Alice Through the Looking Glass

Bobin mirrors Burton to admirable effect. Alice navigates a visually astounding narrative maze on foolhardy Adventure through Underland, finding herself lost in the machines and machinations of a monarchy of Miserables. Depp phones it in, but it’s still a call worth answering, especially as writers sing Carrols of frabjous wordplay.

The King's Speech

Geoffrey rushes in to prevent Firth from st-st-stealing the show in poignant and clever, if somewhat conventional story of a man overcoming himself. Pleasant to see Carter in non-Burton role, and Pearce’s snarkiness somehow makes him biggest bad guy in film that contains Hitler. Perfect parts funny, compassionate, and p-p-powerful.

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

‘Alice in Narnia’ marks Disney’s third failure to shoot a compelling epic and proves that digital effects haven’t evolved far enough to fix bad writing. Depp’s schizophrenic performance oscillates from Pee Wee to Braveheart while Burton’s creepiness drowns in a shallow effects orgy. Highlights are big-headed Bellatrix and floating Puss-in-Boots.