Peter Pan & Wendy Review: What Every Disney LiveAction Remake Should Aspire To Be
© Provided by MovieWebWalt Disney said, "I don't make movies primarily for children. I make them for all of us, whether we're six or 60." This spirit of creativity was the key to Disney's success and the ideal that everyone sees in their films. Something that kids can enjoy as well as those who have grown up but still remember the spark of their childhood. The best Disney movies are the ones that resonate. Director David Lowery perfectly captures the magic of Peter Pan and Wendy and what everyone loves from a Disney movie.
Peter Pan & Wendy is one of Disney's live-action versions of the animated classic, but it stands above most thanks to the combination of the director's strong vision, a great cast to bring the story to life, and actual reality. film. its meaning. The themes at the heart of Peter Pan and why this story has captivated audiences for years. These are the stories that the public remembers like never before, but makes them visible.
We're going to Neverland
Based on CMBarry's play and the 1955 animated classic, Peter Pan , Lowery's new film includes the broad elements of the story that everyone remembers. Wendy Darling (Ever Anderson) and her two brothers John and Michael are brought to Neverland by Peter Pan (Alexander Molony) and his fairy friend Tinkerbell (Yara Shahidi). In Neverland, the Darlings encounter a group of evil pirates led by the Lost Boys, Tiger Lily and Captain Hook (Jude Law). Wendy Darling embarks on a perilous journey of self-discovery that will change her outlook on life forever.
True to the original, what separates Peter Pan from Wendy is deciding how to fill in the details of that story. It directly removes many of the harmful Disney Native stereotypes and also removes some of the misogyny of the original film where all the female characters were jealous of each other because of Peter Pan. It also provides a background for Captain Hook, a counterpoint to Peter Pan, and insight into Wendy's journey of growing fear. The aesthetics and tone of the film are, unfortunately, the stumbling blocks of this review.
Unlike live-action adaptations like The Lion King and Pinocchio , which try to replicate the look of the original in every detail, Peter Pan and Wendy chooses to visualize the story in a new and immersive way. It may not faithfully recreate the aesthetic of the Disney film, but it captures its spirit perfectly. It captures the same sense of magic as the original animated version without recreating the exact set or recreating the shot.
Like Lowery's previous Disney live-action remakes, Pete's Dragon , Peter Pan and Wendy employ a naturalistic, naturalistic aesthetic. This refers to the world feeling real, not realism per se. Unlike the jungle and forest aesthetic found in most Neverland adaptations, this is an open field island perfect for gaming.
This is the Neverland of children's imaginations. This allows you to turn a simple stick into a telescope or create a fight scene where you can knock someone out if you damage their shadow. Neverland, aptly, is a world that operates outside the rules that a child imagines during play. It's the perfect playground to get lost in, but it can get lonely after a while.
Stories worth telling when something new can be introduced
Peter Pan is one of the most important Disney classics that shaped the company's identity. But unlike Snow White or Cinderella, Disney is not so sacred about Peter Pan. Companies are more open to creators who play with character. He became a villain for the Once Upon a Time series and was reimagined as a grown-up villain in last year's Chip N Dale: Rescue Rangers . One of the many factors that makes Peter Pan and Wendy fly is the willingness to take on characters. It perfectly balances what the audience remembers while also being a unique take on Lowery's story.
David Lowery is in many ways the perfect director to tackle Peter Pan and Wendy . Not only is his 2016 film Pete's Dragon Disney the director's best live-action feature, but the director is impressed by the nature of the story. Many of his films, such as "The Old Man and the Gun" , "Green Knight " and "Nightmare Story", deal with the nature of stories that people pass on to each other, both folklore and myth. Peter Pan is a classic dream story, and in Peter Pan & Wendy, Lowery explores what makes the story immortal.
Related: Any film directed by David Lowery, rated
Time has always been an idea at the heart of the Peter Pan stories, from Big Ben sitting on his watch to Tick-Tock Croc's old pocket watch in Hook. Peter Pan & Wendy as a theme expands in time, because time is the real enemy at the heart of this film. Wendy's fear of growing up leads to the arrival of Peter Pan, who allows her and her siblings to be taken to Neverland. He soon realized that the idea of being a child forever had finally lost its appeal. But when Hook meets her, he sees the perils of growing up and forgets the joys of his youth. Windy finds her heroism in admitting she can't stop time, but that doesn't mean she has to lose a part of herself.
The Great Actor reimagines Peter Pan for a new audience
Despite getting top billing, Peter Pan & Wendy wisely focuses on Wendy Darling rather than Peter. It is a story and both Peter Pan and Captain Hook embody his desires and fears. Ever Anderson is perfect as Wendy. She is the daughter of Mila Jovovich and director Paul WS Anderson and previously played the young Natasha Romanoff in the opening scenes of Black Widow . Wendy's performance is full of wonder, but also maturity beyond her years.
Alexander Moloney is Peter Pan, and the young actor finds a mixture of mischief and arrogance in his character. Peter Pan is a very difficult character. In particular, Walt Disney was never satisfied with the animated version because he felt it didn't suit Peter. Peter Pan is supposed to be fun and adventurous, but also childish and immature, reminding Wendy that staying young isn't always a good idea.
Many versions of Peter make him seem selfish and cruel, but Moloney's portrayal is very childish. Someone who is full of energy and wants to have fun, but also ignores the wants and desires of others because they are emotionally immature. It's self-serving, but not in a low-key way, but in a realistic childish way.
Related: The Best Peter Pan Movies (Live Action & Animated), Ranked
Jude Law steps into the role of Captain Hook and finds a perfect blend of the original animated version, but also a laid-back pirate that makes sense in the earthy aesthetic that Lowery created. Law's Hook may be scary, but there's also a sadness that motivates him. This version explores Hook's past and answers the question of why Peter Pan and Captain Hook are enemies. The final product takes on a different flavor for each character and explores how choosing to grow up and stay young can literally and figuratively change a person.
Peter Pan and Wendy are what audiences want from Disney
Disney's releases have been noted, and the studio's latest release has had controversial additions. When movies look back at iconic moments, it feels like a calculated play on nostalgia. But the best versions offer a unique perspective on these stories, just as Walt Disney did with the source material of the original animated version. The remakes were never meant to replace the original, but rather complement it. Peter Pan and Wendy sits comfortably alongside The Jungle Book , Christopher Robin and Louie's Pete the Dragon as Disney's live-action adaptation that not only stays true to the original, but also has something new to say.
Peter Pan & Wendy is a wonderful action adventure with lots of heart that the whole family can enjoy. Children can get lost in their imaginations in Neverland. Lowery's film also offers something special for mature audiences, as the film's tone and design evoke sentimental memories of childhood, dating and adventure. Lowery's film might as well be an adaptation of a line from JM Barie's original story: "Never say goodbye, because to say goodbye is to leave, and to let go is to forget." A person may grow up, but that doesn't mean he should be forgotten.
Peter Pan and Wendy is coming to Disney+ on April 28, 2023.
