Movie Review for Peter Pan

Summary: In stifling Edwardian London, Wendy Darling mesmerizes her brothers every night with bedtime tales of swordplay, swashbuckling and the fearsome Captain Hook. But the children become the heroes of an even greater story, when Peter Pan flies into their nursery one night and leads them over moonlit rooftops through a galaxy of stars and to the lush jungles of Neverland. Wendy and her brothers join Peter and the Lost Boys in an exhilarating life--free of grown-up rules--while also facing the inevitable showdown with Hook and his bloodthirsty pirates.

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By Marc Savlov of Austin Chronicle (7/0)
            There's really no way this film should have received a kid-friendly PG rating.

By Jamie Russell of BBC (7/0)
            This impressive children's adventure strikes a balance between magical adventure and heartfelt em...

By Emily Blunt of Blunt Review (7/0)
            All the prior Peter Pans to date have either been waifish women or a middle-aged man...

By Ty Burr of Boston Globe (7/0)
            Has in the young British actress Rachel Hurd-Wood a Wendy for the ages.

By Lawrence Toppman of Charlotte Observer (7/0)
            Isaacs tops the cast (even Richard Briers' delightful Smee) as an imperious, ironic, murderous, b...

By Roger Ebert of Chicago Sun-Times (7/0)
            I walked in anticipating a sweet kiddie fantasy and was surprised to find a film that takes its s...

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By Mark Caro of Chicago Tribune (7/0)
            Works as mind-tickling entertainment that never stoops to the vulgarities or frenetic pacing of m...

By Joshua Tyler of CinemaBlend.com (7/0)
            Don’t get caught somewhere in the middle, wandering around Neverland without a fairy guide.

By Luis Martinez of Cinenganos (7/0)
            Siendo notorio el gusto de Hogan por las letras clásicas de Peter Pan y Wendy, el director sabe e...

By Mark Palermo of Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) (7/0)
            Peter Pan is so loaded with visual wonder that even when aspects of it fall short, it’s gorgeous ...

By Mark Palermo of Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) (7/0)
            Peter Pan is so loaded with visual wonder that even when aspects of it fall short, it’s gorgeous ...

By Harvey S. Karten of Compuserve (7/0)
            Peter and Wendy's chemistry do not compensate for the thin story.

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By Steven D. Greydanus of Decent Films Guide (7/0)
            As much a commentary on Peter Pan as an adaptation… an interesting if flawed tribute to all that ...

By Jeff Vice of Deseret News, Salt Lake City (7/0)
            To its credit, this one has its share of magical moments, even if they don't quite hit the highs ...

By David Foucher of EDGE Boston (7/0)
            The latest version of J.M. Barrie’s book hits the screen... alas, all we got was a shadow of the ...

By Collin Souter of eFilmCritic.com (7/0)
            As smart and definitive a version as we're likely to see for a while, which is fine, if only beca...

By Eric D. Snider of eFilmCritic.com (7/0)
            It is not a film for the ages, nor [is it] the definitive presentation. But its marvelous visuals...

By Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly (7/0)
            The director, P.J. Hogan, celebrates Peter's elfin derring-do yet recognizes that there's somethi...

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By Eugene Novikov of Film Blather (7/0)
            Has the courage to imagine Peter Pan as a tragic figure, the ultimate narcissist.

By Walter Chaw of Film Freak Central (7/0)
            It's not a good movie, but it's almost a great one.

By Doris Toumarkine of Film Journal International (7/0)
            Overall, the film is great holiday eye candy.

By Stephen Himes of Film Snobs (7/0)
            A Never Never Land Slightly Less Creepy Than the Neverland Ranch

By Victoria Alexander of FilmsInReview.com (7/0)
            More passion than ever.

By Larry Carroll of FilmStew.com (7/0)
            Move over, Elf. Australian director P.J. Hogan has put together an equally delightful holiday tre...

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By Rob Vaux of Flipside Movie Emporium (7/0)
            Like all good Christmas presents, Peter Pan keeps the best parts beneath the wrapping; dig deep e...

By Eric Lurio of Greenwich Village Gazette (7/0)
            The film gives insight to the psychological mess that is the original PETER PAN.

By Ross Anthony of Hollywood Report Card (7/0)
            Magical, whimsical, richly colored, paced to romp, sprinkled with fairy dust and fun. Return to y...

By Steve Rhodes of Internet Reviews (7/0)
            What's next? Oklahoma! without the musical numbers? What does Hogan's version offer in place of s...

By Alex Sandell of Juicy Cerebellum (7/0)
            It's something dreamlike and not entirely real, but something you'll find yourself wishing you co...

By Robert Roten of Laramie Movie Scope (7/0)
            The best movie version of Peter Pan ever made.

