5 Tim Burton Films That Wasted Their Potential

2. Alice In Wonderland

After Disney’s irritating trend of remaking their classic animated features, you might be thinking, in hindsight, that Alice in Wonderland can be given credit for venturing into new story territory. Serving more as a sequel to the original book, the idea is certainly interesting, but little saves the movie from being resoundingly dull.

Ironically, it might have fared better if it were a straight adaptation of Carroll’s novel, as Burton and his team of designers exceed at the surreal aspects. While the CGI is ugly and vapid in parts, specific character designs are all imaginative and nicely endearing (including the elusive Cheshire Cat, the deranged March Hare, and a tart-stealing frog).

Enlivened by the stellar voice cast, Alice might have made for an enjoyably inventive surrealist piece, but is dragged down by a semi-cohesive and needlessly large-scale plot.

There are some distracting corporate-driven issues that likely hinder the film in many places. Aside from being converted to nauseating 3D, Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter is rendered a cornerstone of the narrative, for little reason other than the fact that it’s Johnny Depp. Also, Disney apparently felt the need to inject some LOTR-style action into the picture, tacking on some formulaic, harebrained “chosen one” plot.

Equally baffling is Alice’s motives throughout the film. Believing herself to be in a dream and her experiences to be inconsequential, you’ll constantly find yourself asking not “what is her motivation?” but “why does she even have motivation?”

Such glaring story errors are quite mystifying; this late in Burton’s career, you’d fairly assume he should know what makes a movie click. Can’t wait for his live action Dumbo movie (sigh).