The original story of Alice was confusing to me as a child so I never finished reading the book. The first animated film version was not that impressive either; scary and weird. My first reaction to yet another release of Alice in Wonderland was to dismiss it with a momentary wondering why Johnny Depp was playing another character from a children's story. But two friends, both of whom are avid "code sleuths," suggested that I might want to check this one out. So over the weekend I watched it - twice! The entire film is loaded with code. Johnny Depp's whimsical portrayal of the Mad Hatter is captivating; he seems to be challenging us with a knowing of the code that, we, the audience, are certainly missing. He knows it and we don't.
On the first and obvious level, this film is the story of Alice grown up and lost again in Wonderland. On the second level, also quite apparent, is the eternal struggle between good and evil, the emergence of the hero, the triumph of the good, happily ever after.
Now for the code. We are quickly moved through the first two levels directly into the code; viola, down the rabbit hole. Nearly every facet of human foibles is exquisitely exposed and exaggerated - witness the Red Queen and her court, the animals that are fearful and mouthy and precise and kind and offensive. We are told over and over again, "this is a dream." The duality of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum; the bravado of the Dormouse; compliance, complicity, capture, betrayal, switching loyalties, deception - it's all there. Some of the code is benignly portrayed in the embodiment of each character and their roles. Some is hidden within the spoken word. The blue caterpillar with the voice of age, itself, commands attention and delivers some priceless lines. The monkey mind of the ego rattles on an on and must be interrupted to get it back on track. Alice herself is challenged at every turn of the plot. After being told in numerous ways that she is wrong and she is departing from the appointed path, she delivers one of her most powerful lines: "Wait a minute. This is MY dream. I AM the path." The loyalty and faith of the Mad Hatter is moving. And the compassionate message of the White Queen, "When you face that . . . "
Never mind, you'll have to watch Alice in Wonderland for yourself then let me know what the code reveals to you.
And as for the bad guys? Well, to each his own dream, I say.
On the first and obvious level, this film is the story of Alice grown up and lost again in Wonderland. On the second level, also quite apparent, is the eternal struggle between good and evil, the emergence of the hero, the triumph of the good, happily ever after.
Now for the code. We are quickly moved through the first two levels directly into the code; viola, down the rabbit hole. Nearly every facet of human foibles is exquisitely exposed and exaggerated - witness the Red Queen and her court, the animals that are fearful and mouthy and precise and kind and offensive. We are told over and over again, "this is a dream." The duality of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum; the bravado of the Dormouse; compliance, complicity, capture, betrayal, switching loyalties, deception - it's all there. Some of the code is benignly portrayed in the embodiment of each character and their roles. Some is hidden within the spoken word. The blue caterpillar with the voice of age, itself, commands attention and delivers some priceless lines. The monkey mind of the ego rattles on an on and must be interrupted to get it back on track. Alice herself is challenged at every turn of the plot. After being told in numerous ways that she is wrong and she is departing from the appointed path, she delivers one of her most powerful lines: "Wait a minute. This is MY dream. I AM the path." The loyalty and faith of the Mad Hatter is moving. And the compassionate message of the White Queen, "When you face that . . . "
Never mind, you'll have to watch Alice in Wonderland for yourself then let me know what the code reveals to you.
And as for the bad guys? Well, to each his own dream, I say.
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