Sunday, October 11, 2015

Review: Pan (2015)

Newcomer Levi Miller stars as the boy who could fly.

Directed by Joe Wright
Produced by Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Paul Webster
Written by Jason Fuchs (characters by J.M. Barie)
Starring Hugh Jackman, Garrett Hedlund, Rooney Mara, Amanda Seyfried, Adeel Akhtar and Levi Miller

B+

After prestigious period films like Atonement and Pride and Prejudice, Joe Wright has returned with an extravagant Peter Pan prequel. Young Peter (Miller) is left on the doorsteps of a London orphanage by his mother (Seyfried). Twelve years later, he is stolen by pirates and taken to Neverland, a magical world of flying ships, fairies, natives, mermaids, and crocodiles. Blackbeard (Jackman) puts Peter and his fellow orphans to work in the pixie dust mines, where he meets James Hook (Hedlund). The pair escape with the amusing Smee (Akhtar), and they’re captured by the natives. Peter might be small, but he could be the one to save the princess Tiger Lily (Mara), her people, and the fairies from the wrath of Blackbeard and his crew. In an adventure that will set his destiny, Peter must fight alongside Hook, the natives, and the fairies to put an end to Blackbeard’s rule.

Being a fan of the original Peter Pan story, this thrilling jolt of sugar-coated escapism is a dazzling feat for Joe Wright. The film is perhaps too rushed, and certainly takes a wrong turn here and there, but it’s extremely delightful on the whole. Of course, the visuals are lovely, with the effects, costumes, sets, and overall scope immaculate. Levi Miller is a great discovery, offering the best performance of Peter Pan to date. The rest of the cast is solid, though Rooney Mara is sadly - and obviously - miscast as the native princess of the island. But Hugh Jackman is menacing as Blackbeard, and Garrett Hedlund is a devilish charmer as the legendary Hook. Naturally, the critical beating this film has suffered will turn some viewers away, yet it remains thoroughly entertaining to the ten-year-old inside. Peter Pan has always been a fascinating tale, and Joe Wright’s interpretation is a wonderful piece of entertainment, even if it skimps in some areas.

Oscar Potential: Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, Best Original Song (“Little Soldier”, “Something’s Not Right”), Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Visual Effects

6 comments:

  1. Also noticed the critical beating for Pan. I enjoyed Spielberg's take on the material in Hook (1991) and apparently that was panned as well.
    I could see how those who love Peter Pan might be won over and Joe Wright is a competent director.

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    1. I love Hook, and Pan was a fun viewing. Hope you get to see it.

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  2. YAY! I'm so happy you loved this. Miller was just wonderful, and Jackman was so layered...count me pleasantly surprised.

    I really hope that Oscar recognizes this for those visuals, which may very well win the Fisti...and those sets and costumes were no joke, either. And I love that you mention the songs! Such a nice surprise, since they didn't advertise them or release them prior to the film coming out, so I wasn't expecting a new song, let alone two (and so different)...and I love Lily Allen so double YAY!

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    1. Ugh, those songs!! And Miller is amazing. Really hope the visuals get some Oscar noms, too, but I wonder if the poor reviews/box office will keep it out. Then again, The Lone Ranger got two noms. :/

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  3. Hey Josh, well looks like you're in Drew's camp about this one. I didn't hate it but I certainly wasn't wowed by it. The visuals was good, but it was like a sugar overload for me and after a while the movie bored me. Glad we agreed that Rooney Mara was miscast though.

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    1. Sorry you were bored, Ruth. I wouldn't have minded a longer film. :) Glad you liked the visuals. Mara was awful casting, and I say that as a fan of hers.

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