The specter of Pans past hangs heavily over this new live-action version of "Peter Pan." It's hard to watch this one and not recall how splendid Disney's animated version of the James Barrie tale is — or recall how disappointing Steven Spielberg's flat live-action version was.
To its credit, this one has its share of magical moments, even if they don't quite hit the highs of the Disney version. At least it doesn't hit the lows of Spielberg's "Hook" — or last year's horrid "Pinocchio" (directed by and starring Robert Benigni.)
This "Peter Pan" is one of the better-cast versions. Jeremy Sumpter stars as the title character, the ageless Lost Boy who enchants Wendy Darling (newcomer Rachel Hurd-Wood) and spirits her away to Neverland. He also drags her younger brothers, John (Harry Newell) and Michael (Freddie Popplewell), along for the ride. But it's not all fun and games, as the evil pirate Capt. Hook (Jason Isaacs) has been waiting to take his revenge on Peter.
Things start a little slow, as co-screenwriter/director P.J. Hogan wastes too much time on the Darling parents (Olivia Williams and, in a dual role, Isaacs) before he and Pan take audiences with them to Neverland.
The film is also troublingly violent at times, and its scenes of children in peril are a bit much for a production that's so clearly directed at young children. (Sometimes those scenes are given a bit of a comic "punchline," which seems wholly inappropriate.)
Yet, the performances are solid, especially those of the young leads, and Isaacs, whose malicious sea captain will make you forget Dustin Hoffman's campy portrayal of the character in "Hook."
Best of all, the film looks terrific, almost like a storybook-come-to-life. (Kudos to production designer Roger Ford, costume designer Janet Patterson and the various effects teams for getting so much right.)
"Peter Pan" is rated PG for scenes of violence and peril (including swordfighting, gunplay and cannon fire) and some mildly vulgar humor (bodily functions). Running time: 105 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com