Fly to Neverland

Rating: 8/10 (24 April 2005)

I don't quite remember when I first knew about Peter Pan story. I know I had listened to a children songs cassette my father bought us when I was a child, and one of the song is about Peter Pan. But at that time I didn't really know the story. Peter Pan is a classic and very popular tale, and had been filmed several times, including Hook, and the most recent Peter Pan. Disney also has the animated version. But to tell you the truth, until now I haven't watched all of them, and I also never read the full story of Peter Pan.
Finding Neverland, tells the story of James M. Barrie, the writer of Peter Pan. James lives as a play writer, and his play is shown in a theater in London. His plays begin to be criticized as bad. And he apparently doesn't have a nice relationship with his wife, either. Until one day he meets with a family which consists of a widow and four children. The widow, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, has lost his husband, and she's having quite a hard time taking care of her children. Sylvia has a hard tempered mother, who after Sylvia's husband's death, is constantly trying to interfere with her family life.
James is somewhat attracted to this family, especially the children, and a child in particular, Peter, who is suffered the most from his father's death. James often visits their house, or travels with them together, and being a very imaginative writer, he quickly forms a strong bond with the kids. In the middle of James' relationship with the Davies', his marriage is on the edge of breaking, and he also must face Sylvia's mother who obviously doesn't like James' presence in the family. Yet in this situation, he finally gets an inspiration for a new play. And that is how this play, Peter Pan, is born.
Finding Neverland is a nice and very touching drama. Johnny Depp portrays James Barrie well, though I don't think his performance can be considered amazing, except maybe his convincing English accent. But overall, his 2003's Jack Sparrow was more memorable. On the other hand, Freddie Highmore, who plays Peter, delivers an impressive acting. The other children most of the time simply fall flat. Kate Winslet is nice, and Julie Christie is great as Sylvia's mother. Dustin Hoffman gets a tiny role as the theater owner. This is quite funny, because he played Captain Hook in Hook.
There are many memorable lines in this film, maybe most of them are spoken by James. The film's score is beautifully done, while not too melodramatic, either. The visuals are also great, so are the effects, which are needed to provide the audience some clues about James' imagination, particularly the imagination that is connected with Peter Pan. The play on the theater is performed well, with nice theater construction design, and nice stage decoration.
Finding Neverland is about finding your Neverland. The question is, what does our Neverland look like? Each person will have his own point of view. It will depend on our own imagination, or our own beliefs, our own faith. One thing that's certain, believing in something, may have a significant impact to our life.