I debated calling this "An Evening Down The Rabbit Hold." Reason? I took an evening and watched both versions back to back. I saw an edited version of the original once in the later '80's on TV (an hour including commercials, compared to the features 75 minute without commercials), and not the newer version. Of course, if you count the number of times I rode the Disneyland ride when I was a kid...
Walt Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" (1951) was a memorable and creative animated film. Some consider that Lewis Carroll was influenced by drugs when he wrote this story, and this film didn't do much to counter that view. As a writer, I find it interesting that there wasn't a real hero(ine)in the story, nor was there a villain - the Queen of Hearts wasn't mentioned let alone seen in the first half of the film. Rather, it dealt with Alice dealing with unique, unforgettable characters like the Caterpillar, the Chesire Cat, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, Tweedledum and Twiddledee, the Walrus and the Carpenter, the aviary in Tulgy Wood, and the Queen of Hearts ... oh, I must not forget the King.
As mentioned, I didn't see the movie until I was an adult, but I was very familiar with the Disneyland ride, which is connected near the Peter Pan ride and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, with Snow White not far away. The original design of these rides were visual thrills, with some surprises like the honking bird on Alice or the crocodile snapping at you on Peter Pan. Didn't really tell a story and didn't have an ending (for example, going through several doors on Alice, having the witch roll a stone on you at the end of Snow white, and going through hell - literally - on Mr. Toad. By the way, no Queen of Hearts on Alice.
After I left California, Disney did remodeling while I was gone. They added a fifth ride (Pinocchio), and had the rides more give a story summary and, with the exception of Mr. Toad, end with a happy ending (Peter Pan and friends commanding the ship, Snow White revived by the prince's kiss, and the Mad Hatter and White Rabbit wishing you a happy Un-birthday. Sorry, but I liked the originals better. But if I go back to Disneyland after a 40 year sabbatical, I'll get on the original four again. (I'm able to view them on Youtube when I need a fix.)
Now, let me move to Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" (2010). Or should it have been called "The Mad Hatter in Wonderland?" Johnny Depp's version of the character is prominent on both the front and back cover, and he's the only actor whose name is on the front. (Take a look at the covers pictured above - do you agree that the focus went from Alice to the Hatter?)
To be honest, while I had a crush on the cartoon Alice since my childhood (I had no interest in the Disney princesses), I actually liked this remake better. It came across more of a fantasy movie than a drug trip like the cartoon. The Red Queen and the Knave were good villains, and Alice's role was more like Frodo's than a girl lost in an unreal world. I'd also say this is my favorite Tim Burton movie, and that I loved the take on the Bandersnatch.
Last comment - would you say I'm onto something to say we need a dose of unreality to cope with the 2024 election?