Peter Pan
From AwardAnnals
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| Director(s) | P.J. Hogan |
|---|---|
| Distributor | Universal Studios |
| Honors | |
| The magic, the excitement, the wonder of the true Peter Pan comes to life for the first time in this spellbinding fantasy that critics proclaim “a fun and fantastic tale!” (Daily Herald). Brimming with spectacular special effects and non-stop action, this all-new adventure is sure to be a family favorite for years to come! “One of the finest films of the year!” (Daily Gazette) | |
The magic, the excitement, the wonder of the true Peter Pan comes to life for the first time in this spellbinding fantasy that critics proclaim “a fun and fantastic tale!” (Daily Herald). Brimming with spectacular special effects and non-stop action, this all-new adventure is sure to be a family favorite for years to come! “One of the finest films of the year!” (Daily Gazette)
Honors
Reviews
Amazon.com
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
Barnes and Noble
Whatever your pick of the past Pans—Disney’s 1953 animated feature, the legendary Mary Martin made-for-TV production, the touring stage musical presented on A&E with Cathy Rigby in the lead, or Steven Spielberg’s nonmusical Hook—this bold new take on the J. M. Barrie classic will seem as fresh as it is familiar. For instance: Australian director P. J. Hogan breaks from tradition and employs an actual boy, Jeremy Sumpter, as the lad who refuses to grow up. All the familiar Neverland touchstones are here, including the Lost Boys and their sinister nemesis, Captain Hook. Jason Isaacs, Draco’s dad in the Harry Potter films, portrays the evil pirate with dandy relish, while Ludivine Sagnier from Swimming Pool makes for a rather fetching Tinkerbell. Children will be transported by the magnificent production design and special effects, and they’ll cheer Peter’s dashing duels with Hook (and Hook’s with an animatronic crocodile that’s easily the scariest Pan croc ever). But what gives the film emotional resonance is the relationship between Peter and Wendy (Rachel Hurd-Wood), whom Peter recruits to be mother and storyteller to his Lost Boys, and whose presence stirs his inner teen. Peter says “Why do you have to spoil everything?” after Wendy brings up the subject of feelings and love. She touches his face and he pulls away. This moment, and Peter’s fundamental dilemma, were not depicted with such emotional honesty in earlier versions, and it’s what makes this Peter Pan perhaps the most striking yet. Donald Liebenson
