Enjoy it For What It's Worth

Rating: Null/10 (2 August 2011)

I'm surprised at the number of people taking issue with the historical inaccuracies in Finding Neverland. Based on a true story doesn't mean every event, person or word uttered is true...otherwise you'd be watching a documentary.
So, the filmmakers tinkered with facts. Happens all the time: JFK, Schindler's List, Titanic, Mutiny on the Bounty (all 3 versions), The Sound of Music, etc., etc. Doesn't mean you can't just sit back, suspend disbelief, enjoy the movie and don't take it too seriously.
Yes, the original tale of Peter Pan has dark elements, but so do many children's stories. The world is a scary place and children know it all too well. But they also know the joy of imagination and playing; things that can get stifled as children grow up. I believe Barrie was trying to show us all that we didn't have to give up the things that keep us young at heart. That's what I got from this movie...for what it's worth.
A few reviewers have mentioned the possibility J.M. Barrie was a pedophile. Perhaps he was; haven't come across anything conclusive. Also, Victorians had a way of expressing affection that can be misinterpreted in the 21st century. The same has been said of Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland). He had many young "girlfriends" throughout his lifetime; he wrote what we these days would consider passionate letters to them. There was never any indication he had any sexual feelings (or acted on them).
Perhaps Barrie and Carroll were just more in tune with the minds of children.