Steve D
As much as I liked this movie, I couldn't tell where fiction and nonfiction met. Truth be told: I never read or seen a Peter Pan movie/story. When it comes to James Barrie, I'm a big Admirable Crighton fan. Don't get me wrong. I think not having any reference to Peter Pan helped me to enjoy the movie more. Depp was great as usual, and so too was the supporting cast. It was a joy to see how the story of Peter Pan was born; I just wondered how much of it was true.

My google search for the answers begins shortly. Go see this movie on the acting and storytelling method alone, and Peter Pan fans, could you let me know if that helped you to enjoy the movie more. Thanks ahead of time.

Steve D
As much as I liked this movie, I couldn't tell where fiction and nonfiction met. Truth be told: I never read or seen a Peter Pan movie/story. When it comes to James Barrie, I'm a big Admirable Crighton fan. Don't get me wrong. I think not having any reference to Peter Pan helped me to enjoy the movie more. Depp was great as usual, and so too was the supporting cast. It was a joy to see how the story of Peter Pan was born; I just wondered how much of it was true.

My google search for the answers begins shortly. Go see this movie on the acting and storytelling method alone, and Peter Pan fans, could you let me know if that helped you to enjoy the movie more. Thanks ahead of time.

Hey, Steve. I agree with you. Tonight, I went to see this movie. It was pretty good. You're right. Johnny Depp was fine. I've ever seen Peter Pan movie, Hook. But that was grown-up Peter Pan's story. And, this movie,"Finding Neverland" is how the story of Peter Pan was born. I like both movies.

Also, supporting actors and actress were excellent. Dustin Hoffman. In Hook, he played Captain Hook, and in Finding Neverland, he played impresario, Charles Frohman. Coincidence? And four kids......they are awesome! And Julie Christie and Kate Winslet....great!

Steve D
As much as I liked this movie, I couldn't tell where fiction and nonfiction met. Truth be told: I never read or seen a Peter Pan movie/story. When it comes to James Barrie, I'm a big Admirable Crighton fan. Don't get me wrong. I think not having any reference to Peter Pan helped me to enjoy the movie more. Depp was great as usual, and so too was the supporting cast. It was a joy to see how the story of Peter Pan was born; I just wondered how much of it was true.

My google search for the answers begins shortly. Go see this movie on the acting and storytelling method alone, and Peter Pan fans, could you let me know if that helped you to enjoy the movie more. Thanks ahead of time.

Well, I saw the movie and thought it was wonderful. Beautifully done. Depp is extraordinary.

Of course I've also read Peter Pan and seen almost all the movies, so I didn't have a problem separating reality from fiction.

Susan

I just saw "Finding Neverland," and I loved it. It was an extraordinarily emotional film for me. "Peter Pan" loomed large in my childhood. The Disney cartoon was epic, and the musical stage version starring Mary Martin which was shown on television sometime in the late '50's, made a huge impression on me. I can sing the entire obsure soundtrack.

The story of a place to which lost children could fly and be safe and protected and rescued resonated in the deepest parts of my little soul and apparently still does. I love that story, absolutely and completely.

The film was magical. I saw it as a perfect blend of reality and imagination. To think the story of Peter Pan first saw the light of day over a hundred years ago warms the cockles of me heart.

Beautifully written, delightfully directed, terrifically acted, I highly recommend it.

I just saw "Finding Neverland," and I loved it. It was an extraordinarily emotional film for me. "Peter Pan" loomed large in my childhood. The Disney cartoon was epic, and the musical stage version starring Mary Martin which was shown on television sometime in the late '50's, made a huge impression on me. I can sing the entire obsure soundtrack.

Obscure?? The musical was an "every-other-year we do it" (and at one point, someone even donated the flying equipment) at my grade school (k-9 - it was the upper schoolers who got to be in it ) during the 60's. And I thought they re-ran the Mary Martin movie annually, so I never realized it was obscure until the movie Hook - where they did NOT use the real Peter Pan play for Pater's kids in that early scene (the down moment in the show) and many of my friends simply didn't GET Hook, as they had never seen the show...

I have read mixed reviews of Finding Neverland - but since I am, like you, Maggers, a true Peter Pan fan, I will take your review to heart and see this ASAP - maybe even in a theatre

There is a book called JMBarrie and the Lost Boys if anyone is interested in the "real" story.

(I used to sing my brother to sleep with "Tender Shepherd".... should I add that he hated it?

Obscure?? The musical was an "every-other-year we do it" (and at one point, someone even donated the flying equipment) at my grade school (k-9 - it was the upper schoolers who got to be in it ) during the 60's. And I thought they re-ran the Mary Martin movie annually, so I never realized it was obscure until the movie Hook - where they did NOT use the real Peter Pan play for Pater's kids in that early scene (the down moment in the show) and many of my friends simply didn't GET Hook, as they had never seen the show...

