Peter Pan (1953)

 

Well yes, here's another absolute Disney classic. It might not have performed the way Walt Disney wanted, but there's little denying that most of the characters here are to this day iconic. I mean: Tinkerbell in her skimpy green outfit giving people a fairy fetish for years to come? Captain Hook, a brilliant debonair villain? His boyfriend Mr Smee? 

Oh, and the song that accompanies the crocodile is insanely catchy. 

Based on the book by JM Barrie, this tells the story of Wendy Darling, who fills her younger brothers' heads with fantastical tales of the boy that never wanted to grow up, Peter Pan. Her parents wish she would grow up and leave such fanciful stories, but then one night Peter Pan actually comes to their house and takes Wendy and the boys to Neverland, to see the wonders present. 

At first a lot seems delightful, but there are certainly things amiss. For one, Captain Hook wants vengeance on Pan as the latter took away his hand in a duel and fed it to the crocodile who now really wants to chomp the entirety of the Captain. Then there are the mermaids, who don't appreciate Peter bringing Wendy along and tease her rather nastily. Or what about Tinkerbell, who is so insanely jealous she actively tries to get Wendy killed?

Come to think of it: a lot of the characters here are actually rather nasty. That's including Pan, who simply can't get over the fact that there sometimes is more to life than having fun and being a bully. 

But still, it's all eventually sorted as both Wendy and the boys have a great adventure before they finally have to head back home and Wendy will - in the end - be forced to grow up and say goodbye to the fanciful world of Peter and Neverland. 

You know, the more you think about this story, the darker it gets. Yikes.

That being said and maybe because it is a bit darker in tone (not in colours), this one works really well as an adventure. Most of the characters here actually feel more like real people and less like stereotypes, because they don't stick to one character trait. Pan himself is a bit of a dick at times, Tinkerbell is jealous, Wendy can be a bit too motherly and the boys are boys. Heck, the older you get, the more sympathy one gets for Captain Hook, but darnit, they shouldn't have made him such a wonderful character. 

The story whizzes past, but it all feels like there's a logical progression, even if the introduction of the Indian tribe is a bit wonky and the conflict there does come across as a bit forced due to time constraints. 

All in all, a great addition to Disney's insane roster and a film that sometimes gets overlooked for no real reason. Go ahead and enjoy it.