Alice (SyFy TV miniseries)
From RHI Entertainment, the people who brought you Tin Man, a unique adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, comes an equally immersive fantasy world that leans more toward the science fiction. In this version, an Alice has visited Wonderland in the past and has become a legend among its inhabitants. In the present, long after Alice of legend’s visit, Wonderland has become a dystopia, ruled by the Queen and King of Hearts and her suits. They control the population with emotional tonics or teas that have a drug-like effect and that are extracted from people from our world. Alice Hamilton, another Alice and judo instructor, follows her kidnapped boyfriend Jack into Wonderland where she gets mixed up with the Queen and a Caterpillar led Resistance, set on combating the drug’s effects on their world. She teams up with a street-smart Hatter, her love interest, and together with an absent minded white knight, Charlie, they try to uncover Jack’s secret and take down the Queen’s tyranny.
I was blown away by the details in the sets and characters, from Hatter’s teashop and grass carpeted office, to the medieval ruins of a chessboard city, to the 1960’s Hearts Casino where the Queen rules. The costume and sets are all styled in 60’s mod that captures all the fun and drama of the era.
American McGee’s Alice (Videogame)
This game has developed a cult following since its release in October 2000 and is celebrated for its visuals, gameplay, and psychologically themed story. In Victorian England, ten years after the events of Carroll’s original books and after a devastating fire that killed Alice’s entire family, Alice is in an Asylum being treated for the mental illness she developed due to the tragedy. Alice goes back to Wonderland in her maddened state to find that it has become as twisted and damaged as her own mind. Guided by the Cheshire Cat, she must travel through different sections of the game and defeat several characters, such as the Mad Hatter and Red Queen, who’s current power has been fueled by Alice feelings of guilt and pain for the loss of her family.
The look of the game is a wonderful Victorian horror theme that gets creative in its grotesque and bloody style. There are no straight lines in this Wonderland as it takes the term twisted through every aspect of the game.
Malice in Wonderland (Film)
This British film takes place in a hyper reality version of urban England that seems more like one long drug trip than an orderly sequence of events, though it is a rather imaginative journey. An American girl, Alice, runs away from her rich and powerful father but ends up getting run over by a disreputable but well meaning cab driver named Whitey, who becomes her love interest. Due to a head injury (and some inopportune drug use) she remains out of it for most of her wanderings as she is passed from one shady underground character to the next. When word gets out who Alice’s father is and that he has offered an award for her return, she becomes a target for every lowlife in the city. After they are separated, Whitey goes looking for her while evading the mob boss, the Queen, and his cohorts.
This movie is quirky and dark and fun. It isn’t the best or most coherent movie, but its interesting seedy take on the storybook source merits it a try.
The Looking Glass Wars (Novel)
I have yet to begin reading this fantasy series by Frank Beddor, but its premise was very intriguing to me. Beddor’s Alyss is a Wonderland princess, and heir to the throne, who has been stranded in Victorian London. Lewis Carroll is written into the series, only the books that he has published turns out to be the highly inaccurate retelling of the very real Wonderland’s history. Wonderland has gone through a civil war and the Queendom has been usurped by Alyss’s Aunt Redd. She was forced to flee Wonderland to our world where she is separated from her trusted bodyguard, Hatter Midigan.
I look forward to seeing how Alyss gets back to Wonderland and if she can set things right.
Alice is Dead (Videogame)
This has to be one of my favorite flash games that I have come across in recent years. Alice is Dead is a point and click adventure game that spans three episodes. In the first game, you are stuck down a hole, with no knowledge of how you got there or even who you are. Alice’s corpse lies beside you in skeletal form and you must piece together your identity and the events that lead you into this trap.
As you progress through this quirky game, more gangster elements along with a few surprises are uncovered. The puzzles were challenging, but admirably clever and the walkthrough is always on standby for when a player gets stuck. The art for the game was very impressive for an independent title, using gruesome and whimsical images. It reminded me of an old Sierra game, complete with a compelling story and stylized personality. It’s free online so I recommend giving it a try.