By Rama Gaind
Alice in Wonderland: History repeats itself when Johnny Depp and Mia Wasikowska tumble down the rabbit hole into the magical world of ‘Underland’.
Tim Burton’s new adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s novel reveals a bleak, fire-scorched world ruled by the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter).
The striking characters we meet include the White Rabbit (voiced by Michael Sheen), Tweedledum and Tweedledee (Matt Lucas) and the Cheshire Cat (voice of Stephen Fry).
Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter with multi-coloured eyes, an exploding Bozo carrot top and a gleaming gaze makes a fantastic image.
Mia Wasikowska performs admirably, but Anne Hathaway is miscast as the White Queen.
Astonishing special effects detract from the storyline.
The Blind Side: Sandra Bullock deserved her Best Actress Oscar as a middle-class, soccer mum who speaks her mind as she helps a disadvantaged black boy to become a successful football player.
Bullock leads the charge in providing some touching moments in this heartfelt film.
The Hurt Locker: Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win a Best Director Oscar this year with this film which is about a US Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team during the Iraq War.
Jeremy Renner stars as Sergeant First Class William James who heads an explosives disposal unit in Baghdad.
This powerful film follows the unit’s tour as they contend with defusing bombs, the threat of insurgency and the tension that develops among its members.
The film won six Oscars including one for Best Picture.
