We’ve been patiently waiting for the new Twilight movie for so long that the moment it arrived in theaters, we barely had time to process the fact that it wasn’t some elaborate prank. We were immediately transported back to that magical time we spent waiting for Twilight to arrive in theaters. It had been a while since we last heard from director Tim Burton, and we were eagerly anticipating more details about his upcoming live-action adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. Unfortunately, while the live-action Alice in Wonderland movie will be an incredible feat, it will unlikely be performed by Tim Burton. Disney’s acquisition of the film rights to the Wonderland story means that Burton will be busy for the foreseeable future working on other projects for the company.
While we won’t get to see Tim Burton’s take on Wonderland anytime soon, we can still re-live our favorite scenes from the 1992 Disney animated classic. Luckily, the film’s original director, Lewis Carroll, granted us the wonderful opportunity to hear his original tale through the amazing music of Gustav Holst, the esteemed English composer. Having recently re-released his complete catalog of original music, we were thrilled to discover that Holst’s famous work had, in fact, been reused in the film. It’s definitely an unforgettable experience reading Carroll’s classic story through the prism of Holst’s beautiful yet haunting Victorian-era music.
As with all Disney movies, the special edition of Alice in Wonderland comes with some amazing bonus material. Those who purchase the DVD/Blu-ray of this cinematic retelling of Carroll’s classic will also receive a digital copy of the story. One of the additional features is a charming audio commentary from co-star Robert Pattinson. The British actor seems perfectly suited to the task, as he has the unique ability to make even the most reclusive of Disney films feel more like open-door museums.
A Brief History of Twilights
The original idea for Twilight came from New York University student Stephenie Meyer. After reading her novel about a vampire girl named Bella who falls in love with a human boy named Edward, I had to know more about this fascinating creature. With a little help from my friends at Browncoats, the unofficial fan club of the popular TV show Breaking Bad, I learned about the special bloodsucking creatures known as werewolves and how they are connected to vampires. At that point, I considered Meyer’s contribution to vampire lit as nothing less than brilliant. It was as if someone had written Charley Pollard’s script for the 1974 James Bond film Live and Let Die with a touch of Bret Easton Ellis’s 1991 American Psycho.
Before her novel was even published in 2005, Meyer went by the pen name S. Meyer, which led to countless online hoaxes claiming that she had written a follow-up novel. When her actual first book, Twilight, was published in 2006, she already had a small but loyal fanbase, and she enjoyed a spectacular commercial and critical success. Meyer’s other works include the best-selling adult fantasy series The Lunar Chronicles, and she now has multiple movie deals, including the live-action Pinocchio at Disney. It seems that the world really is her oyster.
Robert Pattinson Discusses The Importance of Good Acting
Even before he was cast as Edward Cullen, our hearts were stolen by Robert Pattinson. The actor’s intense and soulful performance in the upcoming Twilight movie immediately drew us in, as did his previous collaborations with director Tim Burton, including the critically acclaimed adaptation of Dumbo. We were fortunate enough to hear from Robert about his impressive body of work and working with Tim Burton.
“It’s great working with Tim, I truly enjoy what we do together,” Pattinson enthused. “He has a fantastic eye for detail and really pushes you to find the best in yourself. He can also be quite a taskmaster when he wants to be—both good and bad qualities in one! It was a great experience and I’m really looking forward to diving back in and exploring more of Alice’s world.”
Allegory of the Cave: An Exploration of Shakespeare’s Masterpiece
Another bonus feature on the Alice in Wonderland DVD is a documentary about the making of the film. Having seen the movie already, I can confidently say that it is the most faithful adaptation of any of Shakespeare’s plays I have ever seen. The parallels between Carroll’s work and Shakespeare’s are impossible to miss, particularly in regard to the famous cave scene. One of the film’s producers, Jennifer Lame, explains how the scene was shot and how closely it follows Carroll’s original manuscript. Essentially, it’s an opportunity to experience Shakespeare’s Allegory of the Cave through the magical prism of Disney animation. It’s a fitting tribute to one of the world’s most brilliant playwrights and a masterpiece of cinematic storytelling.
Whether you’ve seen the new Twilight movie already or are eagerly awaiting its release, you can relive the wonder of the original tales with the new release of the classic Disney animated songs. It is quite an experience to hear these old songs sung by some of Hollywood’s greatest voices. If you’re a fan of Disney animation, you won’t be able to resist buying or renting this Blu-ray so you can listen to these songs as often as you can.