Absolutely Fantastic

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

JM Barrie's Peter Pan is a classic for children and adults alike, Peter is not the most likable of characters but it is very meaningful, heart-warming, dark, charming and surprisingly complex as well(especially with the character of Captain Hook). This 2000 Broadway production is magnificent and captivating all the way through, there will always be a fondness for the Mary Martin version but in my personal opinion this one eclipses it in almost every way, though the ending has more of an emotional impact in the Martin version. What is remarkable about this production is not just how charming and light-hearted it is, to the extent that older audiences will feel like a child again in a good way, but how it's not afraid in bringing out the darker aspects of the story, the mermaids are quite evil here. Very faithful in detail and spirit. Even more remarkable is how it works on its own and as a musical. The production values are lavish, the costumes are fitting for the characters and the settings for the nursery and Marauders Rock- very creepy- are really effective. The rustic setting for the underground house appeals too. The music is rousing and beautiful, Peter's song(s) in the nursery and the numbers with the pirates and Hook were particularly great. The flying effects looked magical, the special effects are well incorporated and the choreography is full of life, especially with the Indians and pirates.The dialogue is both heart-warming and funny, you will shed a tear or two at the end and Hook and Smee's interactions are an immense joy to watch. The production is full of energy throughout, with the comedy and drama always convincing. The performances are spot on, especially from Cathy Rigby and Paul Schoeffler. Rigby is wonderfully boyish, and her performance is full of charisma, energy, comic timing and likability. She is also very athletic and has an amazing, powerful voice, all of this makes up for an accent that comes and goes(in fact a couple of the accents on the whole can sound a tad overdone), considering how so good her performance overall that feels like nothing. Schoeffler's baritone voice is rich and warm, he even hits some great top As and A flats. And his Hook from the facial expressions to how he uses his voice is hilarious without ever feeling like a buffoon. He succeeds also in bringing out some menacing aspects in the capture of Wendy, her brothers and the Lost Boys and with the poison, so while his performance is primarily on the comedy side it doesn't feel entirely done-for-laughs. Eliza Sangardia brings great charm to Wendy and gives the character great spunk, she does have a beautiful voice(much more appealing than the Wendy in the Mary Martin version) that you wish you heard more of. Wendy's brothers and the Lost Boys are full of enthusiasm and none of them show signs of fatigue or nerves, while Tiger Lily's athletic dancing is just jaw-dropping and the pirates are the very meaning of rollicking. All in all, hugely entertaining and magnificent in quality, an absolute must. 10/10 Bethany Cox

I found this film to be upbeat and entertaining. The actors did their jobs so well that they made you lose sight of the fact that you were watching this play on a stage with a full audience.The musical numbers were positive, the acting was excellent. The dog was funny.All the actors performed their roles exceedingly well. I especially enjoyed the scenes when the actors flew over the stage. All around a nicely filmed stage production of the Broadway play with a great cast and crew. Recommended.

It must be nice to be able to afford to mount a theatrical production and cast yourself in the lead. Yes, this show looks good, but it lacks warmth - portraying the magical Neverland as a dark, almost scary place. Cathy Rigby's Peter, while technically good, comes across as an unlikeable bully with an extremely irritating (and unnecessary) English accent. Hook and the pirates did a wonderful job, John and Michael were good, the Indian dancing was great (and glossed over the fact that Tiger Lily couldn't really act). The thing that really bothered me was the fact that Wendy and the Lost Boys were played by adults. There are so many talented kids out there that could have done just as well while adding realism and genuine energy. For that matter, I'd like to see someone break tradition and have Peter Pan actually played by a young boy. Maybe if I ever find myself with a couple million dollars to spare, I'll make my own version...not starring me.

In Mary Martin's Peter Pan, the dances were very thrown together. This is not a bad thing when the cast can make it look like that is not the case. That WAS not the case. You could see mistake after mistake, and you could tell when even the littlest mistake was made.Furthermore, the casting for Mary Martin's was terrible. Wendy had a piercing to the ear sounding voice, and Mary Martin in no way, shape, or form made a believable little boy. She instead made a believable little old man.In Cathy's version, everyone sang on key, and everyone seemed prepared for the performance at hand. Cathy's performance made it easy to forget that she was an adult woman, and truly made you believe that she was that of a young boy. This is not easy for many actors/actresses out there. What's funny is that she had little training. Mary Martin had lots.Makes you wonder who possessed the real talent.