Film review: Pan (8 out of 10)

There seems to be a never-ending line of young actors who appear in movies and manage to shine among esteemed company.
Hugh Jackman in PanHugh Jackman in Pan
Hugh Jackman in Pan

Levi Miller is the latest talent in this fascinating and well-conceived prequel to the classic Peter Pan story.

Levi plays Peter who is left as a baby at an orphanage; we pick up the story during World War II with rationing, bombs dropping and the young boys having a thoroughly miserable existence.

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However, Peter is resourceful and and rebellious and needs all his wits about him when one night he’s whisked away to the magical Neverland by the infamous pirate Blackbeard.

Soon he’s teamed up with a local inhabitant Tiger Lily and Hook, a fellow prisoner, as they try to thwart Blackbeard’s unpleasant plans for the island.

Hugh Jackman is superb as the pirate chief and Garrett Hedlund fits in well as Hook.

English director Joe Wright has a very healthy CV behind him (eg Anna Karenina, Atonement) and he lets his imagination run away with the beautiful sets and locations for this movie.

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It’s explained that Neverland has people from all countries and eras but it still seemed weird when the cast burst into song with Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana.

My only other gripe would be that Pan doesn’t actually leave you where the Peter Pan tale starts. However, to cross that gap you’d need to have a very dark turn of events.

The 3D effects are done well and there’s some great action scenes.

Even if you’ve never seen Peter Pan in panto or any of the movies, or even read the book, this is still a great family film that will be packing them in for half-term.

Film details: Pan (PG) 111mins

Director: Joe Wright

Starring: Levi Miller, Hugh Jackman, Garrett Hedlund

Screening courtesy of Horsham Capitol

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