So once again our screens are graced with an adaptation of the J. M. Barrie classic. This story has had rather a disappointing history on screen. I never really enjoyed the Disney version, even though it’s often considered one of their better animated outings. It was enjoyable but there was something missing. Then of course we have Spielberg’s Hook – an absolutely atrocious film in my opinion. I have spent many many years since seeing that film trying to wipe it from my memory.
Then along comes P. J. Hogan’s version. Wow. This film is everything the Peter Pan should be.
Hogan’s film is absolutely beautiful, every frame rich in colour and texture. This is a special effects film, in the sense that very little of what we see was created outside a computer, but this is one of the rare cases where it actually works. And, of course, this is a film with heart – a beautiful and touching story that is very intelligent and never talks down to the viewer. In fact there are no throwaway lines in this film at all – the script is perfect.
The acting was all great (I could have done without Peter’s American accent, but I guess they had to keep US audiences in mind), and we are treated to a host of lesser-known actors, rather than Spielberg’s version which tried to wow us by saying ‘oh look! It’s Julia Roberts! Oh look! It’s Dustin Hoffman!’ Bruce Spence also makes an appearance as (surprise, surprise!) a pirate… is there no end to this man’s career? His strange appearance has enabled him to have a wonderful career, even if I haven’t seen him in a main role since Mad Max 2. (He wasn’t really that important to Matrix Revolutions, merely a means to an end.) Also Jason Isaacs plays both Wendy’s father and Captain Hook, not that I noticed this at the time.
This film is spectacular in not only the visual sense, but also in its ability to make the audience want to scream out ‘I believe in fairies!’ Truly fantastic.