably Kate Burton in the Eva LeGallienne and Florida Friebus stage adaptation. Burton,like Beckinsale, is excellent.
           I believe there is a misconception by purist that the numerous film adaptations do not do justice to Carroll's book. I strongly disagree. Allmost all of the film adaptations are inspired. Even the awful 1933 Charlotte Henry film, with it's creepy clay putty make-up, has some great moments. The cartoon versions by Disney and Hanna-Barbera can be screamingly funny. I hope Mr. Tim Burton pays attention to these many wonderful film adaptations from the past when he makes his version. The competition is much greater than people generally believe. It is an inspired book. It inspires good entertainment.
           Maybe I am just too huge an 'Alice ' fan to be picky. I always love seeing this wonderful book brought to life in film and theater.
           Movie buffs and fans of chidren's literature should also check out other unorthodox adaptations of chidren's literature on film. I recommend the ' Alice ' inspired "Monsterland" and the hilariously foul-mouthed "Neverland" based on Barrie's "Peter Pan".