The Roof Is On Fire

It was announced this afternoon that Lewis Carroll's children's classic, Alice In Wonderland, has been "Burtonised" (distinct from brutalised), with Tim Burton waving his quirky, magic wand over this old time tale (it was written in 1865). Happily for Johnny Depp fans everywhere (and my God they're starting young these days after the success of Depp's Michael Jackson-esque Willy Wonka in Charlie & The Chocolate Factory), Burton and Depp are collaborating again, with Depp slated to play the Mad Hatter. The pair have worked on several other films, including Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Simply exhausting.

(Personally, I think he looks more like Elijah Wood with face paint)

Burton's wife, Helena Bonham Carter, is appearing as the Red Queen ("off with their heads!"), with Anne Hathaway as the White Queen. Also featured will be Stephen Fry, one of my favourite Brit actors. Also featured is Matt Lucas in mirror image - as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. The story has been given a dash of "girl power", with Alice (slightly grown-up in this version at 17 yrs old), attending a party at a Victorian estate only to find she is about to be proposed to in front of hundreds of snooty society types (poor darling). Wait. Isn't that illegal?? Off she runs, following a white rabbit into a hole only to find herself in Wonderland, a place she visited 10 years before yet doesn't remember. The plot thickens...


Adding to all this excitement, the film will be released in 3D. Sure to terrify the socks off anyone under the age of 10.


Gwen Stefani's producers have also dabbled in a bit of Alice, using the theme for her What You Waiting For? film clip in 2004/05. While I didn't love the song, I was very in love with the film clip, and particularly loved her red lips, white white hair, little black gloves, top hat and harajuku girl consort.