Film: Alice

Directed by: Jan Svankmajer

Written by: Lewis Carroll, Jan Svankmajer

Year: 1988

Country: Czechoslovakia

Starring: Kristyna Kohoutova with English dub by Camilla Power

Reviewed by: The Zombieslayer

Alice is a 1988 Czech film, done with a combination of a single girl actress and stop motion animation. Although loved by artsy fartsy folks, I have to stand against my people for this one. I hated it.

I’ve always loved the Alice in Wonderland theme, but this one falls short. It’s more like Alice in the ghetto. The whole movie is grimy. The place needs a bath, the sets look like they’re straight from a concentration camp, and there was nothing magical about the movie.

Credit does to to Kristyna Kohoutova though, for she did a fine performance as Alice. She was the only live person in the movie surrounded by stop motion animation and filthy sets. She carried herself believably, but the rest was like a really cheap imitation dream.

Ok, I know the Czechs were poor in ‘88. I’m aware of that, and should I guess cut them some slack. But not everything had to be covered in a layer of grime. We got the point.

I didn’t even mind the close up of the mouth that constantly said “and Alice thought,” “and Alice said,” “and the white rabbit exclaimed.” You got used to it. It was annoying at first.

Another plus, when the queen said “off with their heads,” they really got decapitated. And lovely twist at the end.

Besides being dirty, the movie never left the house. Surely in the beautiful Czechoslovakia (in case you don’t know your history, in ‘88, they were still together as one nation) they could have found somewhere to film Alice. It’s a big country, with beautiful parts and a medieval backdrop. Perfect for an Alice in Wonderland film. Instead, the film will leave you feeling claustrophobic. Get out of the house and explore, Svankmajer.

If you’re a wannabe pretentious critic, see it just to see it. You can one up your wannabe competition. Just, don’t get your hopes up. I won’t be seeing it again. It took me 3 days to suffer through it the first (and last) time. 3 dead zombies.

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