Saturday, August 29, 2009

Weekly Geeks: Collecting a Single Book

Today's assignment on the Weekly Geeks assignment is to discuss collecting a single book, and I think among the best books to consider with this topic might be Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Of course, I MIGHT be a little biased. On Amazon alone a search for "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" brings up 6,347 different listings.


Here's a copy of this book that I own. I've read Alice several times, but I did not read this particular copy. I love how it has color plates and also that it was obviously printed with moveable type on a letter press. All the letters and pictures are actually pressed into the paper. It's a subtle thing, but for some reason it seems so lush and textural to me. I tried researching this edition because it doesn't have a copyright page or date on it. The best I could find was that it was probably published in the 1920s or '30s. (If someone reading this knows better, please leave a note in the comments!)

 

Here's a photo of the interior with one of the illustrations. This edition features illustrations by John Tenniel and Elenore Abbott. The Tenniel illustrations are black and white and are the illustrations that most people think of when talking about this book.

Getting back to editions of Alice's Adventures, it looks like a person could very easily spend a lot of money collecting copies. The most expensive copy on Amazon is this 1866 edition, which the seller is offering for $25,000 US.

Also among the most expensive copies is a limited edition published in 2005 that was Illustrated by artist Anne Bachelier. Here is more of Bachelier's work.

Here are some editions that won't exactly put you in the poor house:

This 2003 Edition illustrated by Iassen Ghiuselev.

 
My favorite Alice illustrator is Arthur Rackham. Here is a recently published edition with the Rackham illustrations and a page (in Spanish, sorry) with nice scans of the illustrations and cover of the 1907 edition.

Martin Gardner's Annotated Alice - The Definitive Edition.

The amazingly cool Ralph Steadman (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) illustrated edition.

 Robert Sabuda's fabulous Pop-Up Adaptation.

Well, I could do this all day, but I don't want to. I'm going to leave you with a very nice (but kind of slow) site which has an A to Z illustrated encyclopedia of artists who have illustrated Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

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Friday, August 28, 2009

Fast Day is Slow

What we have here is a lack of news about Alice 2010. However, it seems like the sun never sets on Alice in Wonderland. Here are a few new items:




Can we hear a big "Yowsa!" for J. Scott Campbell's Alice in Wonderland cartoon illustration? Here is more by the same artist.



Notes on planning an Alice in Wonderland themed birthday party. Looks good!

I'm not sure if I already linked to this. Sorry if it's a repeat. More information about Alice Returns - the sequel to American McGee's Alice video game.

Speaking of American McGee's Alice Returns, here is more concept art for Alice Returns on SuperPunch.

Last - this is oh so YESTERDAY but it seems that Alice in Wonderland style hairbands are making a comeback.

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Thursday, August 27, 2009

Alice in One Minute, Twelve Seconds


You're a year early! In an online Micro Movie competition, writer/director Mark Lediard won a contest held by the Regional Screen Agency, Northern Film & Media in the UK with a one-minute long film Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland. I managed to find it. In case you have a full four minutes to watch movies, check out the rest.

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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Happy Late Birthday Tim Burton Plus News

A big OOPS from me for missing Tim Burton's birthday yesterday. His birthday is August 25. Here's a nice bio on the LA Times Entertainment Blog on Burton.

Plans are continuing to build a Lewis Carroll visitor center in Daresbury, UK. The design commission was won by Purcell Miller Tritton. The center (or centre, as the British call them) will be built at the Cheshire church where the Alice in Wonderland author was born.

More Alice in Wonderland inspired parties here and here.

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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

News From the Looking Glass


Helena Bonham Carter will play English author Enid Blyton in a new BBC4 biopic. Blyton was the author of children's books. Among them are "Noddy", The Famous Five Series and The Secret Seven Series.

Here is a really nice Alice in Wonderland-style tea party. Looking Good!

I don't even want to think about Halloween yet, but here is a page of ideas for Alice in Wonderland inspired costumes.

