Peter Pan (Full Screen Edition)
Director: P.J. HoganStudio: Mca Home Video
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Running Time: 114 minutes
DVD Release: May 4th 2004
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DVD Review
Fine casting, genuinely special effects, and a keen combination of whimsy and danger make this Peter Pan the one to beat among all previous adaptations of J.M. Barrie's classic children's fantasy. The technical advances of CGI make the magic of Barrie's tale come alive, and the spectacular effects combined with luminous live action create an action-packed Neverland that's both believable and breathtakingly artificial, like a Maxfield Parrish landscape springing vividly to life before your eyes. More important, however, is the fact that director P.J. Hogan (whose splendid films include Muriel's Wedding and My Best Friend's Wedding) has taken care to develop a substantial, pre-adolescent affection between the boyish sprite Peter (Jeremy Sumpter) and resourceful London girl Wendy, played by Rachel Hurd-Wood in a marvelous screen debut. This emotional bond--and the mixed blessing of Peter's eternal childhood--is what gives Hogan's Peter Pan its rich emotional subtext, added to an already bountiful adventure that's equal parts delightful and menacing, especially when the villainous pirate Captain Hook (Jason Isaacs, doubling as Wendy's father) threatens to spoil the fun. With a mischievously dazzling Tinker Bell (played by Swimming Pool's Ludivine Sagnier) and no expense spared on its lavish Australian production, this Peter Pan gets it entirely right by presenting childhood as fun and frightening, in all its wondrous joys and sorrows. --Jeff Shannon
User Reviews
AMAZING! - Rating: 5/5
Jeremy Sumpter as Peter Pan does an amazing job in this movie. He says that it is a lot of fun to do. I bet they all had fun in this movie. I think is better than the cartoon version. Sorry, if that upsets you kids but it is. If You love Jason Isaacs as Mr.Malfoy in Harry Potter you should see him as Captain hook He fits right in. Rachel Hurd-Wood is great as Wendy. P.J. HOGEN did an amazing job with this movie. Watching this move by him was excellent. I watched four times today. I loved it.
A Perfectly Wonderful Adaptation - Rating: 4/5
Truly magnificent acting, amazing special effects, and an honestly-crafted screenplay make this the best Peter Pan movie of all time. I was a bit skeptical at first, but as a Jason Isaacs fan, couldn't resist watching anyway. And I certainly was not disappointed. This movie exceeded my expectations in everyway (even my father enjoyed it). I don't want to talk it up too much, though, (there seem to be plenty of others eager to do so in any event) as I always find "hype" off-putting. So...stay away from this movie if you must, but if even part of you is leaning toward giving it a peek, I say go for it!
Overall it's a good boy's movie - Rating: 3/5
This the classic story of Peter Pan. Very entertaining and not really anything offensive. There is some minor violence...and a scene showing a bullet hole in the chest of a pirate (who then drops dead). Overall it's a good boy's movie.
The special features are actually better than the movie itself. Just be forewarned...there is a scene showing the painted-over breasts of the mermaids, in the feature about the mermaids. You might want to use parental guidance when your young boys get to that part of the speacial features. It is a very well made and enjoyable film though.
*** Three and half stars
Exactly as it should be - Rating: 5/5
This is the definitive movie version of "Peter Pan!" Forget the animated Disney cartoon filled with a bunch of cheesy songs and the annoying Cathy Rigby adaptation based on the stage musical...this film stays true to J.M. Barrie's classic story and features outstanding special effects that create the most amazing Neverland you can possibly imagine. Add to that a magnificent cast of the most adorable children on the planet along with Jason Isaacs (perhaps best known for his role as Lucius Malfoy in the "Harry Potter" movies) in a duel role as the delightfully evil Captain Hook and the slightly neurotic Mr. Darling, and you have one of the most fantastic fairytale productions ever made! "Peter Pan" is full of fun and sorrow, adventures and tears...it's a story that will enchant both children and adults. Don't miss this one!
Peter Pan - Rating: 5/5
This new, live-action version of the classic is that increasingly rare phenomenon: a movie that balances wondrous special effects with an intelligent, faithful rendering of charming story. Sumpter makes a superb Peter.
