Return to Never Land

"Peter Pan In Return To Never Land" is Disney‘s animated sequel to their truly classic 1953 adaptation of J.M. Barrie‘s beloved children‘s story. Time‘s moved on since the first movie and although Peter Pan never grew up, Wendy did. It‘s now World War Two and an adult Wendy is living in London, still telling tales of Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Tinkerbell and all the other inhabitants of Never Land to her two children; Danny, an awe struck little boy and Jane, a more cynical, pragmatic older girl who has no time for fairytales. However when Hook flies his sailing ship to London, kidnaps Jane and takes her to Never Land, she soon wishes she has paid more attention to her mother‘s stories.

With a budget of a ‘mere‘ $20M the film was produced by Disney‘s TV animation department (who have previously toiled over ‘straight to video/DVD‘ sequels for other Disney movies including "Cinderella," "The Lady And The Tramp," "The Lion King" and "The Little Mermaid"), but this was apparently always planned as a cinematic release. The film succeeds in combining the traditional feel of the original ‘50s animation with a more contemporary look, particularly for the intrepid young heroine Jane (whose modern looking bobbed haircut was actually highly fashionable during World War Two!). The use of computer generated animation does successfully enhance certain scenes, sometimes so subtly you don‘t even notice, and sometimes – in the case of Tinkerbell‘s magical pixie dust – to spectacular effect. However Hook‘s computer generated ship, while certainly impressive, unfortunately stands out uncomfortably from the traditionally animated environments that surround it. Overall though "Peter Pan In Return To Never Land" – only the second sequel to a Disney feature to be released on the big screen – more than deserves a cinematic outing, and will no doubt go down well with the latest generation of Disney fans, who have grown up with a VHS copy of the original at home.

Young Jane has lost her faith in imagination and Peter Pan with the outbreak of the Second World War II. With her father off at war and her mother distracted by childish stories, Jane feels she is the most mature, and is looking after her family as she promised she would. But after a falling out with Wendy, Jane finds herself on board Captain Hook's ship, heading towards the second star to the right. It's not until Jane let's go of trying to be a grown up does she truly find happiness and magic. The music throughout is very well written and while modernized does still replicate the feel of the original. Ultimately, I feel this was a great carry-on from the original with all the splendor of Neverland and the perils of the island shared between Peter and Hook!

After so many years it was not a surprise that the original charm and concept would not be captured the same way in its sequel. The animation was incredibly expressive and smooth, close to being top-notch in traditional animation at the time given it was animated by Walt Disney TV Animation.

The plot kept some beats that resonate with what Peter Pan and Neverland are all about: growing up. Themes like maturing, friendship, faith and imagination are explored again in this film only with new characters and a new backdrop (London Blitz period in WWII). But it's undeniable the frequent talking down to the more younger audiences instead of allowing them to learn the lessons by themselves.

Surprisingly, the plot had direction and a final goal with other subplots emerging from it that made sense most of the time. Nevertheless, these were not as engaging enough to keep the audience wondering if the protagonists were in danger at all.

IN CONCLUSION, the movie doesn't do many things wrong but rather stick to what it does well, it has varied and quirky characters, an endearing sequel effect with Wendy all grown up, fun and heartwarming messages for the younger audiences and original ideas like having a new enemy for Captain Hook or the background of the story with the father. But that's just it, the movie is just another adventure with similar beats from the first Peter Pan, it doesn't try to tell a new story just "reinvent the wheel". Also fans of the original work Disney's movie is based on might get angered by how little it reminisces the original spirit of the stories. Although by now it should be obvious that Disney's creations are but loosely-based adaptations of such tales so it shouldn't be judged harshly.

All you need is faith, trust and pixie dust! This is a surprisingly pleasant sequel. The C.G. Tinkerbelle is not as ...delicate as I remember from the first, but she is still made well and is just as spunky! I think they did a very good job on this movie...so good of a job that I would not classify it with normal sequels. I think it will be on the shelf with the other classics. They still have the Tink that turns red when she's mad, and the lost boys haven't changed a bit. Peter is just as I remember him, and in all this they did a great job. And overall, I love this movie. The credits did surprise me. They reminded me of the last page in the Little Golden Books I read as a child. Very similar artistry...very similar lay out.

Also, I'd like to add that the music was actually not torture for me to listen to...which counts for a lot for my opinion of cartoons.

I would not miss taking my children to this movie. It's even a sweet date movie.

I think you will like it.

I found this movie quite enchanting. It captured the spirit of the original quite well, and a reference to the original story that wasn't in the first Disney that was thrown in had me clapping until my hands were sore... But it wasn't applause. (I'll say no more, I don't wish to spoil the movie for anyone else.) And Jane was a great contrast to Wendy. I would totally recommend this movie to anyone who loved the first.

Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust!!!