A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Peter Pan (2003)

Date Viewed: 12/31/03

Details:

Jeremy Sumpter

Rachel Hurd-Wood

Lynn Redgrave

Olivia Williams

Jason Isaacs

Director: P.J. Hogan

Score: James Newton Howard

Score: 0

The Review: A persistently darker vision.

Most Peter Pan productions have a clear sense of humor and fun, but here it is significantly strained. This Pan always permits a bittersweet undertone to shine through, a dogged realization that both adult and childish interpretations of the dialog and behavior may be intended. This may reflect reality, but Peter Pan is not (normally) about reality, so its vision here has become oddly blurred. Overall, such continuous double entendre (even if not blatantly sexual) gets quite wearing. Jealousy, love triangles, sadism -- there's a lot not to like under the familiar veneer. Peter Pan himself (Sumpter) always seems to sport an indulgent, almost insolent, smirk reminiscent of Dennis Quaid; this too-knowing near-leer puts more of a malevolent spin on the Pan that I'd prefer to remember.

Quite slow in spots. Good score.

But both distaff Darlings are stunningly beautiful. It appears to be Hurd-Wood's first venture on-screen, but Williams has varied experience.

(8-Jan-04)

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