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Monday, August 24, 2009

Alice 2010 is #1 Most Anticipated Film

IMDB published results of a MOVIEmeter user poll for the 10 Most Anticipated Movies of 2010. Via. Here is the list:
1) Alice in Wonderland
2) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part 1)
3) Iron Man 2
4) The Last Airbender
5) A Nightmare on Elm Street 4
6) The Expendables
7) Green Hornet
8) Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
9) Remember Me
10) The Book of Eli

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Saturday, August 22, 2009

SyFy Alice Promo Tralier is Here!



Those of you who know better probably guessed that this is a Science Fiction version of Alice in Wonderland. I should have known from the fact that it's going to be on the SyFy Channel. Here is the Promo.

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Friday, August 21, 2009

Disney Expo D23 Details Plus Posters

Walt Disney Studios has announced that at the D23 Expo this year, on Friday, September 11, 2009, Dick Cook, chairman will present sneak peeks of a bunch of coming Disney movies, including Alice in Wonderland 2010. Go here for the D23 Expo site, and here for the Expo Schedule. Here is the full press release on the Disney Blog.

Information on the British Royal Ballet's planned 2011 production of Alice in Wonderland.

Finally, we have huge copies of the Alice in Wonderland movie posters.


 
 
 

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Thursday, August 20, 2009

From Russia With Love



Alice In Wonderland, Perfected in 1981 is the title of this article which is accompanied by YouTube videos of the entirety of two Russian animated films based on Lewis Carrol's books. There is Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.

Of course, they aren't as enjoyable if you don't know the language, but fans of the stories will know the gist of what's going on. There is a jar of Marmalade, a mad Tea Party where the guests change seats, and the pig-throwing Duchess.

We just recently talked about other movie adaptations of Alice in Wonderland. Enjoy the pictures...







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Wednesday, August 19, 2009

After the Fact: More Alice Concept Art



In the "Everyone else has posted these already." category, here is some amazing concept art by Michael Kutsche for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland 2010. Two Mad Hatters and a Red Queen. Very nice.




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Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Will the Real Alice Please Stand Up


Charlotte Henry as Alice (1933)

Here's a very thoughtful article in the Guardian Co UK movie blog on how different versions of Alice in Wonderland have portrayed Alice, and how true they were to the book. The author is, of course, concerned about Tim Burton's choice of 19 year old Mia Wasikowska for Alice in Wonderland 2010. This got me to thinking about how many versions there must be. If you're wondering now, see the IMDB search results here. The author is also astute enough to mention one of my favorite versions, Jan Svankmajer's rather dark stop-motion version of Alice.

Recently I noticed that there was an Alice in Wonderland outfit for sale for people who play Second Life. Here at this NSFW site are some more Second Life designs. They're definitely on the dark side of Alice, and include vampire bites and blood red tears.



Last we have some very nice Alice in Wonderland tea sets. It looks like they have adult tea sets and children's tea sets.

Bon Voyage.

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Monday, August 17, 2009

Monday Alice News

Some real quickies:


Alice in Wonderland hand painted chess set.

Tim Burton, Helena Bonham Carter, and kids at Disneyland.

Not sure what this is. It's a comic book adaption of some sort: John Cassaday's "The Complete Alice In Wonderland" with a cover on which Alice looks kind of like a 16 year old boy.


Last, and most importantly, this woman, Melinda Foster of Rawtenstall, won a national cupcake contest in the U.K. with her Alice in Wonderland themed cupcakes. The winning cupcake? The White Rabbit. Awesome!



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Friday, August 14, 2009

Alice is Curiouser and Curiouser on Thursday

Today we have here a post on JuicyBomb advertising the sale of Alice in Wonderland themed clothes and lingerie FOR VIRTUAL PEOPLE by Katat0nik. Yes. You read that right. Those of you who play Second Life can dress up Alice style. Limited to August only. BUT! To visit the store you will need a Second Life.

As if 2010 was already the Year of Alice, news arrives that publisher Harper/Collins will be publishing an edition of Alice in Wonderland with illustrations by Camille Rose Garcia. Via. These are really excellent. The artwork reminds me of Frank Pape.


In Tim Burton news, please find here a thoughtful article with tons of screen grabs from Burton's Edward Scissorhands.

