Customer Reviews:
Oracle's 2005 transfer.......2006-10-05
Widescreen, yes, but not anamorphic. This is a low-resolution transfer from videotape, with tracking errors, bleeding colours etc. Do not be fooled (as I was) by its glossy packaging!
Oh my! Wishes DO come true!.......2006-06-16
I live in the US and would love to have this in our region. Of course, I'll probably not wait to see if that happens and just buy/play this wonderful film on my PC.
I've purchased 2 other DVD versions that ranged from awful to fair! One looked like the source was an old film reel stored in a damp garage for 30 years. The other just looked like a dumped VHS. This film deserves better than that and I hope this version is THE ONE. The cover is quite nice! I hope the film looks nearly as good.
Anyway, this is probably below many rugrats of today, but many might be able to get something out of it. For me, a 40 year dude, this is a nostalgia overload. I remember seeing this as a child...one of the earliest things I can remember watching on the TV. It's stuck with one and has become one of my recent "most watched films". I simply adore it! I also know there are others just like me who appreciate this adaption of the story.
Follow up (7/20/2007):
I got this on the cheap. In the US I'm able to view this on my PC with no problems. Great test DVD for that purpose. I'll buy more DVDs out of my region now.
I didn't expect this too look and sound so good! This is a film from 1972 and this Oracle version really looks and sounds terrific in this widescreen transfer. Fullerton herself now has lots of color in her face, unlike the Screen Media version which has her looking ill and in need of immediate medication. I agree it's low resolution and that is a little bit of a let down. But I doubt we're ever going to get an improvement on this. I only previewed a few scenes, but the sound is like night and day with all other versions. Beautiful! The Screen Media version sounded like a record album left in the hot sun for a little too long. But here John Barry's scoring sounds beyond acceptable. I would've been extremely happy with this had I paid the top price. First rate for fans of this lovely bit of nostalgia. I'm only rating this 4 stars because there are no extras as all. The deleted scenes and a trailer (if there is one still in existence) would've been amazing. Some of the players are still around so a quick interview with them would've been a nice touch. Maybe a memorabilia slide show...something!
Also grab Kate Beckingsale's Alice Through the Looking Glass and Hallmark's Alice in Wonderland miniseries if you want the best in live action from this material. Perhaps someday we'll have a great director tackle this material again and do it justice. Until then, this is my most favorite movie and DVD version. Very happy.
A Faithful Adaptation.......2006-03-17
Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland has been adapted to the stage, television and silver screen so many times, its fairly easy to lose count exactly how many versions are actually out there.
This 1972 adaptation is something of an exception. This version vastly sticks closely to the original book though the silly, syrupy songs don't quite blend into Carroll's origanal ethos of the famous story. There were intentionally dark undertones in the book as though you were drawn into a childs nightmare but there has barley been any live-action screen version that has thoroughly captured the true spirit of Wonderland apart from a spooky, modern-day re-telling of the familiar story by Jan Svamkmajer in Alice (1988).
In this version Fiona Fullerton makes a pleasantly bland Alice in a somewhat confectionary telling of the story. The cardboard-like sets seem far more suited for a theatrical production and it loses the feel of its intended effect on a few occasions. On saying that what the film does often encapsulate is a dreamy, hazy-like feel and at times effectivley capturing the origanal vision of Carroll. The film is engaging at the beginning which follows the enchanting scenes of Alice waking up in a giant, story-book garden. Its there where she sees the white rabit (played by Michael Crawford) and follows him into a dark tunnel. Its here where the adventure begins as she falls down a large rabbit hole into the whimisical, topsy-turvy world of Wonderland. These effective sequences work well and the music is masterful and hauntingly atmospheric. However once Alice reaches Wonderland the film is something of a hit and miss affair and at times its pace is a little tedious. Still there are some points of interest and lovers of the story will most likely deem this to be one of the most satisfactory film version made. There are plenty of other famous British actors/esses on show here such as Dudley Moore, Ralph Richardson, Dame Flora Robson (putting in an effective performance as the Queen Of Hearts), Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Dennis Waterman, Robert Helpmann , Michael Hordem , Michael Jayston as Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carrolls real name - Jayston is in the opening sequence telling Alice a story on the riverbank which is where she falls asleep and the adventure begins) and Patsy Rolands taking the role of the Duchess's demented, plate-throwing cook to new heights.
The film was widely criticised and regarded by some as an unadventurous adaptation. Contrary to that the film could be praised for being such a loyal and faithful adaptation though like most other versions it tends to draw segments from Carrolls sequel, Alice Through The Looking Glas. Fiona Fullerton at this point was being promoted as the new Julie Andrews (though wasn't) but this did little to ignite the films fortunes and overall Alice's Adventures In Wonderland proved to be a relative failure. That year also saw the Roald Dahl book, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (retitled Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory) adapted to the silver screen which won favourable reviews and was a big box office draw in comparison to this. To make matters seemingly even worse, Peter Sellers caused a minor stir by criticising the film himself before it had even opened at cinemas.