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By Martin Scribbs of Low IQ Canadian (7/0)
            PJ Hogan's lazy, logy Peter Pan states that not growing up is a tragedy, but presents neither evi...

By Austin O'Connor of Lowell Sun (6/1)
            [I]t's an unfortunate time for a new version of Peter Pan to hit theaters, but those who can push...

By Anita Schmaltz of Metro Times (Detroit, MI) (7/0)
            No matter what your wrinkle-count...you may just find yourself saying, 'I do believe in well-made...

By Paul Doro of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (7/0)
            Apparently, the filmmakers felt characterization would only get in the way of the special effects...

By Ken Hanke of Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (7/0)
            Quite simply, one brilliant film – the kind where you think: Yes, this is what movies should be l...

By David N. Butterworth of Movie Boeuf (7/0)
            An earnest and enjoyable entertainment that remains loyal to its source if not to those hoping fo...

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By Frank Ochieng of Movie Eye (7/0)
            Visually vibrant and mystical in its charming presentation, Hogan’s take on Peter Pan is an exqui...

By Nell Minow of Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies (7/0)
            An enchanting classic story which is lovingly, even tenderly told in a movie that will become a c...

By Michael Elliott of Movie Parables (7/0)
            While it may be a bit too intense for the very young, Peter Pan is a rousing good time for a fami...

By Clint Morris of Moviehole (7/0)
            a great looking, very entertaining version of the story...Rachel Hurd-Wood, just adorable, and a ...

By Jeffrey Westhoff of Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) (7/0)
            Simultaneously a faithful retelling of J.M. Barrie’s beloved story and an audacious reinterpretat...

By Frank Swietek of One Guy's Opinion (7/0)
            Like its cocky young hero, really does take wing...though it never reaches the stage of transcend...

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By Tyler Hanley of Palo Alto Weekly (7/0)
            This latest incarnation of the J. M. Barrie play is an uplifting cinematic fairytale along the li...

By Mike Sage of Peterborough This Week (7/0)
            The closest we’ll ever get to a faithfully XXX Peter Pan, this very-storybook retelling is certai...

By Jon Popick of Planet Sick-Boy (7/0)
            Ominous and surprisingly erotic.

By Jon Popick of Planet Sick-Boy (7/0)
            Ominous and surprisingly erotic.

By Linda Cook of Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) (6/1)
            This isn't the Disney-fied version of "Peter Pan." In fact, it's better than the animated classic...

By Mark R. Leeper of rec.arts.movies.reviews (7/0)
            This is the vision of Peter Pan that I would want in my head when I read the story.

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By David Nusair of Reel Film Reviews (7/0)
            There's absolutely nothing innocent about this Peter Pan; he's a leering and repulsive twerp.

By Laura Clifford of Reeling Reviews (7/0)
            Hogan introduces a subtle eroticism which gives "Pan's" theme additional complexity for adult vie...

By Robin Clifford of Reeling Reviews (7/0)
            ..."Peter Pan" tale is more a youthful love story than action/adventure flick with a disturbingly...

By Jeffrey Chen of ReelTalk Movie Reviews (7/0)
            Hogan doesn't know when to start and stop playing down to his audience of children, and so he tur...

By James Berardinelli of ReelViews (7/0)
            One of the best versions of Peter Pan to reach the screen.

By Jack Garner of Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (7/0)
            No other version of Peter Pan has ever been as richly evocative of the lovely book illustrations ...

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By Joe Baltake of Sacramento Bee (7/0)
            Hurd-Wood, a newcomer, brings an earnest charm to Wendy. She's letter-perfect in the role.

By Mark Halverson of Sacramento News & Review (7/0)
            One of those rare films that can be enjoyed over and over again.

By Sean Axmaker of Seattle Post-Intelligencer (7/0)
            Deft and delightful.

By Rich Cline of Shadows on the Wall (7/0)
            Aimed squarely at the child within, the film reaches inside us, grabs hold and never lets go.

By Keith Uhlich of Slant Magazine (7/0)
            The film is a wash, first and foremost for Hogan and cinematographer Donald McAlpine’s choice to ...

By Rob Blackwelder of SPLICEDWire (7/0)
            I felt as if I was discovering Peter Pan all over again.

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By Nick Rogers of State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL) (7/0)
            In a time when Neverland is shorthand for scandal, P.J. Hogan reclaims it. Rife with wonderful ex...

By Tony Toscano of Talking Pictures (U.S.) (7/0)
            ...deliciously dark...

By Dustin Putman of TheMovieBoy.com (7/0)
            If it's family fare you're seeking, see this and skip the dreadful, condescending Cheaper by the ...

By Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone of TheMovieChicks.com (7/0)
            If you're looking for a sweet, funny, edgy adventure tale, you don't have to catch the second sta...

