The Film
Well before Tim Burton or Johnny Depp were even born, Alice in Wonderland was a classic. And even though there were several films inspired by Lewis Carroll's tale well before Disney came along, there are still none quite as memorable.
Walt Disney's interpretation of Alice in Wonderland is loosely based on Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. Despite being a mixture, the story should be extremely familiar. Alice falls asleep and into a glorious adventure where she meets some of Disney's most memorable characters, including the Mad Hatter, March Hare, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Cheshire Cat, and the Queen of Hearts.
Since the film's 1951 debut, Alice has been through the ringer, let alone the looking glass. Critics panned the movie for straying from the original story. In later years, it has had a close relation to drug culture. It's sort of hard to argue with the latter. This is truly a trippy movie. It's also a departure for Disney, without as many (or as catchy) musical numbers. Still, it's insanely creative, and remains a Disney classic that the kiddos will thoroughly enjoy.
The Picture
Disney has included two versions of Alice in Wonderland on the Blu-ray disc. Viewers can watch in the original 1.33:1 aspect ratio with black pillarbox bars or the same aspect ratio with those black bars replaced by graphics designed by Disney artist Michael Humphries to complement the content on screen.
We found the original to be the most enjoyable, because frankly, nothing should take away from this gorgeous transfer. With every release, Disney seems to outdo themselves, and this release is no exception. The image doesn't have a speck or a fleck on it. It's hard to believe that the film is so old, because the image is nothing short of stellar. Every single scene has some stunning color popping off the screen. The blues in Alice's eyes and dress, the red in Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dums' pants, the rabbit's pink house, the un-birthday party surprises, and the purples in the skies and seas -- yes, seas. This is Disney and anything goes. Frankly, after making this 60-year-old film look so good, they deserve a little artistic license.
The Sound
Unlike the image, this audio track isn't exactly perfect. Disney has given the film a nice boost via DTS-HD Master Audio. That improvement does give the soundtrack a slight kick in the pants, with the occasional sound peeking through the surrounds. Overall though, it's a front-heavy track that sounds slightly dated. We can't really complain given the film's age. Fans will not be disappointed. Overall, it's a very nice improvement, just not as impressive as some other remastered titles (such as "Sleeping Beauty") which offer more engaging use of the surround channels.
The Extras
Disney sure knows how to throw a (tea) party. This 60th Anniversary Edition is absolutely busting with extras. Disney did this release justice, by not only including all of the extras from the "classic" release, but also a new set of featurettes that make this set a true must-have.
As a special treat, Kathryn Beaumont, the original voice of young Alice, pops up in many of the new pieces. First, she introduces "Through the Keyhole," a 76-minute retrospective which includes experts, Disney historians, former Disney employees, animators, and more. From there, Beaumont takes us through newly discovered live-action reference footage, as well as a quickie pencil test. It's a shame there's no commentary or picture-in-picture offering to accompany the movie. However, it's hard to be disappointed with what Disney has included here.
Final Thoughts
Disney never seems to disappoint, and they've continued the track record with Alice in Wonderland. Without a doubt, this is a must-have. Despite a slightly dated audio track, the Blu-ray release is nearly perfect. It's also one of Disney's trippiest adventures. Whether or not you can appreciate Carroll's original tales or Tim Burton's re-imagination, this animated version is the one you'll want to revisit repeatedly.
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