P.J. Hogan's "Peter Pan" is the best film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's story ever made. The film is a wonder to behold. The flawless film is visually stunning, well written, perfectly acted and directed. Director Hogan also wrote the screenplay. He solved the 'death of Tinkerbell' problem quite well. Never has Neverland looked so lush and wondrous. This film washes away the bad taste left by Steven Speilberg's "Hook."

Anyone who has read "Peter Pan" to their children will realize what a faithful adaptation of the book this film is. Peter Pan (Jeremy Sumpter) is the boy who refused to grow up. He lives on the magical island of Neverland. Deep inside, Peter is lonely. While he has The Lost Boys to follow him and Captain Hook as a playground rival, Peter longs for something he can't vocalize. He hovers outside the window of the Darling children and listens as Wendy (newcomer Rachel Hurd-Wood) tells her brothers John (Harry Newell) and Michael (Freddie Popplewell) stories of mystery and adventure. You know what happens next.

The cast is great. Sumpter's Pan is a cocky, self-assured spirit. He knows everything he thinks he needs to know. What he doesn't, he bluffs his way through. Jason Isaacs (Lord Malfoy from Harry Potter) plays the duel roles of Mr. Darling and Captain Hook. His Hook is one of the great movie villains of all time. Evil and lovable at the same time. Like Pan, Hook is a child at heart. Unfortunately for him, he did grow up. He envies and loves Pan. He wants Pan dead, but doesn't know what he would do if he did kill Pan. Hook does away with a number of his own men. Mr. Isaacs' best scene is when he discovers Peter and Wendy floating through the forest. Hook realizes that Peter has found true love. The scene reveals Hook's humanity. Ludivine Sagnier (Water Drops on Burning Rocks) is great as the jealous imp Tinkerbell. At the center of the film is Wendy. Rachel Hurd-Wood captures the wonder of a young girl on the verge of womanhood. She has a glow about her that draws everyone's attention. The young actress is a natural. There is not a bad performance in this film. Veteran actress Lynn Redgrave is appropriately hammy as the Darling's Aunt Millicent. One of the film's funniest scenes involves Millicent and Peter Pan's runaway shadow.

"Peter Pan" rivals the "Lord of the Rings" films as the perfect synthesis of story and special effects. Like LOTR, "Peter Pan" is character driven. Had the script not been brought to life by the actors as they did, the special effects would have been for naught. In Speilberg's bomb "Hook" Neverland looked like a Burger King playground. Production designer Roger Ford and Art Director Michelle McGahey (and the spirit of Maxfield Parrish!) recreate a time long past. An army of special effects wizards (too numerous to list here)lovingly realized their designs. "Peter Pan" is filled with amazing scenes. The children's trip to Neverland is a galactic eye dazzler. Hook's nemesis crocodile is a fearsome beast that could swallow his cousin from "Lake Placid" in one bite. Hook's ship "The Jolly Roger" is another amazing set. As is the case in every one of the film's sets, the attention to detail is amazing.

"Peter Pan" is an instant family classic. Many members of the opening day audience I saw the film with were talking out loud during the movie, about the movie. Like myself, the audience members were amazed and overjoyed by what they saw. The film ended to applause from the audience. The movie brought tears to my jaded eyes. Do not miss this classic.

Rusty White, 2003