By Audrey Rock-Richardson of Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) (6/1)
            Good for little ones, watchable for their parents.

By Mike Clark of USA Today (7/0)
            Familiarity doesn't exactly breed contempt, yet despite the novelty of a real boy as Peter, the m...

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By Michael Atkinson of Village Voice (7/0)
            J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan is a primary text of modern culture, and P.J. Hogan's live-action renditi...

By Michael Szymanski of Zap2it.com (7/0)
            "It has the spectacle of a true holiday classic that will endure longer than the musical animated...

By Steven Snyder of Zertinet Movies (7/0)
            This “Peter Pan” is not a story, but a video game. Kids like video games, it’s true, but they do ...

By Phil Villarreal of Arizona Daily Star (3/4) No reference
            Jeremy Sumpter, so strong in the exemplary horror film Frailty (2002), is a superb Peter Pan.

By Eleanor Ringel Gillespie of Atlanta Journal-Constitution (3/4) No reference
            The movie may not soar, but this awfully big adventure is far from earthbound.

By Thomas Delapa of Boulder Weekly (6/1) No reference
            Even if you don’t believe in fairies, this movie will make a believer of you....timeless story ge...

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By Wade Major of Boxoffice Magazine (3/4) No reference
            An impressive and praiseworthy work which, with luck and some due broad-mindedness on the part of...

By Mary F. Pols of Contra Costa Times (3/4) No reference
            It succeeds because it goes back to the roots of the original -- there's none of that modernizing...

By Christopher Tookey of Daily Mail [UK] (3/4) No reference
            This isn't funny, exciting or (dread word) relevant enough for most modern children, and parents ...

By MaryAnn Johanson of Flick Filosopher (3/4) No reference
            It’s all there in the subtext, the scary-tender discovery of the bittersweet adventure of romance...

By Bruce Kirkland of Jam! Movies (3/4) No reference
            Hogan ... seems to be reckless here, not careful enough.

By Marshall Fine of Journal News (Westchester, NY) (3/4) No reference
            Director P.J. Hogan can't quite get the tone right here -- and when he misses, he injects adult e...

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By Robert W. Butler of Kansas City Star (3/4) No reference
            Magical, bittersweet and substantial.

By John Patterson of L.A. Weekly (3/4) No reference
            For the first time in ages, a film makes one grateful for special effects: Indeed, it feels as if...

By Glenn Whipp of Los Angeles Daily News (3/4) No reference
            The kind of whiz-bang extravaganza that's OK for the under-12 set but might be a something of a s...

By Matt Easterbrook of Matt's Movie Reviews (3/4) No reference
            A requiem for lost childhood, which simultaneously stands in light judgment of Peter's refusal to...

By Rene Rodriguez of Miami Herald (3/4) No reference
            There just isn't enough in the movie, despite its marvelous design, to warrant another visit to t...

By Colin Covert of Minneapolis Star Tribune (3/4) No reference
            Every generation deserves its own version of Peter Pan. Until the next one arrives in 2019 or so,...

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By James Rocchi of Netflix (3/4) No reference
            P.J. Hogan's adaptation of the children's classic is full of dread, desire and delight -- and is ...

By James Rocchi of Netflix (3/4) No reference
            P.J. Hogan's adaptation of the children's classic is full of dread, desire and delight -- and is ...

By Roger Moore of Orlando Sentinel (3/4) No reference
            It's not completely joyless, as Spielberg's Hook was. And it is not without its laughs and little...

By Steve Schneider of Orlando Weekly (3/4) No reference
            It's literate, funny, exciting and drenched in fairy dust.

By Gary Thompson of Philadelphia Daily News (3/4) No reference
            Peter marvels at the 'cleverness' of himself, yet communicates nothing so much as blandness, even...

By Sean Means of Salt Lake Tribune (3/4) No reference
            Even though the film employs up-to-date special effects..., its spirit may be truer to Barrie's i...

                         Reviews of Peter Pan
By David Elliott of San Diego Union-Tribune (3/4) No reference
            For kids, the movie is a sure thing.

By Phoebe Flowers of South Florida Sun-Sentinel (3/4) No reference
            The familiar story is not entirely bereft of flashes of reinvigoration, but they're few and far b...

By Chris Hewitt (St. Paul) of St. Paul Pioneer Press (3/4) No reference
            Maxfield Parrish- influenced look, unhurried storytelling, heartfelt performances and graceful di...

By John Venable of Supercala.com (3/4) No reference
            A few additions into the script would've turned this from good to darn near great.

Movie Distributors
Revolution Studios
Universal Pictures Distribution

Production Companies
Red Wagon Entertainment
Allied Stars

Movie Studios
Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group
Universal Pictures
Revolution Studios