Touching and beautiful

Rating: 9/10 (3 July 2006)

What a masterpiece hidden in the guise of a great film.
Unfortunately, I think this movie is going to be largely overlooked as "too deep" or "too talky" or "I can't think that much"... but if only your average Joe and Jane knew what they were seeing! Right down to the style of the waves in the make believe ocean when Peter is forced to walk the plank (yes, that is how it was really done in that style of theater... cutout waves on sticks manipulated by stagehands with a whale jumping through...), the whole movie just sings. And that is no pun.
Depp's portrayal of J.M. Barrie should be ranked up there with anything Barrymore, Olivier, Huston or Flynn ever imagined doing. It is tender, touching, youthful and what's more believable. He brought "Peter pan" to life from the lives of 5 boys. If you read the "true" backstory, it isn't nearly as dramatic as the movie makes out, but that's okay. The point is well taken.
This movie belongs in any collection of any true videophile. And remember, you have to be childlike to get it. Lose yourself in your old world of make believe and you can be a kid again.