It should surprise no one that I am a fan of fantasy. Books like Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, the original 14 novels in The Wizard of Oz series, and those in the Chronicles of Narnia have always held a very special place in my heart, and one of my favorites has always been Peter Pan. In 2011, the Syfy channel produced NEVERLAND, a two-night four mini-series exploring the creation of Neverland.
Airing on the 4th and 5th of December in the United States, the 161-minute epic was written and directed by Nick Willing – who had previously helmed other Fairy Tale adaptations for the network, including Tin Man (2007) and Alice (2011). The film stars Rhys Ifans as James Hook, who runs a gang of tween street thieves, including Peter, played by Charlie Rowe. After the gang is hired to steal a magical orb, Hook and several boys find themselves in a strange land and soon become the prisoners of a band of pirates Captained by Elizabeth Bonny (Anna Friel). The film also features Keira Knightley as the voice of Tinkerbell and Q’orianka Kilcher as Aya (Tiger Lily).
The film gives an original take on the origins of Peter Pan and Captain Hook and a deeper understanding of why the two have such a deep and intense hatred for one another. Ifans’ Hook is not a comic book villain. He’s dark, he’s tortured, and at times he’s incredibly frightening. Rowe, on the other hand, captures Pan’s daring attitude and naïveté with sincerity and fun. Friel’s Captain Bonny – was a strange but necessary addition to the story of the film. I remember being captivated by her at the time, as I’d only ever seen her in Pushing Daisies.
Kilcher’s portrayal of Aya is also worth noting. There is a strength to her, but also an innocent vulnerability. She’s a wonderful actress.
Incredibly well produced with a beautiful score by Ronan Hardiman the film has enjoyed several home-media releases including digital streaming and download and multiple dvd/blu-ray versions.
More Retro Reviews soon so…
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