Magical

Rating: 8/10 (12 April 2005)

Hollywood often likes to describe any movie that features children as "magical." Here, that adjective is well-deserved. I found myself completely drawn into this world created by a skilled director and talented cast. And the greatest magic of all: enabling us to see once again with the eyes of children. Barrie's recapturing of his own childhood (which ended abruptly when he was just a lad) through his relationship with the Davies family is at the heart of this film.
The 25 orphans that Barrie sprinkled around the theater for the opening night performance of Peter Pan have the same effect on the movie's audience as the play's. We discover anew the wonder of seeing things with the innocence and pure delight of a child.
How did Marc Forster fail to garner an Academy Award nomination for Best Director?
A tour-de-force which many people - including me - missed when it showed in theaters. Absolutely worth catching up on!