Common Sense Media Review
By Matt Springer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Decent Peter Pan prequel has some fantasy violence, scares.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
The backstory leading up to Peter Pan's great adventures is covered in NEVERLAND, a four-hour miniseries film. As the story begins, Peter is a young street urchin under the tutelage of James Hook (Rhys Ifans), a well-known thief with a soft spot for helping orphans. Meanwhile, 100 years in the past, a pirate crew sails the seven seas under the command of Captain Elizabeth Bonny (Anna Friel). These disconnected figures find themselves mystically transported to the realm known as "Neverland," where circumstances slowly drive them into the familiar roles established by the original Peter Pan stories.
Is It Any Good?
Neverland doesn't hold a candle to the classic interpretations of the original Peter Pan story, but that doesn't mean it fails to entertain. The big question with any prequel, though, has to be this: What's the point? If there's no good reason to learn more about the unexplored pasts of these characters and this story, then why are we even bothering?
Syfy's miniseries Neverland doesn't end up having much of a point, but the cribbed elements from other popular fantasy TV series, movies, and books are mixed together in an entertaining way, which makes the enterprise definitely watchable. It's somewhat like Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films filtered through the familiar tropes of Peter Pan. It's not as though anyone ever really wondered what was beneath the brooding brow of Captain James Hook, but if nothing else, Rhys Ifans and the writing here give us some impulse to be curious. The movie is full of decent action and a sense of familiar discovery as well-known characters (Tiger Lily, the Lost Boys, Smee) each take their stroll across the stage.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the show's fantasy violence. Was it appropriate as part of the story being told?
Did you recognize all the elements of the Peter Pan story? What was missing? Did you like this interpretation?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 13, 2012
- Cast : Anna Friel , Keira Knightley , Rhys Ifans
- Director : Nick Willing
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Vivendi
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Run time : 169 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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