I'm wondering if you ever experienced what I did several times already: a film that you weren't that excited about the first time, became one of your favorite films after watching it a few times more. Amazing, isn't it? I believe that one of the major reasons for such a phenomena is that you had specific expectations of the film and they were not met the first time you watched it. Only later you realize the real qualities the film delivers. With "Peter Pan" there was yet another circumstance that played an important role: the German theatrical version of the film was heavily censored in order to receive a 6-Rating. I didn't know this the two times I watched the film in the theater - I was just wondering about the "bad" work of the editor. I should have known better, for Germany is the land of censorship and Harry Potter 2 was also cut for a 6-Rating. Well, I had to wait for the DVD to realize what a great job the editors Garth Craven and Michael Kahn did! If you're capable of the German language, you might want to read a report about the cuts here. It gives a good impression of how ridiculous and illogical many of the cuts are.

I believe that the story of Peter Pan is known to most of you, so I'll just post the summary from the film's production notes here:
The story begins on a chilly night in buttoned-up Edwardian London as Wendy Darling (Rachel Hurd-Wood) mesmerizes her younger brothers with tales of swordplay, swashbuckling and Captain Hook, the legendary pirate who fears nothing but a ticking clock. But a clock is ticking for Wendy, too. Her father has decreed that it’s time for her to grow up. After tonight, no more stories. She’s to be groomed for womanhood and marriage by strict Aunt Millicent (Lynn Redgrave). Unknown to the Darlings, Peter Pan loves Wendy’s stories, too, and travels a great distance to hear them. His appearance in their nursery that night, along with a jealous little fairy called Tinker Bell (Ludivine Sagnier), triggers an awfully big adventure for Wendy and her brothers. Following him out the window like a small flock of birds, the children swoop over London’s moonlit rooftops, through a galaxy of radiant planets and stars, to the magical Neverland, where they begin an exhilarating new life free of grown-up rules with Peter and the Lost Boys in their secret underground home. Confronting depraved pirates, malicious mermaids, a monstrous crocodile and, worst of all, the vicious steel claw dangling from Hook’s right arm, Wendy and her brothers find out what they’re made of. And the ongoing battle between Peter and Hook escalates to a thrilling climax, played out against the fantastical backdrop of the enchanted world of Neverland.

A complete biography of James Matthew Barrie - the author of the book and play "Peter Pan" - would be beyond the scope of this review, but let me point out some historical facts that were important for the development of Peter Pan:

• When James was six, his elder brother David - mother's favorite son - died in a skating accident only one day before his 14th birthday. For his mother (and maybe James) David therefore became somewhat a boy who would (could) never grow up - just like Peter.
• In the course of David's death Margaret Ogilvy - James' mother - fell into a deep depression that lasted until her own death 29 years later. James struggled for his mother's love and respect for years without success. In Peter Pan Barrie reflects himself as a boy seeking for love but being unable to express it towards the one he loves.
• The walks and conversation with George Davies in Kensington Gardens and later on the adventures with the other Davies boys inspired Barrie for the adventures Peter Pan has to go through (Barrie acquainted himself with George Davies in the London park Kensington Gardens in 1897 and later on with his mother and her husband - Sylvia and Arthur Llewelyn Davies).
• Peter Davies was the eponym for Peter Pan's first name (his last name referred to the Greek god that symbolized natural forces).

P.J. Hogan's "Peter Pan" is said to be very close to the book. However, there's never a film that is a 1:1 realization of the book. When I read Barrie's novel, I wrote down all the differences to the film from the film's point of view, which means I looked at the film and asked myself "was this different from what I just read?" and not vice versa. I'm sharing the result with you in the following table:

Film	Book
Wendy and her brothers are the first to see Peter Pan.	Mrs. Darling is the first to see Peter Pan.
Several scenes show Mr. Darling with colleagues from the bank.	Mr. Darling's work at the bank is not further detailed, it's just mentioned that he's a banker.
During class Wendy draws a picture of her dream about Peter (him flying above her).	No scene at the school at all.
Aunt Millicent plays an important role in the life of the Darlings.	No Aunt Millicent mentioned.
Peter is taller and older-looking than any other boy.	Peter is the youngest and smallest boy.
John and Michael get lost in the jungle after they fall from the sky.	John and Michael never get separated from the pack.
John, Michael and Tiger Lily are captured by the pirates and get rescued by Peter in the Black Castle. Starkey is shot by Hook because he and Smee freed the children. Peter leaves the castle in a boat with the other children.	Tiger Lily is captured by the pirates and gets rescued by Peter at the Mermaids' Lagoon. Starkey doesn't get shot. In fact, he and Smee are the only pirates who survive the story. Peter nearly drowns on top of Marooners' Rock, but gets rescued by the Never Bird.
Wendy gets invited to piracy by Hook on his ship, the "Jolly Roger". At that visit, Tinkerbell is captured by Smee in a vitrine.	Wendy never gets invited to piracy by Hook and never visits the ship on her own. Tinkerbell isn't captured.
There are no fights between Indians and pirates. When Wendy walks outside the "home under the ground" after an argument with Peter, she meets the pirates who have captured the lost boys.	After the pirates massacre the Redskins, Smee beats the tom-tom to make the boys in the "home under the ground" believe that the Indians have won, which makes them come out.
Hook's poison was "distilled when he was weeping from the red of his eye".	Hook's poison was "blended by himself of all the death-dealing rings" (rings that contain poison).
Wendy says that she once thought of calling herself "Red-handed Jill".	John says that he once thought of calling himself "Red-handed Jack".
Tinkerbell makes the ticking sound of the crocodile to scare off the pirates on the ship.	Peter makes the ticking sound of the crocodile to scare off the beasts while flying through the woods. He keeps ticking on the ship only by mistake because he has forgotten about it.
Wendy walks the plank.	Nobody walks the plank.
After "consuming" some ferry dust from Tinkerbell, Hook manages to fly.	Hook does not fly.
After being defeated by Hook, as a farewell, Wendy gives Peter a passionate kiss.	Wendy doesn't kiss Peter.
The boys are cheering "old, alone, done for" while Hook is hovering above the crocodile until he falls into its mouth.	Peter kicks Hook over the bulwark into the crocodile's throat.
Wendy fights together with the boys against the pirates.	Wendy doesn't take part in the fight.
During Wendy's stay at the Neverland, Peter flies to Wendy's home in London and closes the window because he wants Wendy to stay with him.	This event takes place at the end of the book: Peter flies ahead of the other children to close the window before they arrive.
Peter and Wendy discuss what the consequences would be if Peter came back from the Neverland ("would they send me to school?").	This discussion takes place between Peter and Mrs. Darling at the end.
Wendy and her brothers do not return to the Neverland.	Wendy and Michael return to the Neverland the following spring and after that two years later for the last time before they grow up.

It has to be said that all variations made by Hogan, who also wrote the screenplay, and that significantly changed the story, did the film good! They all contribute to make the movie more interesting and exciting! Wouldn't we miss some laughers without Aunt Millicent? What would the film be without the climax on the ship when Wendy gives Peter the "hidden kiss"?
Among the extras on the DVD you will find an alternative ending. This ending is the original one from the book. Anyway, I like the altered short ending better that made it to the final cut. It's a matter of taste though, like it always is. For me it's just a perfect ending when Peter arrives at the window for a last time, saying goodbye to Wendy and flying off with the words "to hear stories - about me!" in reply to Wendy's question if he will come back.

Here's a list of other things that make this film so perfect for me:

• All actors are perfectly chosen and act great, especially the four main characters Peter, Hook, Wendy and Mr. Smee
• The colors are rich and beautiful
• Very good costumes, e.g. Hook's garment, Peter's leaf-gown and all the pirate's clothing
• The score by James Newton Howard ("The Sixth Sense", "Batman Begins") is unbelievable; get the CD here
• The film holds several climaxes; if one is over, you already look forward to the next. It's also very emotional
• A perfect cut gives pleasure, e.g. when the little doors of a German clock close and right after, the big doors of the property open
• A black humor that perfectly fits my taste, consummates this watching experience

When I think about a rating I should give for a film, I always ask myself the question "what would I have made different?" Pertaining P.J. Hogan's "Peter Pan" I can't think of anything I wanted to change. Only the surroundings could have been more realistic - but there's a simple reason why this couldn't happen: because so many cast members were children whose schedules were governed by strict child labor laws, location plans like filming in a jungle, aboard a ship, at sea and on the streets of London, had to be abandoned. Instead, production was based at Warner Roadshow Studios in Gold Coast, Australia (Queensland) and the film's sets were constructed on a number of massive soundstages. Considering this, the film looks great, doesn't it?
If you want to know more about the filmmaking and the cast, the extras on the DVD are a good reference, and you should also have a look into the production notes.

One last thing: the film's end titles have the incredible length of 11 minutes. Does this mean you are tempted to press the stop button of your DVD player prematurely? No way! All the great music from the film is summarized in the end titles. I've seen this movie dozens of times and alway to the very last second!

Resources
- My favorite Trailer (there's none on the DVD!)
- The original Production Notes from Universal Studios
- A collection of Movie Posters
- A collection of Articles from the Telegraph (U.K.)

Links
- Universal's official Filmsite
- Jeremy Sumpter's official website
- J M Barrie: Extensive information on the author and his work
- Butterflies: A very good fansite
- Peter Pan Fan: Another fansite about Peter Pan in general
- Gallery at Casperworld