Post by javierocker on Dec 5, 2011 6:52:18 GMT 2
Just saw part 1 of the mini series Neverland, part 2 airs tomorrow night and while I think its pretty good in its own right, though it starts off rather slow, its a poor prequel to Peter Pan. Mostly because like Peter and Starcatchers it changes way to much to logically be able to sink up to Peter Pan.
The first major thing being the age of Peter Pan, this kid is way to old, if I had to guess his age off hand I would say he's about 15/16. While Jeremy Sumptor was also pretty old when he took on the role of Peter being 13 at the time, he was at least close enough to childhood that he was believable as the boy who refused to grow up. In fact this an issue with all of the boys, of the entire group of Peter and the Lost Boys, only one actually looks the age he should be.
The character of Peter also acts nothing like the character of Peter Pan, now this is split into two parts, so this may change. But thus far except for a few moments of impulsiveness he really acts nothing like Peter Pan in anyway. However I will give them props to having something surrounding Peter's mother, its a lot different then the norm, but he still longs for and misses his mother regardless. So def. points up on that. Also points on making this version of Peter British with a British accent.
Another thing that this version also got right that no version has ever gotten right, including the 2003 movie is which lost boy is the pudgy one. In the book its Slightly that's the pudgy one, the movies have the habit of making it Tootles instead. Tootles is not the pudgy member of the lost boys, he's just the most kind and laid back of the group. This exactly what Tootles is in this movie without being the pudgy one and Slightly is the pudgy one just as it says in the original novel.
Also I got to give this movie props for also having a very good villain. We of course have a new villain in the form of Captain Bonny, a female pirate. And she's quite unlikable and cold hearten, exactly what a good villain should be, the type you love to hate. Bob Hoskins is also doing well as Mr. Smee, channeling his performance from the movie Hook, though this time he's a lot more menacing and more like his character from the book.
And last but not least the character of Hook is also very well done. He's likable because he does have genuine affection for the boys, esp. for Peter. But he's extremely power hungry and ambitious and as a result is all to quick to joint the pirates when promised power. Though the mini series hasn't finished yet I can def. see how the breakdown and eventual rivalry bet. him and Peter is going to begin.
So far this is just part 1 and the main thing I want to know is Neverland going to begin removing the memory of the characters. So far nothing had been bought up about memory loss for anyone, and without its going to hard to believe that Peter/Hook could even become close to the bitter enemies they become. Not to mention it makes a lot of plot holes in regards to Wendy, as of right now Peter has no reason not to return any of Wendy's feelings, esp. given his age in this versions. He also has no reason to act like Peter Pan. But we'll have to wait to see what turns up in part 2.
Also one major plot hole that this movie created and what really make this impossible as a Peter Pan prequel, the mini series is set in 1906. Peter's original adventure with Wendy was written and I'm pretty sure set in 1904. The 2003 movie was literally set in 1906, so when exactly does Peter meet Wendy? I guess its not happening in the time period when its usually does happen. Is Wendy going to be a present day girl in this version of Peter Pan?
I've seen and heard of a lot bad prequels, but this literally shot itself in the foot right from the get go. But regardless of the changes and the fact that there is no way this is a prequel to any version of Peter Pan that I've seen, this is still a very good and interesting mini series. I'm interested in seeing how things are going to play out, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow expect a review of part 2 of Neverland.
The first major thing being the age of Peter Pan, this kid is way to old, if I had to guess his age off hand I would say he's about 15/16. While Jeremy Sumptor was also pretty old when he took on the role of Peter being 13 at the time, he was at least close enough to childhood that he was believable as the boy who refused to grow up. In fact this an issue with all of the boys, of the entire group of Peter and the Lost Boys, only one actually looks the age he should be.
The character of Peter also acts nothing like the character of Peter Pan, now this is split into two parts, so this may change. But thus far except for a few moments of impulsiveness he really acts nothing like Peter Pan in anyway. However I will give them props to having something surrounding Peter's mother, its a lot different then the norm, but he still longs for and misses his mother regardless. So def. points up on that. Also points on making this version of Peter British with a British accent.
Another thing that this version also got right that no version has ever gotten right, including the 2003 movie is which lost boy is the pudgy one. In the book its Slightly that's the pudgy one, the movies have the habit of making it Tootles instead. Tootles is not the pudgy member of the lost boys, he's just the most kind and laid back of the group. This exactly what Tootles is in this movie without being the pudgy one and Slightly is the pudgy one just as it says in the original novel.
Also I got to give this movie props for also having a very good villain. We of course have a new villain in the form of Captain Bonny, a female pirate. And she's quite unlikable and cold hearten, exactly what a good villain should be, the type you love to hate. Bob Hoskins is also doing well as Mr. Smee, channeling his performance from the movie Hook, though this time he's a lot more menacing and more like his character from the book.
And last but not least the character of Hook is also very well done. He's likable because he does have genuine affection for the boys, esp. for Peter. But he's extremely power hungry and ambitious and as a result is all to quick to joint the pirates when promised power. Though the mini series hasn't finished yet I can def. see how the breakdown and eventual rivalry bet. him and Peter is going to begin.
So far this is just part 1 and the main thing I want to know is Neverland going to begin removing the memory of the characters. So far nothing had been bought up about memory loss for anyone, and without its going to hard to believe that Peter/Hook could even become close to the bitter enemies they become. Not to mention it makes a lot of plot holes in regards to Wendy, as of right now Peter has no reason not to return any of Wendy's feelings, esp. given his age in this versions. He also has no reason to act like Peter Pan. But we'll have to wait to see what turns up in part 2.
Also one major plot hole that this movie created and what really make this impossible as a Peter Pan prequel, the mini series is set in 1906. Peter's original adventure with Wendy was written and I'm pretty sure set in 1904. The 2003 movie was literally set in 1906, so when exactly does Peter meet Wendy? I guess its not happening in the time period when its usually does happen. Is Wendy going to be a present day girl in this version of Peter Pan?
I've seen and heard of a lot bad prequels, but this literally shot itself in the foot right from the get go. But regardless of the changes and the fact that there is no way this is a prequel to any version of Peter Pan that I've seen, this is still a very good and interesting mini series. I'm interested in seeing how things are going to play out, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow expect a review of part 2 of Neverland.
