Now I understand Peter Pan

Rating: 9/10 (23 April 2005)

This semi-fictional movie about the writer of Peter Pan, James Matthew Barrie, truly surprised me. I knew nothing about it going in, something that I'm usually glad of, and thought I was in for another rendition of "Hook" with Johnny Depp instead of Robin Williams. I was confused as to who the characters were and why I should care about them for the first half hour, but as the relationships began to take form I was completely sucked in. Although none of the ideas were amazingly profound (growing up too fast, belief transforming reality, the importance of imagination), the presentation of them was magical. Even though throughout the whole movie they prepare you for what happens at the end, I found myself crying, something I almost never do at movies. I kept waiting for the fairly basic plot to become sappy and overdone, but it never really does, even with all the child actors. Johnny Depp is wonderful as usual and I find that I'm liking Kate Winslet more in every movie I see her in. I thought this movie was made more for children, but I think most of the subtlety of emotion in this movie will be lost on children, while adults may find themselves understanding their childhood a little better.