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Peter Pan Soars with Audience
By Heidi Manteuffel

Title: Peter Pan

In Theaters: December 25

Starring: Jason Isaacs, Jeremy Sumpter, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Lynn Redgrave, Richard Briers, Olivial Williams, Geoffrey Palmer, Harry Newell, Freddie Popplewell

Directed by: P.J. Hogan

MPAA rating: PG for adventure action sequences and peril

PTC Says:  This PTC Seal of Approval winner celebrates the imagination of childhood, but some scenes may be too scary for younger viewers.

Peter Pan is a story that, like its hero, will never grow old. This latest incarnation of the story may be the darkest rendition of J. M. Barrie's tale ever brought to stage or screen, with several scary and intense scenes, but the film also presents an amazing visual experience and a celebration of a child's imagination without the use of sex, extreme violence or foul language, and for that reason, the Parents Television Council is happy to award it the PTC Seal of Approval. 

This delightful retelling of J.M. Barrie's famous story is filled with enough fantasy and whimsy to fill the heart of even the most jaded moviegoer with glee.  Peter Pan opens its tale with young Wendy Darling (Rachel Hurd-Wood) being told she must grow up and move out of the nursery where she has spent her happy childhood with her brothers and her nurse, Nana, a St. Bernard.  The children's Aunt Millicent (Lynn Redgrave) has big plans to make Wendy a boring, respectable young lady, and marry her into high society. Wendy's father (Jason Isaacs-pulling double duty as Mr. Darling and as Captain Hook) is too timid to object to her meddling, and lets Aunt Millicent start her plotting.  Peter Pan (Jeremy Sumpter) flies to the children's window, and curiously watches Wendy tell adventure-filled stories her adoring younger brothers, Michael (Freddie Popplewell) and John (Harry Newell).  He is captivated.

One night, Peter enters the nursery while trying to catch his mischievous shadow that keeps getting away. Wendy hears Peter crying, and decides to help him sew his shadow back on. Peter tells Wendy, Michael and John about Neverland, a place where the children can the adventures that Wendy has described with Indians, mermaids and pirates—a place where they never have to grow up. The children are wildly excited, and want to see Neverland for themselves. Peter tells the children to think happy thoughts and after a sprinkle of fairy dust, the foursome fly away to Neverland to have a most amazing adventure and to fight against the evil pirate, Captain Hook.

While Peter Pan is an excellent movie to see over the holiday season, parents should be warned about a few aspects to the film.  Peter Pan is very close to Barrie's original story, and therefore darker than previous versions. This film's Captain Hook and his men are scary and their actions may frighten young viewers under age 8. Hook battles the children with swords, and makes Wendy walk the plank. Captain Hook also shoots two men with his pistol, and slits someone with a sword. Also, there is a scene where Michael and John hang upside down in their nightgowns, and there is an unnecessary but brief glance at their bare little boy bottoms.

The mermaids in this film can be scary, vicious, and may try to lure unsuspecting victims to their deaths. As the producer P.J. Hogan said, "There needs to be a dark side of Neverland as well, so that kids are aware that good along with bad occurs, even in the fantasy world of Neverland."  Also, I found Tinkerbell bordering on the line of playfully mischievous to slightly vindictive-- although I supposed in every rendition she's always portrayed as the jealous type.

Despite content that is scarier than other versions, Peter Pan is visually spectacular and much more exciting that ever.  This timeless tale of one boy's staunch refusal to grow up and the fantasy that resides in our child-like minds is a treat to anyone who loves Barrie's original storytelling mastery.  Peter Pan pays homage to imagination and for its exciting depiction of a children's classic, it has been awarded the PTC Seal of Approval.  The film opens on Christmas Day and this more exciting and scarier version of Peter Pan may be the 105 minute vacation from snow that you're looking for this holiday season.

Watch the trailer!

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