Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie's classic tale of pirates, fairies, mermaids, and a boy who refuses to grow up, gets new life in a wonderful live-action adaptation that remains true to the original while providing action-packed thrills for the whole family.

       Director P.J. Hogan brings fantastic vision to the film, taking full advantage of today's technology to stage breathtaking flight sequences and seamlessly blend CGI with live action to add new dimension and texture to the story. Hogan also had a hand in writing the screenplay and taken care to include aspects of the story that Disney previously sugarcoated. For example, the jealousy Tinkerbell feels over the arrival of Wendy is never downplayed and it might be shocking for some to realize that she possesses a definite mean streak. The romance that exists between Peter and Wendy is also brought to the foreground and fuels conflict between the two as Peter struggles to understand the previously unknown concept of love. Hogan understands the darker undertones of the novel and has created film that is slightly more menacing, elevating Peter Pan beyond mere kid's fare. He deftly balances scarier moments with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, resulting in a film for all ages.

       In addition, the casting of major roles is perfect. Jeremy Sumpter brings just the right amount of boyish charm and worldly mischievousness to the role of Peter. He is a fine young actor, expressive and confident with impressive emotional range for one so young. Rachel Hurd-Wood is equally impressive as Wendy, her delicate features and wide-eyed innocence a perfect contrast to Sumpter's toughened Peter. Jason Isaacs is excellent in dual roles as the dashingly devilish pirate, Hook, and the painfully skittish family patriarch, Mr. Darling. The contrast between these two characters is so complete; it was not until the final credits that I realized both were played by the same actor. Finally, Ludivine Sagnier is an absolute delight in the role of Tinkerbell, a portrayal that is sassy and sexy with just the right mixture of whimsy tempered by envy.

       Peter Pan swoops onto DVD in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 Dolby Digital. While it appears to be loaded with bonus features, it is somewhat disappointing to discover that many of the featurettes are only a couple of minutes long, barely enough to scratch the surface of the topics they cover. Features have been broken down into five headings: The Pirate Ship, Neverland Forest, Black Castle, Home Under The Ground, and The Darling House. The Pirate Ship includes: Through The Eyes Of Hook, a behind the scenes short as seen through the eyes of Isaacs; Pirates vs. The Lost Boys, which explains the antagonistic relationship between the two groups; and The Lost Pirate Song, a brief introduction to a song that was rehearsed for the film and then not included because director Hogan questioned its appropriateness for the film. Neverland Forest includes: Tinkerbell: Behind The Fairy Dust, a short that chronicles the blue screen work of Sagnier and explains how CGI was blended with live-action to make Tinkerbell a realistic character; I Do Believe In Fairies, explaining how the fairy dance sequence was pieced together; and Princess Tiger Lily, an introduction to the young actress in the role. Black Castle features: Learning To Fly, a very interesting look at the incredible amount of work and apparatus' used for the flying sequences; and The Mermaid's Tale, a very brief look at the makeup process to create the mermaids. Home Under The Ground highlights: The Legacy of Pan, a short making-of documentary hosted by Sarah Ferguson; The Duchess's Outtakes, a blooper reel from the aforementioned documentary which are included for inexplicable reasons; and Lost Boys On The Set, profiling the young actors who play the group of randy tykes. Finally, The Darling House includes: An alternate ending that finds young Pan returning to find Wendy all grown up, a final scene that pack much more emotional punch than the one that was chosen; Deleted Scenes that all center around Mr. Darling's decision to live in Nana's doghouse until the children return; Me & My Shadow, a brief look at the technical side of the scene in which Peter attempts to re-attach his shadow; and, In The Doghouse With Nana, a look at the canine stars of the picture.

Truly capturing the essence of the story for the first time in a live format, P.J. Hogan's Peter Pan crackles with ingenuity and is sure to become a beloved classic in your family film treasury.