Disney keeps the magic alive with an enchanting sequel!
Written: Feb 16 '02 (Updated Feb 16 '02)
Product Rating:
Pros: Excellent voice acting, very fun for kids of all ages
Cons: Possibly too "kiddie" for some people, music sometimes seemed half-done
The Bottom Line: This isn't the original movie, but it's a great sequel. Renew your inner-child and relive the magic: go and "return to Neverland" in the theaters.
After a deluge of Disney sequels that left much to be desired, I was somewhat leery of this movie. However, I got up the courage to go see it and I'm glad I did. It was great fun and brought back many memories of watching the first movie when I was much, much younger.
Wendy has now grown up, married, and brought two children into the world. However, the world isn't such a nice place anymore, and Germany is bombing London. Jane, who is 12 and Wendy's oldest daughter, is asked by her father to take care of her younger brother, Danny, and her mother while he's away at the war, and she promises to do so.
Jane has also outgrown the Peter Pan stories she loved as a child, and is trying her best to be "grown up" about everything, just like a typical 12-year-old child. After an argument with her mother over the existence of Peter Pan and trying to prove how grown up she is by telling her younger brother how childish such stories are, she cries herself to sleep on the window seat. Captain Hook has other plans, though...
That's a decent introduction to the beginning of the movie, and you'll have to go see it to find out more. If you go expecting a fun romp through Neverland again, you won't be disappointed. Return to Neverland stays faithful to the original story, keeping the fun, fantasy, and enchantment that surrounds the pixie-land. Peter Pan is still mischievous and bold, the Lost Boys are still bumbling and playful, and Captain Hook is still conniving and blubbering, just like in the original movie from 49 years ago.
Not everything was perfect, though: The music, while decent, wasn't up to the same level as that in the original Peter Pan. Some of the music was great, but most left me with the feeling it was only half-finished and still needed polishing. The plot was also somewhat thin in places. For instance, the reasoning behind Captain Hook kidnapping Jane was a bit odd. The 3D computer graphics were also somewhat jarring as they didn't always blend in well with the rest of the 2D animation.
However, the movie was quite enjoyable overall. Jane's dialog impressed me, and reminded me of similar actions and comments by 12-year-olds I know. As I said above, Peter Pan was still the young boy who didn't (and doesn't) want to grow up, and he pulls it off again with all his sincere "Why?" questions directed at a frustrated Jane. Tinker Bell is still as jealous as ever of her Peter, with Peter even commenting about it to Jane.
All-in-all, this is a great sequel to an wonderful movie, and those who enjoyed the first movie will enjoy this one. As C.S. Lewis once said, "When I became a man, I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown-up." Let the kid out and go enjoy this movie!
In this sequel to the 1953 Disney classic PETER PAN Wendy is all grown up with children of her own. She lives in London which as the film starts is in...More at Family Video
Walt Disney s original classic continues in this Pixie-Powered Special Edition of Peter Pan in Return to Never Land that s filled with wonder, imagina...More at Buy.com
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