Reviewed By
Rebecca

Analysis
I liked how they made this movie based on the original book of Peter Pan. I haven't read it myself, but there were some parts that you knew had to be true to it-- first of all the basic plotline, and a few lines here and there: "...he liked me hand so much he's followed me ever since, licking his chops for the rest of me..." "Oh the cleverness of me!" "Boy, why are you crying?" "We shall build a house around her!" "Please Wendy lady, be our mother?!". I also liked how they included the Darling children's aunt. I also liked the part when Wendy was talking about how medicine was a punishment worse than death.

I thought that Jeremy Sumpter played a brilliant Peter. He played him right to the core. He had the impish grin and the sparkling eyes; he played the little boy always wanting to play very well. And when his character changed into someone struggling with the longing for a family, love, and these new feelings for Wendy he seems to be having, it was interesting to see the transition. When you think of Peter, you think of someone like Jeremy. Jason Isaacs also played a very good Captain Hook and think he plays a brilliant bad guy, and he gave the captain sort of a half-insane, unruly, scuzzy, lonely man look that Captain Hook character has been searching for for a long time. Isaacs was also very clumsy, nervous and shy as Mr. Darling . . . many people still don't know that Captain Hook and Mr. Darling are always played by the same person. I think that's brilliant.

Personally, I thought Tinkerbell was dumb. She made weird faces and wasn't the least bit funny. I much preferred the Disney's version with just the tinkling bells. I suppose she was trying to talk in a fairy-language and make Tinkerbell act more, which she does have to do because she doesn't talk, but it didn't feel like Tinkerbell to me in the least. When she died, and Peter was so sad, I thought that was brilliant. He was very convincing and I loved how the storm clouds came because he was so shook up by his grief for his friend-- which in turn shows that he can indeed feel grown-up feelings, at least in part. The chanting was sort of cute, but after a while it was a little annoying.

I liked the Lost Boys . . . they were a bit of comic relief, but it was so cute that you had to love it. Slightly was my favourite character. The crocodile looked a bit fake, and the mermaids aren't what you'd think of when you think of traditional mermaids-- you think of 'Ariel The Little Mermaid' or the ones from the Disney version. I liked how they were sort of like fortune tellers.

I liked the scene on the ship when Captain Hook got to fly. I don't know if that's true to the book or not, but It gave the story a whole new twist. I also liked how Peter dove at him, ready to beat him, and then Hook started tearing him down with his words and making Peter feel sad. "What are you giving him?" "It's only a thimble." "How like a girl." I thought that was brilliant. And when Wendy and Peter kissed . . . I thought it was what the story has needed for a long time. I was, however,annoyed at how they never went into the feelings of those two characters for each other. I really liked the dancing scene when she was asking him about emotions. And then later when: "I want always-- ALWAYS to be a little boy and to have fun." "You say so, but I think it's your biggest pretend." That was just brilliant.

The end was sad and I was slightly disappointed that they didn't add the part about Peter coming back for Wendy and taking her daughter Jane instead. It was strange that they didn't, but I suppose I didn't mind it that much. I confess I've seen the play a million times and the Disney cartoon too, so I was a little sick of Peter Pan. The play doesn't give Peter any character at all, while this movie did. The movie started out (and I was ready to be a little bored), but it started a little differently than most other ways of telling the story. Usually they go to Neverland that very first night, but I liked how this one gave them all more character and it built up why Wendy didn't want to grow up. Even before they got to Neverland, I was hooked (lol) into the movie and couldn't take my eyes off the screen.

Key Area	Rating (out of 5)	Comment
Action		I liked the flying around, it was usually done very realistically. Some scenes weren't done as thoroughly, though. The sword fighting was brilliant-- but then, I've always been a sucker for sword fighting. Hook was great, running around, yelling orders and shooting crew mates.
Tension		When Mr. Darling had been practicing small talk all day was killing me! He goes up to his bank manager like he has a purpose, but he only goes up there to say some small talk, and he freezes up, and suddenly Wendy bursts through the door with Nanna and her brothers and run straight into everyone. I was nearly biting my nails. I hate suspense, yet I love it. The fighting scenes were thrilling and the part when the kids were strapped to the rock was cool and Peter was just sitting there pretending to me Captain Hook.
Violence/ Gore		I didn't think that there was that much. I mean, yeah, Hook wants to kill Peter and tries to four times. Once with a cannon, once during a trap in the cave, once with poison, and then at the end on the ship, sword fighting. It was sad that Fairies die whenever someone says 'I don't believe in fairies'.
Bare Flesh	None	This is a family film so nothing but Peter's knees are on show.
Plot		It's a brilliant plot. It's about whether growing up is worse than not having a family to love you. Loneliness. Good triumphing over evil. Swordplay and Mermaids, flying and dancing, swimming, pirates, savages, caves and playing house . . . It was full of adventure and you don't really get bored, or wait for the movie to end. I was surprised that it went by so quickly.

Verdict All in all, I liked this movie. I'm glad that I like it. I thought that I wouldn't, but as they say, 'don't judge a book by its cover'. I like all the new twists (or old, since they're from the book) and how it really tells the real story. I like how its live action for the first time since silent movie days and with a boy as Peter like in the Disney one. I've always thought of Peter as a boy. I think it's kind of silly that a girl has always played Peter.

Movie Pictures (Click picture to enlarge)