Film Review-Pan

Peter Pan has been adapted numerous times through-out the ages. The timeless tale of the boy who will never age has been told and re-told in multiple different ways.

With this latest adaptation, Warner Brothers have tried to put a fresh spin on J.M Barrie’s material by making it prequel to the tale we know so well. “this isn’t the story you’ve heard before.” A narrator tells us in the opening scene.

When we first meet Peter (Levi Miller), he’s a Artful Dodger-esque 12-year-old living in a London orphanage during the Blitz. The orphanage is run with an Iron fist, by a Catholic nun (Kathy Burke) she’s rude, sadistic and hoarding all the rations.

Every so often, a child or two goes missing in the night, the other boys assume they’ve been evacuate to Canada. Late one night, Peter and some other orphans are appropriated by some pirates and taken away in a flying ship.  

They are taken to Neverland and are introduced to Captain “the pirate that all pirates fear” Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman).

  
Neverland isn’t the Picture-esque place we’ve seen before. Blackbeard is a tyrant of a dictator, whom has enslaved the children and put them to work mining Pixium (pixie dust). 

Unfortunately for Blackbeard, Neverland has an ancient prophecy. One day a boy who can fly, will lead an uprising against him. 
Whilst facing execution Peter flies for the first time. But, he’s doubtful about his new abilities and although he wants to believe, he can’t quiet see himself as a hero. Luckily for Peter he has some friends to help him on his way including; James Hook (Garrett Hedlund) and Tiger Lily (Rooney Mara).

Joe Wright’s Pan is trying to offer us something new and, for the most part it succeeds. The music choices are inspired, thousands of pirates chanting the lyrics to smells like teen spirit, is chilling and it works so well that it’s amazing nobody has done it before.  

The use of vibrant colours give the film a visual style that will charm and mesmerise kids. The scintillating colours of Neverland are a great contrast from the dark and dank, war-torn London orphanage. 

  
12-year-old Australian, Levi Miller is fantastic as Peter Pan he oozes cheeky charm. I predict big things for him in the future.  

After 15-years of playing Wolverine, Hugh Jackman has a ball playing the villain. Blackbeard is a contradiction within himself, he changes personalities at the drop of a hat-or in this case, wig. 

Garrett Hedlund and Rooney Mara are great in their roles, but don’t actually have that much to do. Special mention must go to Adeel Akhtar as Mr.Smee. Ahktar manages to perfectly personify the weasel-like Smee.

Kids will love this, adults will want the soundtrack. 

Pan is released in the UK on the 16th of October.