I’ve loved the story of Peter Pan since my youth; more the sentiment of the story, really. I visualize Peter as the free spirit in all of us, deep, deep down in some people, just saying. Only certain movies persuade me to visit the movie theater; especially in this day and age, this is one of them. The trailer for “PAN” pulled me in; more importantly the music in the trailer magnetized me. I didn’t really know what to expect, other than it was the prequel to Peter Pan’s life. I’m happy to report I was pleasantly surprised with the movie and the direction it took.
It began in an orphanage in London when Peter was just a young baby; his mother mysteriously left him in a basket on a door step, big surprise, NOT! Like all “Movie” orphanage stories, she left a note; it stated that she would see him again in this world or ANOTHER, mysterious and not necessarily like all “orphan” stories. All of a sudden, twelve years have passed, he’s a mischievous tween; kicking it with his BFF, Nibs. Apparently driving the conniving head honcho Mother Barnabas crazy in the process. WWII was in full effect and craziness abounded. Mother Barnabas was a disgrace to her religious habit, hoarding food and sentimental items from the orphans. She summoned scary “acrobatic like” pirates to steal Peter and Nibs and a few others from their beds at night. Talk about a wolf in sheep’s clothing. In the after math of being stolen by the unusual pirates and brought aboard a flying pirate ship, Nibs managed to jump off, while Peter did not, he was captured and taken to Neverland, where the real story began.
In Neverland the orphans were forced to work, mining fairy dust. This was my least favorite part of the movie, a little cartoonish for my liking, but luckily it did not last long. The ruthless pirate Blackbeard was in charge and literally fed off the fairy dust in order to thrive. This is also the pivotal part in the movie where Peter befriended Hook, James Hook that is and his sidekick Smee. SIDEBAR- Get ready girls and guys, I guess, Hook is hot, ooh la la. Peter got under Blackbeard’s skin, just as he did Mother Barnabas and he was forced to walk the plank. What kind of pirate movie would it be if he didn’t, right? Well what happened next was not ordinary by any stretch of the imagination, except for Peter Pan. He fell off the plank and then began to soar through the air, shocking everyone, including himself.
Blackbeard bewildered; by what he witnessed, captured the seemingly clumsy Peter again and shared with him an old prophecy that a boy who could fly, would one day kill him, Peter Pan did not believe he was that boy. Peter, Hook and Smee broke free from Blackbeard’s jail and took one of his flying pirate ships and escaped into the forest. Comedy and romance intertwine at this point in the movie; no, not romance between Hook and Smee, but when the three person crew met Tiger Lilly, James Hook was especially enamored. She noticed Peter’s pan flute necklace, hence “Peter Pan” which was said to belong to their people’s greatest hero, the legendary Pan. Pan soon found out that his dear mother Mary was killed by Blackbeard and his deceased father was a Fairy Prince. Enlightened by this information and the new friendship with a special fairy named Tinkerbell, a more confident Peter decided to take on the ruthless pirate in retaliation for his mother’s death. With the natives and fairies by his side, Peter Pan, James Hook and Tiger Lilly made a powerful team which defeated Blackbeard and his men, the sole survivor being the sheepish Smee, who fled during the battle.
Loyalty in Friendship is a wonderful component in this movie, which is why I feel, Pan’s ending is so fantastical. Peter Pan and the new Captain of the Jolly Roger, Captain Hook returned to London to free Nibs and the other orphans from the dishonorable Mother Barnabas. Off to Neverland!
- Good story line with moments of sincerity and comedy mixed together.
- Charming characters- I like that I did not recognize many of the characters. Some unknown actors mixed with disguised well-known actors.
- It did not drag or lull very much.
- It’s very different than I had envisioned, in a good way.
- Great for adults.
- 3D that did not make me nauseous, I’m very prone to motion sickness.
- It could be scary for young children. There are moments of darkness and loud music. Frightening pirate clowns come down from the roof and yank the young orphans from their sleep. I have to admit, it was a little creepy and I’m 43.
- My hubby and sixteen year old son loved the movie. My teenager did not pick up his cellphone once during the movie. If you have a teenager, then you know that’s powerful.
- It took you virtually to a new world in sight and sound.
- Music soundtrack is beautiful.
- The mining part is a little boring, but it doesn’t last long.
- 111 minutes long
- Adventure, Family, Fantasy
- PAN is rated PG
Previously published on my blog~ http://dawnsdorkydiary.com
