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Sir James M. Barry (Johnny Depp) seems to be the only person who believes in his own
works. The last one he did was a flop. Searching for new ideas, he goes to four brothers whose father died just recently. One of them, Peter (Freddie Highmore) by
name, catches his attention for being an "adult" in the way he sees things; he just doesn't believe in fantasies. So Barry starts entertaining Peter and the boys by taking
them to the world of the imagination – dancing bears, fairies, and pirates. This initial encounter is followed by other meetings that somehow become the favorite topic
between Barry and the boy's mother Sylvia Davies (Kate Winslet). Neither Sylvia's mother Emma du Maurier (Julie Cristie) nor Jame's wife Marie (Radha Mitchell) understand
why James is spending considerable time with the boys and their mother. It turns out that through this relationship James is in the process of creating one of the greatest
literary works the world has ever known.
Viewers might be unaware of this, but the whole film, its storyline and editing, goes on smoothly
with the realistic and inviting portrayal of Depp, Highmore and Winslet, in that order. Finding Neverland
could well be one of Depp's finest films in a dramatic genre. The composition and cinematography put us back in the 19th century, highlighting signs and symbols of the time and exhibiting a compelling dramatic effect. The transitions from fantasy to reality and vice versa are seamless; the whole film integrated these two different worlds.
Finding Neverland
could be a model film on how to make present the worlds of imagination, belief, and other abstract concepts. The musical score blends smoothly with the visuals, and the visual effects of kids flying and the final scene of Neverland are truly pleasing to the eyes.
Finding Neverland may
well be one of the better films of the times that portray positive human values in mass media. It is for people who have lost their "inner child" and have "grown up"
negatively, treating adulthood as a ticket to immorality and absolute "freedom". The movie can also be a model for healthy man-woman and adult-child relationships where
outlooks are unadulterated, intentions are pure, and love is the reason for being. Of course, there are negative personages in the film – the suspicious grandmother, the
profit-obsessed theater manager, the rumor-mongering people, and the jealous wife, but watch the film closely and you'll get an idea on how to deal with each of these in real
life. Most of all, it shows that it is that purity of intention within – the genuine love of a child, the generous and forgiving heart – that makes living possible and
fulfilling. Indeed, Neverland is not a place of fantasy or escape; it lies in everyone's heart and provides one a reason to go on living in this world with the heart of a
child.
(Date Reviewed: 15 April 2005)
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