For the latest entry in our ongoing weekly film series, where we typically recommend movies to watch “if you liked” a particular new release, we decided to celebrate the release of Alice Through the Looking Glass by highlighting some of our favorite fantasy adventures that draw inspiration from elements of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson's (aka Lewis Carroll) original 1865 novel, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
In Alice Through the Looking Glass, Alice finds herself back in Underland with the White Queen after slipping through a mirror. After reuniting with her friends, she finds that the Mad Hatter is depressed over the death of his family. Hoping to save his loved ones, Alice steals the Chronosphere from Time to travel into the past. While there, she encounters the younger Hatter and the evil Red Queen.
The story's structure, characters and imagery have been enormously influential in both popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy genre.
While there are many, many films that have been inspired by Alice and her rabbit-hole adventure, here are some of our favorites:
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
Two animated adaptations of make up this classic Disney film. In "The Wind in the Willows," wealthy Mr. Toad yearns for all the newest fads. When he wants an automobile, Mr. Toad sets out to get one any way he can. In "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," gangly schoolmaster Ichabod Crane falls for the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel. Caught in a love triangle with Katrina and Brom Bones, Ichabod fears a local legend called the Headless Horseman.
Alice (1988)
In this surreal adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic children's book, Alice follows her stuffed rabbit through a portal inside her dresser to be whisked away to Wonderland. While the White Rabbit, Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat are still present, the familiar magical world and bizarre characters have undergone an unsettling transformation.
Big Fish (2003)
When Edward Bloom becomes ill, his son travels to be with him. William has a strained relationship with Edward because his father has always told exaggerated stories about his life, and William thinks he's never really told the truth. Even on his deathbed, Edward recounts fantastical anecdotes. When William, who is a journalist, starts to investigate his father's tales, he begins to understand the man and his penchant for storytelling.
The Cat Returns (2002)
High school student Haru rescues a cat that was about to be run over by a truck and discovers the cat is actually a prince named Lune. Out of gratitude, Lune's father, the Cat King, asks her to marry Lune. Haru is brought to the Cat Kingdom, where she starts to develop feline features. When she is prevented from leaving, the Baron and Toto, two statues that have magically been given life, provide assistance in gaining her freedom.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Based on Roald Dahl's beloved tale, this comedic and fantastical film follows young Charlie Bucket and his Grandpa Joe as they join a small group of contest winners who get to tour the magical and mysterious factory of eccentric candy maker Willy Wonka. Aided by his diminutive Oompa Loompa workers, Wonka has a hidden motivation for the tour, one that he will reveal only after the children in the group show their true colors.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
During the World War II bombings of London, four English siblings are sent to a country house where they will be safe. One day Lucy finds a wardrobe that transports her to a magical world called Narnia. After coming back, she soon returns to Narnia with her brothers and her sister. There they join the magical lion, Aslan, in the fight against the evil White Witch.
Coraline (2009)
While exploring her new home, a girl named Coraline discovers a secret door, behind which lies an alternate world that closely mirrors her own but, in many ways, is better. She rejoices in her discovery, until Other Mother and the rest of her parallel family try to keep her there forever.
Corpse Bride (2005)
Victor and Victoria's families have arranged their marriage. Though they like each other, Victor is nervous about the ceremony. While he's in a forest practicing his lines for the wedding, a tree branch becomes a hand that drags him to the land of the dead. It belongs to Emily, who was murdered after eloping with her love and wants to marry Victor.
Labyrinth (1986)
Teenage Sarah journeys to reach the center of an enormous otherworldly maze to rescue her infant brother Toby, who has been kidnapped by Jareth, the Goblin King (David Bowie).
The Matrix (1999)
In the near future, computer hacker Neo is contacted by underground freedom fighters who explain that reality as he understands it is actually a complex computer simulation called the Matrix. Created by a malevolent Artificial Intelligence, the Matrix hides the truth from humanity, allowing them to live a convincing, simulated life in 1999 while machines grow and harvest people to use as an ongoing energy source. The leader of the freedom fighters, Morpheus, believes Neo is "The One" who will lead humanity to freedom and overthrow the machines.
Mirrormask (2005)
A 15-year-old girl, who's sick of her family's career as circus performers, journeys through a parallel reality to recover a powerful charm in order to revive a queen.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The film follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's beloved pumpkin king, who has become bored with the same annual routine of frightening people in the "real world." When Jack accidentally stumbles on Christmastown, all bright colors and warm spirits, he gets a new lease on life -- he plots to bring Christmas under his control by kidnapping Santa Claus and taking over the role.
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Pan's Labyrinth is centered around the young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer who escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world. While exploring an ancient maze, Ofelia encounters the faun Pan, who tells her that she is a legendary lost princess and must complete three dangerous tasks in order to claim immortality.
Peter Pan (2003)
As Wendy Darling recounts stories to her brothers, she's visited by Peter Pan. Peter, a boy who magically never ages, invites Wendy and her brothers to Neverland, an island where he lives with the Lost Boys. Once there, however, Wendy and her brothers are kidnapped by Captain Hook. Peter, with assistance from the fairy Tink, must face Hook in order to rescue the Darlings.
The Red Balloon (1956)
Filmed in the Ménilmontant neighborhood of Paris, the thirty-five-minute short follows the adventures of a young boy who one day finds a sentient, mute, red balloon.
Spirited Away (2001)
In this animated feature by noted Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki, 10-year-old Chihiro and her parents stumble upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. After her mother and father are turned into giant pigs, Chihiro meets the mysterious Haku, who explains that the park is a resort for supernatural beings who need a break from their time spent in the earthly realm, and that she must work there to free herself and her parents.
Sucker Punch (2011)
Locked away, a young woman named Babydoll retreats to a fantasy world where she is free to go wherever her mind takes her. Determined to fight for real freedom, she finds four women -- Rocket, Blondie, Amber and Sweet Pea -- to join together to escape the terrible fate that awaits them. With a virtual arsenal at their disposal, the allies battle everything from samurais to serpents, while trying to decide what price they will pay for survival.
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970)
Valerie, a teenager living with her grandmother, is blossoming into womanhood, but that transformation proves secondary to the effects she experiences when she puts on a pair of magic earrings. Now seeing the world around her in a different light, Valerie must endure her sexual awakening while attempting to discern reality from fantasy.
Be sure to also check out 10 Movies to Get You Through The Holiday Season and 20 Slasher Films Every Highsnobiety Reader Should Know.
