This was one of my most-watched movies when I was a youngster. I am watching it again at age 27 and I must admit it is not the film I remember. I have to agree that it is bloated, strained, confused and at many times cringe-worthy. But it's not a disaster as the rotten tomatoes rating and reviews like "Spielberg's worst film" might indicate. I think Dustin Hoffman is actually fairly amazing as Hook. He has the best lines by far and outdoes the material. His scenes with Bob Hoskins' Smee are the only ones that work properly.
Unfortunately I think a lot of the problem with the film is that the rest of the characters are poorly drawn and not very likeable. The Lost Boys were fun to watch as a kid but as an adult are only just adequate. Rufio is pretty much insufferable and Julia Robert's Tinkerbell is annoying. But the biggest problem is Robin Williams as Peter Pan. I actually don't blame Williams because I think with better material he could have been great. But the character himself is genuinely unlikeable for most of the film, so doesn't really work as the character we're supposed to be rooting for.
I really feel that what happened was Spielberg signed on to the project before there was a complete script, and the best they could come up with was this, which he knew wasn't great but was just good enough to get on with. It does feel like he dialed this one in a bit. The movie really should have started 10 minutes after it did. All the stuff in Chicago with the play and the baseball game and the office and the plane flight is just terrible, slow, boring and doesn't actually add anything except making us dislike Robin William's Peter more and more.
I would have begun the movie as the family arrives at Granny Wendy's house and completely cut out the long and boring and irrelevant speech scene. There is enough exposition to set up Peter's life and his relationship with his family and his past, and things actually start happening (the kids getting nabbed) without about 15 minutes instead of 45. In fact I think a good deal of people would like the film a lot more if that had been the case, and if I ever show it to a friend I might do just that.
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pleasewait13
10 years ago
It's one of my favourite Spielberg films. The score is just breathtakingly beautiful by Williams. Hoffman's Captain Hook is just pitch perfect and there is a real beauty to the film, and sadness and joy and happiness.
I actually believe the stories concept was great - Peter Pan grows up!
Nowadays there seems to be no new concepts in movies. By showing a grown up Pan, Hook took a different approach with a character. A very interesting approach in my view, that opened up a wealth of opportunities. Why did Peter grow up? What were his motives?
It has everything really; an uptight grown-up discovering his sense of fun and his inner child. The scene where the Lost Boy recognises Pan by checking his facial features is one of my favourite moments in movies.
Don't get the negative reviews.
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candym1958
10 years ago
I do not understand why there is so much fighting going on about this movie. It is a simple FANTASY film. With some wonderful actors, and a pretty good story line. I agree it is No "Gone with the wind, or Wizard of Oz" But it is great to relax on a Sunday afternoon with your family and to watch.
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