Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9550 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-04-26
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 120 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Fine casting, genuinely special effects and a keen combination of whimsy and danger make this Peter Pan the one to beat among all previous adaptations of JM Barrie's classic children's fantasy. The technical advances of CGI make the magic of Barrie's tale come alive and the spectacular effects combined with luminous live action create an action-packed Neverland that's both believable and breathtakingly artificial, like a Maxfield Parrish landscape springing vividly to life before your eyes.

More importantly, however, is the fact that director PJ Hogan (whose films include Muriel's Wedding and My Best Friend's Wedding) has taken care to develop a substantial, pre-adolescent affection between the boyish sprite Peter (Jeremy Sumpter) and resourceful London girl Wendy, played by Rachel Hurd-Wood in a marvellous screen debut. This emotional bond--and the mixed blessing of Peter's eternal childhood--is what gives Hogan's Peter Pan it's rich emotional subtext, added to an already bountiful adventure that's equal parts delightful and menacing, especially when the villainous pirate Captain Hook (Jason Isaacs, doubling as Wendy's father) threatens to spoil the fun. With a mischievously dazzling Tinker Bell (played by Swimming Pool's Ludivine Sagnier) and no expense spared on its lavish Australian production, this Peter Pan gets it entirely right by presenting childhood as fun and frightening, in all its wondrous joys and sorrows. --Jeff Shannon

DVD Description
Re-discover the timeless story of Peter Pan as you’ve never seen it before and be swept off your feet to a Neverland you’d never dreamt possible. Magic, adventure, flying, swashbuckling action and amazing special effects: this feature film version of Peter Pan by critically acclaimed filmmakers has got it all.

Join the boy who wouldn’t grow up and Wendy, the girl who is told she has to, in their adventure against Captain Hook and his pirate crew. Follow Tinkerbell, the Lost Boys, giant crocodiles and other fanatastic creatures to a world where anything is possible … and where dreams and imagination have a power all of their own.

Special Features

• Deleted scenes
  
• Neverland Forest:
  Tinkerbell - Behind The Fairy Dust
  I Do Believe In Fairies
  
• Black Castle:
  Enter The Castle
  Learning To Fly
  The Mermaid's Tale
  
• Pirate's Ship:
  Board The Pirate Ship
  Through The Eyes Of Captain Hook
  The Pirates vs. The Lost Boys
  The Lost Pirate Song
  
• Home Underground:
  Dig Under The home
  The Legacy Of Pan
  The Duchess’s Outtakes
  Lost Boys On The Set

DVD Technical Information:

• Region Code: 2, 4
  
• Running Time: 2 hours approx.
  
• Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.35:1 Anamorphic
  
• Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
  
• Language: English
  
• Subtitles: English for the Hearing Impaired

Customer Reviews

"Second star to the right, then straight on til morning"
This live-action version of Peter Pan stars Jason Isaacs as Captain Hook and Jeremy Sumpter as Peter. The story begins in London, where motherless Peter has come to listen to stories told by young Wendy (Rachel Hurd-Wood). He takes her and her brothers to Neverland to live the wild pirate life, until it is time for them to return home and grow up. All the characters you remember from your childhood are here: The ticking crocodile (computer-animated and scary), the fiesty Indian Princess, funny Pirate Smee, spunky Tinkerbelle, and even Nana, the dog-nanny.

Jason Isaacs hams it up just right as the dashing and outrageous Captain Hook. His best scenes are the humorous ones (for instance, when he selects which hook to wear for the day). He is also just right as the timid clerk, Mr. Darling. Jeremy Sumpter looks just like Peter should look - beautiful, cocky, and fun-loving. He definitely holds his own opposite the larger-than-life Isaacs. Ludivine Sagnier makes an adorable Tink. She is flirty, possessive, spiteful, and funny, and the movie was always better when she was on.

Definitely darker and more sinister than the old Disney version, this film has a lot to offer adults: It is visually stunning and reminds us about the innocence and fun of childhood. Wendy's kiss that saves Peter's life is more sensuous than innocent, however, and Hook also seems to be strangely attracted to the little girl. It's an interesting movie that will put a smile on your face and perhaps a few wistful tears in your eye.

