REVIEW: Informative bonus features add to magic of “Alice Through The Looking Glass” Blu-ray and Digital HD

in Disney, Movies

While Alice Through The Looking Glass, the sequel to Tim Burton’s 2010 smash hit “Alice In Wonderland,” didn’t come close to matching the original’s monster box office numbers and was initially met with mixed reviews, many films find new lives by becoming beloved over the course of time through their home video release.

Speaking of time, it is the central figure in this updated take on the 1871 Lewis Carroll classic novel with new characters mixed in with the originals. As explained in the making-of special feature “Behind the Looking Glass,” Burton would draw liberally from both of the first two Carroll books when creating his live-action take on “Alice,” leaving new director James Bobin to pick and choose which characters to spotlight in this new film. While the sequel may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the sheer creativity of the special effects as well as in the making of some of the physical sets is made clear in this special feature.

There’s a bevy of further special features to dig into, including audio commentary from Bobin, five deleted scenes with optional director’s commentary as well as an imaginative Pink music video with its own behind-the-scenes featurette.

I rather liked the “Characters of Underland” bonus feature with its look at the smaller characters that inhabit the fantasy world. It also includes a touching moment where we see Alan Rickman, in one of his final performances, in the studio to work on voicing Absolem the Caterpillar. In true Sacha Baron Cohen fashion, there’s also an amusing short interview with him in character as Time.

Perhaps the best of the lot is “A Stitch In Time: Costuming Wonderland” in which we get to see the inspiration behind the designs and a close-up look at the attention and care paid to these incredible costumes, who play as big of a part in the overall look of the movie as anything or anyone else. Many of the amazing handmade details in each of these costumes are simply lost on camera within the flow of the film but once you see them in this mini-doc it’s fun to try to spot them again in the actual movie.

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The movie itself looks fantastic and the 5.1 surround sound really adds punch, especially during Alice’s battle with the Minutes and when she travels in the Chronosphere. (As has been the case with Disney’s home video releases such as “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “The Jungle Book,” if you have a 3D TV you may want to hold off on this initial edition.)

Click here to read ITM reporter Mike Celestino’s original review of the film as well as in-depth look at the process of making the sequel with the cast and creative team.

Bonus features include:

DIGITAL HD/SD & BLU-RAY:

  • A Stitch in Time: Costuming Wonderland – Three-time Oscar®-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Memoirs of a Geisha”) explains how costuming helps shape the curious characters of Underland and reveals hidden Easter Eggs within the cast’s ornate outfits.
  • Music Video: “Just Like Fire” by P!nk – “Watch this madness, colorful charade” in P!nk’s music video for “Just Like Fire,” the hit song featured in “Alice Through the Looking Glass” that powered to the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
  • Behind the Music Video – Go on set with P!nk for production of her “Just Like Fire” music video, featuring fantastical imagery, aerial stunts, Underland character cameos, and guest appearances by P!nk’s family.
  • Behind The Looking Glass – Jump back and forth through time during this in-depth look into the making of “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” hosted by director James Bobin.
  • Time On… – Delight in this discussion with the unpredictable and witty Sacha Baron Cohen who plays Time, the keeper of the Chronosphere, a metallic sphere that powers all time.
  • Alice Goes Through the Looking Glass: A Scene Peeler – View a side-by-side comparison of raw production footage and final scenes, as Alice enters Underland through a magical looking glass.
  • Alice Goes Through Time’s Castle: A Scene Peeler – View raw production footage alongside final scenes, as Alice enters Time’s castle of eternity.
  • Characters of Underland – Get to know the quirky and colorful supporting characters in Underland, such as the tubby twins known as the Tweedles (Matt Lucas) and Absolem (Alan Rickman), the blue caterpillar turned blue Monarch butterfly.
  • Filmmaker Audio Commentary by James Bobin – Director James Bobin delivers scene-by-scene insight into the creation of “Alice Through the Looking Glass.”
  • Deleted Scenes with Director Commentary – Bobin introduces five never-before-seen scenes that didn’t make the final cut of Disney’s spectacular adventure.

DVD:

  • A Stitch in Time: Costuming Wonderland

“Alice Through The Looking Glass” is now available on Digital HD, Blu-ray and Disney Movies Anywhere.

in Disney, Movies

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