Alice in Wonderland (Rated PG)
If there were any apprehensions about this Burton-Depp film, put them to rest. This is a lovely, interesting take on the traditional story of Alice and her visits to Wonderland.  Linda Woolverton’s screenplay of Lewis Carroll’s books has some unique twists and several flashbacks woven into the adventure of a young woman battling for her identity.

Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska), daughter of a wealthy shipping magnate, has a close and highly imaginative childhood relationship with her visionary father.  Unfortunately his risky planned expansion of his business into distant, untapped markets is unrealized due to his early and unexpected death. This also ended his calming help to Alice who was having a repetitive and troubling dream about a place called Wonderland.  Alice is now left to understand the dream’s message and make her own resolutions without her father’s guidance. This is difficult for a young woman due to the constraints of her era and the expectations of English etiquette.

Most of the characters and events of Carroll’s novel are in the film—with a little bit of a different slant to them. There are a few parts that may be frightening to younger viewers as may be expected from a repetitive nightmare: the Bandersnatch’s brief attack on Alice (a very large wild cat), the resulting Dormouse attack on the Bandersantch (to save Alice), and Alice’s battle with the Jabberwocky—a  huge, menacing dragon.

At the end of the film look for the name of the ship Alice uses for her trip to China. It sums up Alice and her father’s (and hopefully all young adults) view of the future as they head toward the unknown. This is a film that should be seen on a large screen and in 3D, if possible; the Disney Studio’s use of new technology truly helps the audience to “become” a part of the story.

How to Train Your Dragon (Rated PG)
How to Train Your Dragon is an engaging, action packed animated film which will be enjoyed by all ages. Director/writer Dean DeBlois (Lilo & Stitch and Mulan) and Chris Sanders have molded Cressida Cowell’s book into a lovely-to-look-at, sweet story about teens growing up and trying to fit in.

The story is set in a northern country, Berk; it is a rather barren land where the main interest of the adults is trying to rid the area of the many types of flying dragons who feed on the town’s livestock. Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) is the young, slightly built son of the chief of the clan, Chief Stoick the Vast (gruffly voiced by Gerard Butler). Hiccup’s lack of girth and willingness to fight dragons is a great disappointment to his father and the town as well. 

But Hiccup has a different way of looking at the town’s problems. He has an inventive mind and ends up capturing one of the most elusive of all the dragons—a Night Fury he names Toothless. Rather than killing the animal, Hiccup becomes friends with him.  Several amazing scenes follow of the boy flying upon the back of the dragon—some of them rather dizzying to the audience.

Although most of the characters in the story are Viking boys or men, there is a strong-minded, agile teenage girl fighter, Astrid (voiced by America Ferrera), who is more than a romantic interest—although she is also that. A slight distraction in this film is the adult characters’ thick Scottish-like accent which may make it hard for some young children to understand their dialogue; strangely the teens of the film do not have this parental accent. The colors, setting and music make this film one which should not to be missed on a large screen—even if only in 2D.

The Ghost Writer (Rated PG-13)
Roman Polanski’s masterful direction of Robert Harris’ novel has created an outstanding thriller. This intriguing drama will have viewers on the edge of their seats trying to unravel the facts as they come both fast and furiously as well as slow and very, very quietly.

Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan), a past UK Prime Minister, has retired to the United States where he is writing his memoirs, but his first writing partner is found washed up on a beach near Lang’s island home (which looks a lot like Martha’s Vineyard). Another “ghost” writer (Ewan McGregor) is hired to clean up the first manuscript and turn it into a best seller.

Lang’s home houses some strange relationships which this new ghost writer uncovers as he researches information on his client. Lang’s personal secretary, Amelia Bly (seductively portrayed by Kim Cattrall), and angry, unfaithful wife, Ruth (Olivia Williams), add tension to this story.

At times viewers may be reminded of recent international personalities and events such as Tony Blair, Dick Cheney, the Clintons and Halliburton. This adds a sense of validity to the film. The corruptive power of power can be seen from the inside as the film shows politics, corporate profits and the pressures international relationships bear on world leaders. Diplomatic masks are ripped away, and the disregard of the individual—no matter how close the relationship—is highlighted.

Since a world view and some knowledge of politics are needed to fully appreciate this story, it is doubtful that younger viewers’ interest would be held very long. Teens may become more interested in international relations after seeing and discussing this film. For many viewers the twists and turns of this excellently crafted mystery and its surprising ending will keep this story in their thoughts long after they leave the theatre.

Judy Russell teaches music and performing arts at Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School.