One of the greatest children's films for adults of all time
I do not think that most kids can appreciate how great of a movie P.J. Hogan has made with this new version of "Peter Pan." However you really have to be familiar with not only all of the various versions of the story from Disney to Steven Spielberg but also J. M. Barrie's original plays and books to really appreciate everything that is in this movie. Hogan's purpose was to go back to that original material, but it is impossible not to touch upon everything that has come since then. My generation cannot hear the words "I do believe in fairies" without thinking of Mary Martin beckoning out from our television sets beseeching us to clap (or when Smee turns and gives an aside to the viewer).

On the one hand there are the fantastic elements as Peter Pan (Jeremy Sumpter) and the Darling children Wendy (Rachel Hurd-Wood), John (Harry Newell), and Michael (Freddie Popplewell) fly off to Never-Land. But this is a more realistic Never-Land than every before for all the wonderful computer generated images. More importantly, these are more realistic children than ever before. Peter Pan is the boy who will never grow up, but he is also on the cusp of puberty, as is Wendy. Into the Darling household comes Aunt Millicent (Lynn Redgrave), who insists that Wendy is not a girl anymore and while her father should start looking for marital prospects at the bank where he works, the more immediate goal is to move her out of the bedroom she shares with her brothers. When Peter Pan appears on the windowsill and requires his shadow to be sewn back onto this feet, Wendy not only does the sewing but accepts his offer to come to Never-Land because she too desperately wants to avoid growing up.

In this "Peter Pan" a kiss is more than just a thimble. This is not to suggest that there is a sexual element to these children or this film that parents need to worry about, but there is the potential for sexuality in Peter and Wendy. It is around the corner and that is important because there is a price to pay for never growing up, and never before has the tragic flip side of Peter Pan's joyful and magical existence been so obvious in telling this tale. Adults will recognize that period of their life it all it's metaphoric splendor in this film.

We also have the most realistic Captain Hook (Jason Issacs) of our acquaintance as well. Hogan continues the long-standing tradition of having the actor who plays Hook do double duty as Mr. Darling as well, but in this richer vision of the story they are as opposite as night and day. When this Hook crosses swords with Peter we know that they it might look like great fun, but these two are deadly serious about the final, fatal outcome. More importantly, when this Hook blusters and bellows he manages to do it without falling into parody. This is Hook as Barrie intended him to be, larger than life, but still a real figure.

Ultimately the power running throughout this story is the power of the story. The Lost Boys are despearate for a mother and to them Wendy can fulfill the role because she has what they consider to be the single requirement: she can tell stories. But there is another, more important requirement for a mother, and this film remembers that as well in the end when the Darling children return to their mother (Olivia Williams). I especially liked the way the film plays the beginning of the reunion of the scene, a nice underscoring of the idea that you can wish for something so hard that you do not notice when you have it.

This is a stunning visual film, but it is also a film of substance that mines Barrie's idea of the boy who would not grow up for everything it is worth. This "Peter Pan" has a depth greater than every all the other versions we have seen on the silver screen to date. This is a glorious film and even if few will really appreciate it the way it truly deserves, there is still the fact that just coming into contact with it will open the minds of its viewers to the greater realm of meaning and significance. Besides, there is always the possibility that somewhere down the road as they enjoy this beautiful film again and again, that eventually they will appreciate what it is all about.

An all emotion film - should appeal to all ages!
When I first heard about this film I thought it would be cheesy and un life like. But when my sister brought home the DVD I fell in love with it. As I'm am currently leaving school the main topic of the film (never wanting to grow up) was instantly appealing. Well I have now learnt almost every line and have seen it 20 times!
Jason Issacs was amazing as Captain Hook (and emotive as Mr Darling). He makes you laugh, scream and cheer and is somehow very sexy! Racheal Hurd-Wood was great as Wendy. Most kids that age are wooden and cheesy yet she was brilliant in every scene. The lost boys were cute (Theodore Chester - Slightly - seems to be a promising young actor). Tinkerbelle was expressive and funny. The rest of the cast were great but for me it was Jeremy Sumpter as Peter Pan the stole it! He just gives off this infectious sense of fun, laughter and happiness. When it came to the sad scenes even my dad was moved by his performance! He seems to love the role and as well as being a good looking guy (if only I was Wendy...)he is very talented in what would be a hard role for most his age!
Pj Hogan did a great job adapting this well loved novel. The effects were good and not to over powering. A great film for all ages!