Peter Pan
July 2004 Reviewed by: Rad Bennett Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

A live-action version of Peter Pan that would make one forget the Disney animated classic would have been impossible ten years ago, but thanks to computer animation, a perfect cast, and sure direction, here it is. Peter Pan is the coming-of-age story that questions the process of growing up, and lays out its plusses and minuses.

Wendy Darling, the oldest daughter in the Darling household, is at the age of puberty, when one night she runs into Peter Pan, who whisks her and her two younger brothers off to Neverland. There they have many adventures, including some intense battling with Peter’s nemesis, Captain Hook. Wendy and the other children realize that they must return to London and grow up, but Peter remains behind, a boy forever.

Jeremy Sumpter is ideal as Peter. His cocksure attitude is that of youth, betrayed by some inner feelings that tug at him to grow up. This Peter has mixed feelings in a characterization much deeper, yet no less refreshing, than the one in Disney’s revered movie. The rest of the cast is perfect, not good, mind you, but perfect, right down to Nanna, the St. Bernard nanny. The settings are imaginative and true to the book, as is the intelligent, witty script. And the special effects are special. No one will come away from this movie feeling that such and such a scene could have been done better. The flying looks real, and the sword fighting off the ground is exciting. The primary sets, the pirate ship, the castle, and the underground home of the Lost Boys are masterpieces of creation. The handling of Tinkerbell is so successful that you will believe in fairies and observe some pretty realistic-looking fairy dust for your efforts.

Only a tendency toward sentimentality, largely created by James Newton Howard’s super-syrupy score, knocks a half star off. Otherwise, this is first-rate family entertainment. The DVD is excellent as well, boasting a sharply etched picture that contains rich colors and tangible textures. The surround sound is effective in tracking motion, as well as setting an atmosphere.

The extras are arranged in an entertaining manner. There are five locations on the menu screen that one can explore: "The Darling Home," "The Pirate Ship," "The Neverland Forest," "The Black Castle" and the "Home Under the Ground." "The Darling Home" tab includes a rather successful alternate ending, which I am happy was jettisoned, as well as a deleted scene that finds Mr. Darling in the doghouse. "The Pirate Ship" location boasts a deleted pirate song, while "The Neverland Forest" yields production featurettes on fairies, Tinkerbell in particular. "The Black Castle" section includes a featurette on the flying sequences, as well as a segment on the spooky mermaids created for the movie.

The last location, the "Home Under the Ground," finds Duchess Sarah Ferguson on board, narrating a brief documentary on author J.M. Barrie, his love of children, and the creation of the Peter Pan character. Each location features a short fly or walk through it that shows us how each place was created and what it looks like as a set, stripped of its cinematic magic.

I can bestow no higher compliment on this amazing movie than to say it has become my preferred video version of the story. I am sure I will watch the Disney version again, but now it will only whet my appetite to see this movie.

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