Disney's beloved animated classic receives a vibrant and beautifully restored 4K presentation
Alice in Wonderland returns in a beautifully restored 4K release celebrating the beloved Disney classic's 75th anniversary.
For three quarters of a century, Alice has been going down the rabbit hole. Yes, it has been 75 years since Alice in Wonderland first premiered at the Leicester Square Theatre in London. While its initial box office run was not a success and it was met with negative reviews from critics, it has since become a classic Disney animated film that has been successful in re-releases, has been referenced in other movies and television shows, and was reimagined in the 2010 film of the same name. To celebrate the film's diamond anniversary, Disney is releasing it in 4K for the first time.
I can't imagine that there is someone out there who doesn't know the story of Alice in Wonderland, but here is a brief synopsis (just in case): When Alice (Kathryn Beaumont; Peter Pan), a restless young British girl, falls down a rabbit hole, she enters a magical world. There she encounters an odd assortment of characters, including the grinning Cheshire Cat (Sterling Holloway; The Jungle Book) and the goofy Mad Hatter (Ed Wynn; The Diary of Anne Frank). When Alice ends up in the court of the tyrannical Queen of Hearts (Verna Felton; Cinderella), she must stay on the ruler's good side -- or risk losing her head.
Though this wasn't Disney's most successful animated feature, it still had quite a bit going for it, especially the voice talent who made up these eccentric characters. Beaumont has a sweet, sing-songy voice that is perfect for the innocent Alice, while Felton's sound is gruffer, which is befitting an evil queen. Wynn's vocals come across as almost silly, which makes him seem disarming even though his character is called "Mad" Hatter for a reason. Holloway offers a devious sound as the Cheshire Cat, and Richard Haydn's (The Sound of Music) Caterpillar is mischievous.
The 4K Restoration is the best Alice in Wonderland has ever looked. The colors are incredibly vibrant and bright, and the details are beautifully clean. Lines are cleanly drawn with sharp edges. The animation has a flow to it that makes everything look fluid. The 9-month timeframe spent on this restoration was well worth the wait.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is crisp and has plenty of depth. It is interesting to note that this is the same audio track used on previous releases, and one must wonder why so much time was spent on the 4K restoration but little to no time on the audio component. Regardless, the score is robust, and the dialogue is clean.
The extras are legacy re-releases and are housed on the Blu-ray disc. They consist of: Through the Keyhole: A Companion's Guide to Wonderland, Reflections on Alice, Operation Wonderland, Deleted Materials, Newly Discovered Cheshire Cat Song, Walt Disney Introductions, Reference Footage: Alice and the Doorknob, Pencil Test: Alice Shrinks, Thru the Mirror, An Alice Comedy: Alice's Wonderland, One Hour in Wonderland, Fred Waring Show Excerpt, Original Theatrical Trailers, Art Gallery, Painting the Roses Red, Disney View, and Trailer Navigation.
Even though its beginning was less than stellar, Alice in Wonderland has become one of the many Disney classic movies that fans know and love and share with their families from one generation to another. This latest version is an excellent representation of the film, and anyone who considers themselves a Disneyphile will definitely want to purchase the 4K restoration of a beloved, if not a little weird, film.
Disney always does a terrific job with their releases, and there is a certain level of quality one comes to expect when associated with the Disney name. This latest release is no exception. Available in retail stores now, get a copy before they run out.
Grade: B