Still on the whole the film has some enchanting moments, some great playing from a capable cast and an often masterful score that helps build the intentionally edgy and atmospheric feel to Alice's adventures and on pushing some of its blatant shortcomings aside and focusing on more of its merits, its defintley worth a look and fans of the story will undoubtedly be enthralled.
4 stars for film- 5 stars for Fiona Fullerton and John Barry.......2006-02-20
This film is really creepy, and that's why I love it. The story is told with a good pace; the sets are a mixture of real and fake looking which works. The number of famous faces makes you realise how important this story is, and how well it is written. Fiona Fullerton is beautiful and such a great actress. What a shame that this was the pinnacle of her career, but what a pinnacle- every actor would die to play this part as well as she did. She was made for the role. The music by John Barry adds to the creepy feel of the film. Sometimes it sounds like the score to a Bond film, other times it takes me back to moments of innocence in my childhood. Fiona and John Barry's input in this film bring out the pecularity of the story. It's not the obsessively happy story that Disney produced but a dark and spiteful tale that should scare children away from adults- and so it bloody should!
Customer Reviews:
Great film ruined by careless transfer to DVD.......2004-01-20
So, 'Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland’ has been released on DVD. That's the good news. The bad news is that the print is so bad, I’ve got a ten-year old video taped from TV with a faulty aerial in better shape! So, only get this if you are desperate (it is cheap) and even then think twice and do without it.
The company concerned is Platinum Disc Corporation of La Crosse, WI, USA, and may God have mercy on them for having the nerve to put this out for public consumption. In fact, I can scarely believe this release is legal.
It's pan and scan, unsurprisingly, and appears to be region free. Pity the whole thing wasn't! It's such a shame that it's not a decent transfer as it's an excellent film. In fact, I was quite surprised to find so much music not on the original Warner Brothers LP. This is definitely a candidate for some enterprising company or person to re-record with all the songs and musical bridges intact.
The film itself is very enjoyable with good performances from the entire cast, but special mention for Fiona Fullerton in the title role. She is magnificent, especially considering her limited experience at that stage of her career. One can only hope this film gets a legal release in the UK before too long. In the meantime, don't buy this version - it's a waste of money, even at this price!
Customer Reviews:
Great film ruined by careless transfer to DVD.......2004-01-20
So, 'Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland’ has been released on DVD. That's the good news. The bad news is that the print is so bad, I’ve got a ten-year old video taped from TV with a faulty aerial in better shape! So, only get this if you are desperate (it is cheap) and even then think twice and do without it.
The company concerned is Platinum Disc Corporation of La Crosse, WI, USA, and may God have mercy on them for having the nerve to put this out for public consumption. In fact, I can scarely believe this release is legal.
It's pan and scan, unsurprisingly, and appears to be region free. Pity the whole thing wasn't! It's such a shame that it's not a decent transfer as it's an excellent film. In fact, I was quite surprised to find so much music not on the original Warner Brothers LP. This is definitely a candidate for some enterprising company or person to re-record with all the songs and musical bridges intact.
The film itself is very enjoyable with good performances from the entire cast, but special mention for Fiona Fullerton in the title role. She is magnificent, especially considering her limited experience at that stage of her career. One can only hope this film gets a legal release in the UK before too long. In the meantime, don't buy this version - it's a waste of money, even at this price!
Customer Reviews:
Everyone walked through this abbreviated quasi-musical.......2007-07-29
The play is based on two books by Lewis Carroll "Alice's Adventures Underground" and "Through the Looking-glass." There have been several presentations, each with it own strength or weakness. This is a 1993 TV presentation of which you can see that lots of time and energy went in to it,
We go through the story at light speed only to slow down for a few badly placed songs. This presentation should be an embarrassment to everyone involved. However if you did not know any better a log of Lewis Carroll's humor and way with words comes through. There is a little television trickery that actually helps the presentation.
You would think with such a great cast that it could not fail:
Kate Burton as Alice (at 26 years old)
Austin Pendleton as White Rabbit
Richard Burton as White Knight
James Coco as King of Hearts
Tony Cummings as Knave of Hearts
Alan Weeks as Tweedledee
André De Shields as Tweedledum
Eve Arden as Queen of Hearts
Maureen Stapleton as White Queen
Colleen Dewhurst as Red Queen
Andre Gregory as Mad Hatter
Geoffrey Holder as Cheshire Cat
Zeljko Ivanek as March Hare
Nathan Lane as Mouse
Donald O'Connor as Mock Turtle
Swen Swenson as Gryphon
Fritz Weaver as Caterpillar
Richard Woods as Humpty-Dumpty
Bottom line this presentation takes an effort to get trough.
DVD:
- An American Tail/An American Tail 2 - Fievel Goes West
- Animal Farm [1955]
- A Summer Place [1959] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Baby Newton - Discovering Shapes
- Barbarians at the Gate [1993] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Barbie - Fairytopia/Mermaidia/Magic Of The Rainbow
- Barbie - In The 12 Dancing Princesses
- Barney - Christmas Star
- Barney - Happy Mad Silly Sad
- Batman - Mask Of The Phantasm [1993]
DVD List
DVD
All Children's DVD
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Children's DVD
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Categories
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DVD
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Video
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