And yet MORE Alice in Wonderland and fairy tale themed jewelry. This time from The Mymble's Daughter. In case you're wondering who the Mymble's Daughter is, see this Wikipedia entry.

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Thursday, August 13, 2009

Happy Birthday to Me



Since it is my birthday, I am giving you a present. I decided to get my crayons out and make a Cheshire Cat wallpaper. This is from the concept art that American McGee posted on his blog. Of course, it's the American McGee's Cheshire Cat because I already posted one for the Tim Burton movie (rather sneakily I might add) here: Cheshire Cat wallpaper. Enjoy and please don't sue me.

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With Alice it Happens that Thursday is Friday

Slim pickings today. I do have to complain to you, dear reader, that I've never followed the news on something as singular as one movie, and as such I've never been treated to so much regurgitated pap dressed up as news. If I see one more person mix up, comment on, and present as new this interview with Tim Burton, I'm going to vomit.

On the plus side, we have more photos and cast listing of the SyFy channel's coming Alice TV show.

I discovered a blogger with an amazing vintage Alice in Wonderland collection and another home decor place with that Alice vibe. Click here for an only-mildly-amusing Alice in Wonderland Dress Up set.

This has nothing at all to do with Alice. WAT?

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Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Wednesday Mad Tea Party - Animation and Fashion plus Award

Because today is Wednesday there will be a fascinating high resolution picture for every visitor. Please pick up your picture from the concierge.

More Alice in Wonderland inspired fashion via Melbourne Fashionista. Lookeng Good.

Stop Motion Works briefly discusses the methods of animation being used in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and provides a little history about the animation in Burton's Mars Attacks. Apparently, it's been announced that there will be very little stop motion animation in Alice 2010. Stop Motion Works is understandably upset about it, considering.

Stop Motion Works provides a link to a rather venomous attack on the Tim Burton movie, titled "Alice's Adventures in Mediocrity". I thought this might be worth reading until he said he loved Big Fish and hated Pee Wee's Big Adventure. I just can't get into the head space of someone like that. BUT click this link if you want to read a tiresomely long tirade against Alice 2010, Disney, Tim Burton and his girlfriend, and yet another person dragging out the old saw about Carroll's supposed drug use. Please see this here article debunking the myth.

*Whew* OK now that's out of the way, I will say, for the record, that I'm an Alice in Wonderland fan and I'm OK with the idea of Tim Burton re-imagining Alice in Wonderland. My best hope is that it'll be good like Sleep Hollow. That is to say, very entertaining and close to the spirit of the original story but with an identity of its own. I'm hoping for that.

What do you think? Are you looking forward to the movie? Leave a comment below.

Back to the good news: Anne Hathaway won a Teen Choice award in the category of "Choice Movie Actress Comedy" for her part in Bride Wars. Her award shelf must be getting rather full lately.

Let's talk about Alice in Wonderland inspired jewelry. Here are some kind of expensive Tarina Tarantino Queen Alice Cameo Crystal Earrings. Also, a nice Cheshire Cat charm bracelet charm. That seems redundant, but there it is.

Last, here's a fascinating Etsy shop, Untamed Menagerie with some Alice in Wonderland and Fairy Tale type jewelry and gifts. Via

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Monday, August 10, 2009

Monday News Round-up


It is Monday and that means there are no more links for you. See the menu? They are not there. These are in no particular order.

Janicu has included Alice in Wonderland in a list of 10 upcoming movies based on books.

WebUrbanist has posted a list of 12 bizarre theme restaurants. Included is a Japanese Alice in Wonderland themed restaurant.

Designer Jason Wu states in this article that he is inspired by the Alice in Wonderland illustrations of Arthur Rackham.

Red Queen Helena Bonham Carter via paparazzi.

Not really Alice, but DARK OZ. What is Dark Oz? Check it out.

The American McGee blog has news of the coming Alice 2 Videogame. They are looking for voice actors. He also posted this Cheshire Cat concept art. Via

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Saturday, August 8, 2009

Daily Dose of Alice: Video Game and TV Show



A really stratospherically unexciting screen grab from the upcoming Disney Alice in Wonderland 2010 video game. More detailed news here at WorthPlaying. Is it me, or does this sound a lot like the American McGee game? For instance, it has an oracle too.


