Alice

The 2009 film Alice, directed by Nick Willing, provides a modern, sci-fi spin on Lewis Carroll's beloved novels "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass." Caterina Scorsone stars as the lead, alongside Andrew Lee Potts and Matt Frewer. The movie is a two-part television miniseries that was produced for SyFy (formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel).

The story kicks off with the protagonist, Alice Hamilton, a judo sensei living in modern-day America. Alice is a headstrong, independent woman with a complex past that has made her wary of relationships. While she doesn't have the most perfect life, it takes an even bizarre turn when her boyfriend, Jack Chase, suddenly disappears.

The search for her missing boyfriend leads Alice through the looking glass and plunges her directly into Wonderland. But this is not the familiar, brightly colored realm of talking animals and whimsical tea parties that Lewis Carroll introduced us to. This series presents a substantially darker and more twisted version of Wonderland, a dystopian cityscape ruled by the enigmatic Queen of Hearts, a role brilliantly brought to life by Kathy Bates. The playful garden landscapes have been replaced by towering casinos filled with inhabitants having their emotions drained by the Queen. Here, her rule is absolute, and her control is maintained through fear and manipulation.

In this dystopian Wonderland, Alice meets a variety of rather mismatched characters, each dealing with their own predicaments. Among them is the Hatter, played by Andrew Lee Potts, who isn’t your average madcap entity from the original story; rather, he is a reformed con-man with a distinctive charm and charisma. Matt Frewer delivers a memorable performance as the frantic and anxiously conspiratorial White Knight.

Caterina Scorsone's performance as Alice creatively blends fear, determination, and a growing self-awareness. Her journey is not merely about rescuing her kidnapped boyfriend, but it’s also a voyage of self-discovery and empowerment. The interactions between Alice and the rest of the splendidly diverse and richly detailed characters are laced with elements of intrigue, emotions, wonderful humor and moments of pure heart.

The movie symbolically and creatively incorporates many elements from the original Lewis Carroll's novels. From Tweedledee and Tweedledum, portrayed here as eccentric and menacing surgeons, to other characters like March Hare, Dormouse, and Caterpillar, all are reimagined with an astute mix of maintaining their essence with an innovative twist.

The film is visually a treat. The world of Wonderland is edgy and stylistically cyberpunk, showcasing impressive cinematography and visually stimulating special effects. The retelling stages thrilling fights and chase sequences, ensuring to keep the audience on their toes. The costumes range from the Hatter's extravagant wardrobes to Alice's simpler but invariably relevant outfits, and each contributes to the overall aesthetic vision of the show.

The director, Nick Willing, effectively merges the innocence and whimsy of the original fable with an infusion of dark, adult-oriented foreboding, injecting new life and depth into the story. This is a truly edgy reimagining of a charming, time-honored classic. The miniseries effortlessly straddles between the fantastical and the real, with an engaging narrative that is both thrilling and emotionally poignant.

"Alice" is successful in maintaining an atmosphere that is packed full of mystery and suspense. It linearizes the episodic nature of the original tale while maintaining a realm that is eccentric and fantastical in nature. It utilizes the familiar while being unafraid to tread into the unique and the daring. From adventure to the multi-layered characters, the movie explores a multitude of themes and showcases a distinctive approach in retelling one of the most cherished classic literature pieces.

Overall, Alice is a visually powerful, psychologically stimulating journey, appealing to both the fans of the original Lewis Carroll's novels and those attracted to darker fantasy and sci-fi adventures. If you're in the mood for a fresh take on a vintage tale, be prepared to follow Alice down the rabbit hole to an entirely contemporary Wonderland.