NEVERLAND

UK, 2011, 180 minutes, Colour.
Rhys Ifans, Anna Friel, Charlie Rowe, Keira Knightley, Bob Hoskins, Q’orianka Kilcher.
Directed by Nick Willing.

Neverland was designed as a television Mary’s miniseries, a telemovie. It is one of the many variations on the Peter Pan theme, from the novel and play by J. M. Barrie, to the Disney film of the 1950s, the Broadway musical with Mary Martin, Stephen Spielberg’s Hook and the film, Finding Neverland.

This film starts in the 17th century with pirates, Anna Friel as the captain of a rogue ship in the Atlantic. When they plunder a ship, they find a magic globe with Tinkerbell inside. They fear it is a demon, touch the globe and are transported into Neverland.

The scene then changes to London in 1906. Rhys Ifans is Jimmy, a disgraced gentlemen, living in the East End, with a group of boys around him who steal – reminiscent, of course, of Fagin. One of the boys is Peter, the son of a woman that Jimmy loved. Peter wants to prove himself and leads the boys to a robbery that Jimmy himself wanted to do to get back the globe and reinstate himself in society. In touching the globe he and the boys go into Neverland.

The pirates are there in Neverland as well as a group of Indians who have been transported. Jimmy teams up with the Pirate Captain; her assistant, Smee (Bob Hoskins) takes charge of the boys. Peter and another boy find themselves with the Indians. Ultimately, there is a clash between the pirates and the Indians, Peter trying to remain loyal to Jimmy but finding that he has been betrayed. He is rescued by Tinkerbell and learns how to fly. He also goes back to London and returns with gifts. The whole story is a preparation for the later stories of Peter Pan.

Charlie Rowe is very good as Peter Pan. Rhys Ifans combines charm and the sinister as Jimmy who is revealed as Hook. Anna Friel’s enjoys herself as the Pirate Captain and Keira Knightley is the voice of Tinkerbell.

1. The perennial popularity of Peter Pan stories? J. M. Barrie’s novel and play? The Disney version? Spielberg’s Hook? Broadway musical? Finding Neverland? This film in that tradition?

2. A new version, pre-Peter Pan? Speculation about his character and origins? The preparation for his future?

3. The initial fantasy, the 17th century, the pirates? The Indians? Neverland? The magic globe? Tinkerbell? The groups disappearing from Earth going to Neverland? Neverland and its look, the maps, the mountains, the valleys, the caves, ice floes, the special effects? The musical score?

4. Made for a television audience, the length? The plot and characters? Adventures? Drama? Peter Pan and the fantasy?

5. The pirates, the captain, the overtones of the Blackbeard stories? Piracy, the ships, the battles, taking the cargoes? The captain and the henchmen? Smee? The globe, Tinkerbell, thinking the globe was bewitched, touching it – and the disappearance?

6. The transition to 1906? Jimmy and the echoes of Fagin? The boys, the individuals, as a group, the stealing, the set up with the pickpocketing, the chase, Peter on the rooftops, playing his pipe and guiding the boys? the police, cuffing the boy, the boys bumping and releasing their friend?

7. Jimmy, his character, with the children, his relationship with Peter, Peter as the leader, the fights amongst the boys? Jimmy and his stealing, the special job? Jis background, resentment about being expelled from society? His ambitions and sense of revenge? Peter persuading the boys, their going to the shop, the robbery, Jimmy’s arrival, the clashes, finding the globe and the disappearance?

8. In Neverland, the lost boys, Peter and the boy on the ice floes? Watching the ship? The Indians?

9. The pirates, taking the boys, Smee controlling them?

10. The Indians, the elder, the chief, the story of the tribe, as a group, the daughter, Peter and his resistance, attempts to escape? Hiding under the boats and following the Indians?

11. Jimmy and the pirates, the attraction to Bonnie, sexual, his command, change of clothes? With the boys? The revelation that his name was Hook?

12. Peter, the daughter, her help, hiding under the boats, the Indians and their fishing? Going on to the ship, Jimmy and Bonnie, their discussions, Peter and his disillusionment? Helping the boys to escape, the boy going back, falling from the ship and dying? The boys and their living with the Indians?

13. Jimmy and Bonnie, searching for the globe, Smee and the boys? The henchmen and his pursuit?

14. Peter, the encounter with Tinkerbell, transforming him, flying, learning how to live in the new world? With the boys, the Indians? His return to London, coming back with gifts?

15. Jimmy’ story of love for Peter’s mother and hostility towards his father?

16. The boys, their characters, staying with the Indians?

17. The build-up to the clash between the pirates in the Indians? Peter believing Jimmy, Jimmy and his lying? The conflict? Peter and his being wounded, almost dead? Tinkerbell reviving him?

18. The ending of this story – but the preparation for the story of Peter Pan?