The White Knight (Matt Frewer), Alice Hamilton (Caterina Scorsone), The Mad Hatter (Andrew Lee Potts)


The Queen and King of Hearts - Kathy Bates & Colm Meaney

Lots more information about the SyFy channel's Alice in Wonderland here. Turns out it's coming in December 2009. 2010 is still going to be the year of Alice!

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Friday, August 7, 2009

SyFy Channel Announces Their Own Alice

As if three (THREE!) videogames and one new movie (Tim Burton's) wasn't enough for all of us, the SyFy channel has announced a four hour long Alice in Wonderland adaptation. Looks from the press release that it's going to be aimed at adults. Alice will be played by Caterina Scorsone. Kathy Bates will play the Queen of Hearts. Harry Dean Stanton will be playing the Caterpillar. Nick Willing writes and directs.

Later note: Click here for the SyFy Alice in Wonderland Promo.

I know this doesn't have anything to do with Alice in Wonderland, but I cannot believe they renamed the SciFi channel "SyFy". What happened?

Also in the news, Anne Hathaway was voted best young actress of 2008 an online poll. She can put that trophy next to her Vanity Fair Magazine International Best Dressed award.

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Thursday, August 6, 2009

Great Alice in Wonderland Info Site


Fans of Alice in Wonderland should have a look at this great site. It's Lenny's Alice in Wonderland Site. Among other things, the site has a FAQ which answers such puzzles as: "Was Lewis Carroll on drugs?", "Was Alice in Wonderland banned in China?", and "What's up with the chess moves in Through the Looking Glass?"

Check it out!

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Return of American McGee's Alice + Interview with Disney Studio Head



Speaking of Alice in Wonderland and games based on the story, I never included a link to Electronic Arts announcement for their own Alice sequel.

Finally, we have here an interview with Disney Studio's Head of Production, Oren Aviv. He talks about several upcoming Disney movies in general, and Alice in Wonderland 2010 in particular. Click here for the interview with Oren Aviv.

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Wednesday, August 5, 2009

More Alice Papercrafts, Wallpapers, Wedding Dresses


First up, more Alice in Wonderland inspired papercrafts. The site CubeeCraft has released this one and plans to make one a week. Their first is an Alice papercraft. (Look here for a previous Alice in Wonderland papercraft.)


More Alice in Wonderland wallpapers. These were made from the photos released from Disney of the Red Queen, Mad Hatter, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and Alice. The wallpapers were designed by Louie Mantia. Fullscreen, Widescreen, and iPhone sizes are available.



A really cool Alice-inspired Dodo charm necklace. Via

Interesting conversation on a gaming forum where someone says that the Disney film was originally going to be a movie version of the popular American McGee's Alice, until Tim Burton happened along.

Finally, a round-up of Alice in Wonderland inspired wedding dresses. Or something.

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Virtual Fairground Announces Alice in Wonderland MMO

Virtual Fairground Alice in Wonderland


Virtual Fairground, a company which produces MMO games, has announced that they are currently producing an Alice in Wonderland themed game. MMO in this case stands for "Massively Multiplayer Online" games (which makes me think of World of Warcraft first).

The game will run entirely in Flash and as such will work in any browser and is slated for release in 2010. Maybe Flash will work on an iPhone by then - we can only hope. The Virtual Fairground press release states that they're looking to create an alternative virtual world aimed at girls. Apparently MMO games for girls are normally sugary sweet and they want to build something more mysterious and dark.

Interested parties can visit the Alice in Wonderland MMO to get on their mailing list. This, along with Disney's Alice in Wonderand game, and the Return of American McGee's Alice, looks to be quite the megafrenzy. I made that word up just now to describe it. Pretty cool, huh?

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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Alice-Inspired Fabric, Decor, and Wallpapers

A cool Alice in Wonderland inspired fabric sample, from Sunday Stash.


Several shades of Alice in Wonderland Fabrics that would be great for Alice in Wonderland Halloween Costumes.

Someone is putting together some Alice Wallpapers for download.

Alice in Wonderland inspired home decorating at the Steampunk Home.

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