First off, your probably wondering what a review of "PETER PAN" is doing on a site like Stupid Sci-Fi, well my friends, we are also dedicated to the fantasy and horror genres as well as science fiction. Plus, Hal & Bubs are huge Peter Pan fans!

Anyway.. Before you go thinking that you know the whole story of Pan, Wendy, Hook, and their adventures in Neverland, guess again...for this is a darker more adult oriented version of the timeless tale about a boy that refused to grow up. Of course, most of you are familiar with the 1953 Walt Disney animated classic, and some of you may even be acquainted with Steven Spielberg's innovative, yet faulty 1991 box office failure "HOOK", but times have changed...for the better, make way for the quintessential "PETER PAN"!

This new retelling is brought to us by Universal Pictures and is primarily an English production and rightfully so, for Peter Pan is afterall an English creation. "Peter Pan" is the creation of British novelist J.M.Barrie who came up with the character while caring for some children. Peter Pan made his first appearance in 1902 in the book titled "The Little White Bird" and has since then entertained and inspired generations for over a century in books, plays, and in film. This new cinematic rendition is a visually stunning film, beautifully directed by P.J.Hogan ("Muriel's Wedding") from a screenplay written by Michael Goldenberg and is, in my opinion, the best film version of Pan yet to be seen. The cast is comprised of a talented combination of both child and veteran actors, all turn in convincing performances.

The story of Peter Pan is seen through the eyes of a young girl,Wendy Darling (Rachel Hurd Wood in her film debut) at that tender stage when girls start to enter young womanhood. Peter Pan (Jeremy Sumpter) is the object of her childhood fantasies and along with her brothers, Michael and Jonathan, go along with Peter for one last adventure into the magical realm of "Neverland". The standout performance by far is in the role of Captain James Hook (Jason Isaacs-"The Patriot", "Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets") who is determined to get final revenge on the imputent youth, Pan. Isaacs depicts Hook as an obsessed almost Ahab like antagonist who manipulates and twists his way into the minds of not only Wendy and Tinkerbell whom he charms into his way of thinking, but also discovers his adversary's secret and confronts him with what he fears most of all ,the loss of his precious Wendy, Hook and Pan's climactic battle over Hook's ship the "Jolly Roger" is well worth the admission alone. The effect wizards at Industrial Light & Magic create a convincing, beautiful world filled with faeries, Indians, pirates, mermaids, and a certain hungry crocodile...and the flying effects are superb.

The remainder of the cast of "Peter Pan" contain notable and veteran stage and screen actors; Lynn Redgrave, Olivia Williams, and Richard Briers as Hook's inept first mate, Mr. Smee. Think your too old for a tale such as Peter Pan? Think differently, and treat yourself...because if you still dream and wonder about magic and of fantastic lands then you owe it to yourself and to your children to see this new, and in my opinion, superb, definitive version of the timeless tale of "PETER PAN"....Enjoy the show!!!