Directed by Joe Wright (Anna Karenina, Pride & Prejudice, Atonement) and starring Levi Miller (in his first feature film), Hugh Jackman (Les Misérables, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Australia, The Prestige), Garrett Hedlund (TRON: Legacy, Inside Llewyn Davis, Unbroken, Four Brothers) and Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Social Network, Side Effects, Ain't Them Bodies Saints).
Fantasy adventure; 111 mins, 6+
This film is a prequel to the orginal film from 1953 based on the literary classic by J.M. Barrie. It starts with Peter's mother leaving her newborn baby (wearing a necklace adorned with a set of pan pipes) at the door of an orphanage in London, then fast-forwarding to when Peter is 12 years old during war-time. Following a scene reminiscent of the Oliver! classic involving porridge for breakfast, Peter (Levi Miller) and a friend discover the Mother Superior has been hoarding rations. They also suspect that she is involved in the disappearance of fellow orphans.
Their eyes are then opened when they discover Neverland during a series of fantasy scenes that involve pirate ships that fly - at the same time as German Messerschmits and British Spitfires are doing battle in the skies over London. It is here that Peter meets Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman), a menacing but not quite terrifying character, who runs a child labour colony to mine fairy dust. Here he meets Hook (Garrett Hedlund) who seems to be the only adult incarcerated, and, later, Tiget Lily (Rooney Mara).
While the action sequences are entertaining and fun to watch, in particular some of the special effects, the storyline is contrived at best. From one perspective Peter is thrust into this fantasy world where he must survive, from another he is searching for his mother. Enjyoable while the action lasts, but instantly forgettable.
