Peter Pan: Diamond Edition Blu-ray Review
“Peter Pan” looks better than ever on Blu-ray.
We all know the plot of Disney’s “Peter Pan.” It’s a magical tale of a young girl (Wendy Darling) and her two brothers (John and Michael Darling) being whisked away to the fantastical realm of Neverland by a youthful flying hero named Peter Pan and his trusty pixie sidekick (Tinkerbell). While in Neverland, the Darling family encounters mermaids, Indians, the Lost Boys, Captain Hook and his pirate crew, and a very hungry crocodile.
While not on the same level as masterpieces like “Pinocchio” or “Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs,” “Peter Pan” is still one of the best Disney animated classics. Not only is the movie a fun-filled adventure about escapism, but it’s also a poignant tale about youth and adulthood. Yes, the movie has certainly become dated over time due to the cringe-worthy portrayals of Indians and some over-the-top humor that clearly panders to children (see the kid friendly crocodile), but the heart of J.M. Barrie’s treasured book is still here and that’s what matters most.
On the subject of the humor, it’s not all overdone. Even as an adult viewing this film for the first time in many years I found myself being charmed by Nana the dog and Smee’s goofy antics. I merely take issue with some of the sequences (mainly those involving Captain Hook and the Crocodile) that chew up valuable screentime and feel like little more than padding.
One of the other brights spots about ‘Pan’ are some of the songs. There’s no denying the fact that tunes like “You Can Fly” and “Following The Leader” will stick with you for as long as you live. They’re bonafide classics and rightly so. They enhance the viewing experience and draw you into the film.
Video/Audio:
“Peter Pan,” which is presented in 1.33:1 1080p, looks unbelievably stunning in hi-def. I’ve seen this film in various incarnations over the years, but the colors have never looked so crisp and vibrant as they do here. This is hands down one of the best restorations I have seen to date.
From the catchy songs to Captain Hook’s yelling, this 7.1 DTS-HD audio track is pitch perfect.
Extras:
* DVD copy and digital copy.
* “Disney Intermission”- An interesting activity feature that pops up when you press pause.
* An intro by Diane Disney Miller.
* A storybook application for various devices such as an iPad.
* Disney trailers.
* A Peter Pan Sing-Along subtitle feature and a Disney song selection option.
* “DisneyView Side Bars”- Images that fill up the sides of the fullscreen presentation.
* “Growing Up With Nine Old Men”- A 41 minute documentary about the 9 legendary Disney animators.
* 4 exclusively new storyboarded and partially animated deleted songs and scenes for “The Journey Home,” “Alternate Arrival,” “Never Smile At A Crocodile,” and “The Boatswain Song.” Loved hearing the original vocals for ‘Crocodile.’ A classic tune.
* Music videos for “Never Land” and “The Second Star To The Right.”
* Commentary by Roy Disney. Roy’s comments are clearly scripted but they are spliced in with informative (and personal) comments from animators and voice talent. Worth a listen.
* “Tinker Bell: A Fairy’s Tale”- A featurette on the character and her history.
* “The Peter Pan That Almost Was”- A fascinating piece offering interesting facts that I have never heard of before as well as concept art (and ideas) that were never used.
* “Deleted Song: Pirate Song”- Storyboarded footage (with temp audio) of a deleted musical number.
* “Never Land: The Lost Song”- Another song that never made the movie.
* “You Can Fly: The Making Of Peter Pan”- A standard making of with interviews, art, clips, and stories about the past.
* “In Walt’s Words: Why I Made Peter Pan”- An abridged reading of a magazine article written by Walt Disney.
* “The Peter Pan Story”- An old school B&W featurette that explores how Barrie’s classic tale became a Disney animated feature.
Summary: With iconic characters and plenty of rich themes, “Peter Pan” is simply one of Disney’s finest feature works. It may not be perfect, but it’s still a film that stands the test of time.
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