Alice in Wonderland - 1999 NBC-TV movie

starring: Tina Majorino, Whoopi Goldberg, Robbie Coltrane, Ben Kingsley, Christopher Lloyd
directed by: Nick Willing

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Lenny's description:
1999. This version of Lewis Carroll's story was originally produced for NBC-TV.

It also contains elements from 'Through the Looking Glass' (which are mixed up with those from 'Alice's Adventures...').

The storyline is not very true to the books, but the film has some great special effects, many dealing with multiple perspectives as Alice constantly changes sizes.

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Product details:

Seller name: DVDbuffs (Shipping rates and seller details)
Item number (ASIN): B00000ICZA
Actor: Tina Majorino x Whoopi Goldberg x Robbie Coltrane x Ben Kingsley x Christopher Lloyd
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Category: DVD
Creator: Giles Nuttgens x Chris Thompson x Dyson Lovell x Robert Halmi Jr. x Robert Halmi Sr. x Lewis Carroll x Peter Barnes
Director: Nick Willing
Format: Closed-captioned x Color x Dolby x DVD x NTSC
ISBN: 1574927426
Languages: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) x English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
Number Of Discs: 1
Package Dimensions: 60 x 530 x 740 (hundredths-inches)
Publisher: Lions Gate
Region Code: 1
Release Date: February 20, 2001
Running Time: value: 150
Units: minutes

Reviews from Lenny's visitors:

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Has redeeming qualities
Tina Majorino plays Alice in this hit-or-miss NBC miniseries packed with stars, some miscast (Whoopi Goldberg as the Cheshire Cat) but others charming. Gene Wilder is a splendid Mock Turtle, and the adaptation here of "Beautiful Soup" (all music in the film is by Richard Hartley) may be the best version I've ever heard. Christopher Lloyd is an inspired choice for the White Knight, but the character is wasted in what amounts to little more than a cameo. Majorino herself is a rather good Alice, if not quite convincingly English.

The film is full of technically impressive special effects, but ultimately comes off a bit bland, and I can't be sure whether the half-hearted attempt at pinning the entire story on Alice's stage fright is lazy writing itself or in fact a comment on lazy writing in other adaptations of these books. Either way, I can't say it works. Turning the story into a way for Alice to get up the nerve to be a well-behaved and presentable child of society for her parents' party guests seems somehow antithetical to the spirit of the tale.

Still, there's enough here to recommend to fans: Gene Wilder, most of Richard Hartley's musical numbers, Martin Short's uncanny resemblance to Tenniel's illustration of the Mad Hatter, and the Tweedles' staging of "The Walrus and the Carpenter," which might be the best scene in the whole affair.
- by Kirkinson on March 8, 2010