Plot: What’s it about?
In what became known as one of 2015’s biggest disappointments, Pan failed to attract a wide audience during its brief theatrical run last fall. We’ve seen countless adaptations of this story, but here, we’re given something of a prequel/origin story treatment. You can’t determine a film’s quality based on box office returns, but one does have to wonder what went so wrong here. While the film ultimately did little for me, one has to credit it for at least attempting something new. Maybe that was the biggest issue; straying too far from the source material. With a story as widely known as Peter Pan, audiences might’ve not been ready for such a different take on the character. It’s interesting to note that the screenplay was featured in the 2013 blacklist for the most liked unmade script. Something clearly got lost in translation, however, as Pan never quite takes off.
The film begins with a young boy being left on the steps of a London orphanage by his mother Mary (Amanda Seyfried). We then flash forward some years later to find Peter at the orphanage. Peter is punished for his mischievous actions by having pirates summoned to kidnap him and several others. He’s then taken to Neverland where it’s run by the ruthless Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman). He eventually befriends Hook (Garrett Hedlund), and eventually we see Peter eventually become Peter Pan. Truth be told, Pan never becomes a bad film so much as a dull one. It feels as if it’s going through the motions, and lacks the fun adventure factor required for a film of this sort. I’m usually a fan of Jackman, but he seems a bit lost here as is performance is spotty as best. Some of the effects are nicely done, but the film has such a dark look to it that it became distracting to a point. I also find it hard to think that younger audiences will enjoy this film. It seems a bit too serious in tone that I have to wonder if that’s part of the reason it didn’t earn a bigger audience. Still, maybe Hollywood will soon learn that it can’t keep rebooting the same old stories we’ve seen countless times.
Video: How’s it look?
One only needs to look at the cover of the Blu-ray box to ascertain what’s in store visually. Let’s face it, the world of Peter Pan is all about fantasy and seeing things we never thought possible. While the 2.40:1 AVC HD image will encompass the majority of your screen, it’s what in between those black bars that really makes the film soar visually (sorry, I could not resist). Colors are bold and bright and practically leap off the screen (and in the 3D version, I’m sure they actually do). The intricate world of Pan comes alive with a plethora of computer-generated effects that, while impressive, seem to be almost too perfect. Nevertheless, this is a visual feast with strong colors, bold blacks and details that make you squint as you try and pick out every one. It’s pretty amazing.
Audio: How’s it sound?
As the titles continue to come out, we’re finding more and more with the Dolby Atmos soundtrack. If you’re not so equipped (and most are not), fear not as a very robust Dolby TrueHD soundtrack has been included as well. The soundtrack seems to embody everything we’d expect from a big budget action/adventure film. The front stage is constantly churning, the LFE have several times to shine and the surrounds give us a near dizzying experience with a plethora of information. Vocals are strong lacking any distortion. The world of Pan has never sounded so good.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Audio Commentary – Director Joe Wright is extremely chatty on a technical front since the film focused so heavily on CGI. But he does delve into the allure of the world of Pan, touches on the story as well as the casting process.
- Never Grow Up: The Legend of Pan – This is pretty much a history of Peter Pan, dating way back to J.M. Barrie’s original novel.
- The Boy Who Would Be Pan – A brief look at the actor who played Pan, Levi Miller.
- The Scoundrels of Neverland – A feature on Blackbeard and his entourage.
- Wondrous Realms – A crash course in the physical world of the film.
The Bottom Line
A hard film to completely dislike, Pan is still heavily flawed, and seems like something got lost in translation. Credit the film for attempting something new, but it seems to have forgotten the “Wow” factor in the process. Skip it.