I have read mixed reviews of Finding Neverland - but since I am, like you, Maggers, a true Peter Pan fan, I will take your review to heart and see this ASAP - maybe even in a theatre

There is a book called JMBarrie and the Lost Boys if anyone is interested in the "real" story.

(I used to sing my brother to sleep with "Tender Shepherd".... should I add that he hated it?

OMG! I LOVE "Tender Shepherd!" And you are the only other person in the world, it seems, who has ever even heard of the song, let alone loves it!!!

I believe they credited "J.M.Barrie and the Lost Boys" as being the inspiration for "Finding Neverland." They note that the story is "based on true events," so I suspect some creative license may have been taken.

OMG! I LOVE "Tender Shepherd!" And you are the only other person in the world, it seems, who has ever even heard of the song, let alone loves it!!!

I believe they credited "J.M.Barrie and the Lost Boys" as being the inspiration for "Finding Neverland." They note that the story is "based on true events," so I suspect some creative license may have been taken.

I've been singing it to myself since I read your post... Now that I am old enough <cough, cough> to actually PLAY that part, no one does the play.... <the truth, I think, is closer to too old....>

I probably won't remember what was written in the book (which is somewhere in a box), so won't be much help in the comparison...

By the way, Maggers, that Mary Martin version of Peter Pan IS on VHS- I assume also on DVD, though I have not checked... Now, the perfect DVD collection, in my opinion, would include that, Mary Martin's South Pacific, Julie Andrew's Camelot & My Fair Lady as well as the Julie Andrews TV show of R&H's Cinderella. The latter, from all reports, is totally lost; the others, however, were filmed and the reels are around - I've seen some excerpts...

Which takes this discussion waaaaayyyyy far awaaaaayyyy from Neverland...

I've been singing it to myself since I read your post... Now that I am old enough <cough, cough> to actually PLAY that part, no one does the play.... <the truth, I think, is closer to too old....>

I probably won't remember what was written in the book (which is somewhere in a box), so won't be much help in the comparison...

By the way, Maggers, that Mary Martin version of Peter Pan IS on VHS- I assume also on DVD, though I have not checked... Now, the perfect DVD collection, in my opinion, would include that, Mary Martin's South Pacific, Julie Andrew's Camelot & My Fair Lady as well as the Julie Andrews TV show of R&H's Cinderella. The latter, from all reports, is totally lost; the others, however, were filmed and the reels are around - I've seen some excerpts...

Which takes this discussion waaaaayyyyy far awaaaaayyyy from Neverland...

I adore Mary Martin and I just rececently saw Julie Andrews' "Cinderella" on PBS, that's Public Broadcasting television! I loved it! She was so young!

You and I would have a great time sitting around, watching all these great old musicals, and singing our little hearts out. However, I suspect you can sing WAY better than I can. I lost my voice while at the GU 4 in Orlando, so when I tried to sing I quite literally croacked. FPW turned to me with a look in his eyes as if to say, "Please, please spare us any further torture!"

But I do enjoy singing, and can at least stay in key and carry a tune, not all that far, mind you, but enough for my own pleasure.

I was in the gym shower last night after swimming. I had the place to myself, and I began humming and then singing "Tender Shepherd." The acoustics in a tiled shower room are great! Then I went on to "Oh My Mysterious Lady, What Is Your Name," though that I doubt that is actual name of the song, and, of course, "I Won't Grow Up."

I thoroughly amused myself.

I adore Mary Martin and I just rececently saw Julie Andrews' "Cinderella" on PBS, that's Public Broadcasting television! I loved it! She was so young!

You and I would have a great time sitting around, watching all these great old musicals, and singing our little hearts out. However, I suspect you can sing WAY better than I can. I lost my voice while at the GU 4 in Orlando, so when I tried to sing I quite literally croacked. FPW turned to me with a look in his eyes as if to say, "Please, please spare us any further torture!"

But I do enjoy singing, and can at least stay in key and carry a tune, not all that far, mind you, but enough for my own pleasure.

I was in the gym shower last night after swimming. I had the place to myself, and I began humming and then singing "Tender Shepherd." The acoustics in a tiled shower room are great! Then I went on to "Oh My Mysterious Lady, What Is Your Name," though that I doubt that is actual name of the song, and, of course, "I Won't Grow Up."

I thoroughly amused myself.

Sounds like fun to me! I'd been singing seriously (not particularly well ) for so long, I've forgotten what it was like to just have FUN and DO IT.... Then I got to Ireland, and EVERYONE sings!! Even my Vet when he is working on the horses! So, I actually got up and went to a Trad session - no singing, mind you, but was able to follow along on the guitar and generally have a good time.

What is GU?? (Asks the clueless!)

And if PBS reshowed Cinderella (I had been under the impression that the tapes had been destroyed! ), does that mean I can get it on DVD????? (she screams hopping around in an decidedly uncharacteristic monkey-like manner!)

IT's THERE - ON AMAZON!!! YAY!!!