Review of Peter Pan

Introduction

It`s a book, a play, a film and a fundraiser for Great Ormond Street Hospital. The writer of Peter Pan left the play royalties to the hospital in his will. This film made the headlines last year when Disney rather unsportingly pulled out because they didn`t want to pay royalties to the Hospital. Allegedly Disney has made quite a few dollars out of their own version without ever having to pay over royalties other than voluntarily and why should they start now?

The story of the lost boy who refuses to grow up is well known and well used. The most well known interpretation fro my generation is that 1953 Disney version with some very well known songs.

Peter Pan is often performed as a pantomime and I once saw Dirty Den play Captain Hook at the Grand in Wolverhampton I`m still taking the tablets. It is traditional for the actor who plays Mr Darling to also play Captain Hook and of course in pantomime it is also customary for Peter Pan to be played by a woman.

For Christmas 2003 the children were treated to a new version-live action this time and benefiting from the magic of computerised special effects meaning we never-never see the wires! Following tradition Mr Darling and Hook are played by Jason Isaacs but Peter Pan is played by the young actor Jeremy Sumpter. It would be fair to say that Sumpter plays him a whisker away from adolescence. Wendy (Rachel Hurd-Wood in her first film role) is just young and sweet enough to carry off the innocence of the role.

The story follows more or less the traditional interpretation Wendy is on the verge of growing up. It is Edwardian England and she is the daughter of a middle class clerk, Mr Darling, who has shut his dreams in a drawer as his wife says and sometimes gets them out and looks at them. He might not fight with a sword but she thinks he is a very brave man.

Wendy is unsure about growing up. Her Aunt Millicent seems desperate to train her into being a young lady but Wendy still wants to share stories of adventures with her two younger brothers. She regales them with blood-thirsty tales of pirates.

One night, though, her sleep is disturbed by a boy, who loses his shadow in her bedroom. Accompanied by Tinkerbell he comes looking for it. Wendy is fascinated when she learns his name is Peter Pan. He was lost by his parents as young child. Although he tried to return later he found he was already shut out and now has vowed never to grow up.

Peter asks Wendy to come to Neverland and read him stories. Although she is willing she insists in taking her brothers along. After a wild flight across the galaxy they arrive in the early dawn on the island and catch their first glimpse of the pirates.

The ensuing tale follows the children as they encounter the wonders and the dangers of Neverland.

Video

The production values seem very high on this film with some beautifully done special effects. Flying has become a lot easier it seems. All of the film takes place on various sound stages but it works very well. The transfer to DVD seems very clean with no signs of any problems.

Audio

With two soundtracks you can choose between Dolby and DTS. The script is straightforward with the adult parts woefully underwritten. Typical of the big budget children`s films the script is suborned to the special effects leaving a less than memorable experience when all the fairy dust has blown away. Richard Briers as Smee has one great line but as it is delivered direct to camera in a film that isn`t a pantomime it seems out of place, still welcome though.
I would have enjoyed some sharper verbal swordplay throughout the rest of the film.

Features

Looking at the menu it appears that the disc is stuffed with extras but on examination many of them are mere glimpses into the magical world of film making.

These are the mini featurettes as they appear on the menus-which again are well done:

The Pirate Ship

Board the Pirate Ship
Just a quick look at the set of the ship.

Through the Eyes of Captain Hook

A video diary by Jason Isaacs looks at the production. His language was a little fruity on occasions but then he is a pirate.

The Pirates vs. The Lost Boys
Another mini featurette-self explanatory title.

The Lost Pirates` Song

-omitted no doubt fearing comparisons with Disney, I also thought we might be treading dangerous `Mary Poppins` ground here.

The Darling House

Alternate Ending
The alternate ending is the final chapter of the original book. It would have been a big disappointment in a cinema as it is rather down beat.


Deleted Scenes-Mr Darling in the dog house.

Mr Darling taking to the dog house in penance while his children are away formed a large part of the book. Having filmed it presumably they took it out for time or sense. The film stays mostly with the children in Neverland and doesn`t dwell on the parents.


Me & My Shadow

Another mini film about the special effects filming the shadow Peter.

In the Dog House with Nana

Three dogs and all male(!) playing the best Nanny in the world.

The Neverland Forest

Explore the Forest

A whiz through the set.

Tinkerbell: Behind the Fairy Dust

The discovery that sometimes we need the talents of a real fairy.

I Do Believe in Fairies
Creating the costumes for the fairies.

Princess Tiger Lily

When you need someone who speaks the language…

The Black Castle

A point to note here is that the scenes in the Black Castle have been added to the film but are not in the original book. It is difficult to remember what is but helpfully you can read it in its entirety online and free.

Enter the Castle

Yep it`s a visit to the set.

Learning to Fly

Flying lessons for the children.

The Mermaids` Tale

Making the mermaids swim. Bearing in mind the mermaids are on screen fro nano seconds-it was a lot of work.

The Home Under the Ground

Dig Under the Home

The set again.

The Legacy of Pan hosted by Sarah Ferguson

-Yes it is she-takes on her personal tour of Neverland. Looks like a syndicated Featurette made for pretty much every network -certainly in the USA and Europe. Bless.

The Duchess`s Outtakes
Oh she`s such a professional.

Lost Boys on the Set

Oh those kooky loveable boys.

Conclusion

I`ll start by telling you what this film isn`t. It isn`t anything like the Disney version, for a start it has no songs although the music is quite acceptable. It certainly isn`t a faithful rendition of J.M. Barrie`s book of Peter Pan despite what the pre-publicity says.

It`s a tale with rather modern sensibilities and it seems to concentrate on the relationship between Peter and Wendy in a way that the original story and Disney certainly never did. Happily it doesn`t dwell too long on this else it could have run into dodgy territory. It can safely be said that this offers a more detailed look at how Wendy sees Peter. Following this interpretation means he has knowledge of the choice he is making which is against the grain of the original tale of innocent friendship. The original story concentrates on the heartlessness of children who happily fly out of the window and leave their parents behind. This heartlessness is forever personified by the character of Peter Pan who remains in the egocentric world of the child and quickly forgets things once he has no more use for them. In this version he seems to have more complete knowledge of what he is rejecting. The choice is made more poignant rather than less. Film adaptations are always risky and classic stories, although fair game, are often a poisoned chalice. This is no exception in these politically correct times.

The young actors are more competent than usual and the pirates are suitably grubby. The set action pieces are amusing and so is the flying but the story seem slighter than either the original or Disney. It has gone for prettiness rather than depth. You are left wanting.

It is an entertaining film but not a new classic version. It passes the time and doesn`t outstay its welcome. However, this film is not in the league of `Pirates of the Caribbean` when it comes to pirates. `Not enough fighting` was the conclusion and sadly not enough wit. Perhaps because we know the story so well the frisson of excitement is lost as the ticking crocodile approaches. Peter Pan does not do anything innovative that will make it stand long in the memory.

Peter Pan is worth a rent but this tale will not stand too many retellings.