Jan Svankmajer made his first feature film "Alice" (1988) when he was already 54 years old, it would not be his last. His films are not animations in the normal sense of the word, but a mixture of real actors and puppets. The praise confined in the formula proposed by Milos Forman that reads "Bunuel + Disney = Svankmajer" maybe somewhat exaggerated but without any doubt Svankmajer makes unique movies.
Älice" is an adaptation of the children's novel "Alice in Wonderland" (1865, Lewis Carroll). This is a very famous book and there are many adaptations. The Svankmajer one is higher rated then the 1951 Disney adaptation (too sweet) and that of Tim Burton from 2010. By the way Svankmajer has been a source of inspiration for Burton.
Despite being one of the best adaptations, at the end the film is a bit too long. The puppets are all craftfully made, but the surprise value slowly fades away. The fact that we are looking at an adaptation of a children's novel takes its toll after all. In this respect the film is somewhat stuck in the middle: too grim for children, too long for adults. Maybe the "Faust" adaptation that Svanmajer made in 1994 manages to hold the attention better.
While watching the movie I missed some story elements, for example the frequently quoted one that you have to run to remain stationary. To my shame I must confess that I was unaware of the fact that this story element belongs to the sequel to "Alice in Wonderland", "Through the looking glass" (1871, Lewis Carroll). Also the evil queen of hearts struck me. Normally the queen of spades is the symbol of evil. Think of the short story of the same name by Alexander Pushkin from 1833.
Älice" is an adaptation of the children's novel "Alice in Wonderland" (1865, Lewis Carroll). This is a very famous book and there are many adaptations. The Svankmajer one is higher rated then the 1951 Disney adaptation (too sweet) and that of Tim Burton from 2010. By the way Svankmajer has been a source of inspiration for Burton.
Despite being one of the best adaptations, at the end the film is a bit too long. The puppets are all craftfully made, but the surprise value slowly fades away. The fact that we are looking at an adaptation of a children's novel takes its toll after all. In this respect the film is somewhat stuck in the middle: too grim for children, too long for adults. Maybe the "Faust" adaptation that Svanmajer made in 1994 manages to hold the attention better.
While watching the movie I missed some story elements, for example the frequently quoted one that you have to run to remain stationary. To my shame I must confess that I was unaware of the fact that this story element belongs to the sequel to "Alice in Wonderland", "Through the looking glass" (1871, Lewis Carroll). Also the evil queen of hearts struck me. Normally the queen of spades is the symbol of evil. Think of the short story of the same name by Alexander Pushkin from 1833.