#14 Peter Pan

Title: Peter Pan

Release Date: February 5th, 1953

Voice Cast: Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conried

Plot: An imaginative London family is swept away to Neverland by their dreams' protagonist; they meet Indians, mermaids, the Lost Boys, and most importantly, the antagonist: a menacing pirate who wants to destroy their hero.

Review: I'm going to tell you guys right now, this review may be super-biased. Peter Pan has been my favorite Disney movie for as long as I can remember. So naturally, watching the film was much more of a reminiscent experience than watching the previous Disney films.

But it's such an incredible adventure. Even before the true magic begins, the home setting is gripping. There's something so realistic about the Darling family. There's a moody, practical father, a nurturing mother, two young boys with vivid minds, and an eldest daughter who seeks to be the medium between her parents and her brothers. Of course, there's also a semi-anthromorphic dog, but that's besides the point.

Kathryn Beaumont, who played Alice in Alice in Wonderland, one-ups her previous performance completely as Wendy Darling. This is how I imagine Kathryn in real life, to be honest. Her voice just gives away that overly-courteous, daydreaming girl. And she's not the only one who can play the part. Hans Conried is a double-threat as both Mr. Darling and Captain Hook. The raunchiness in his voice is just grade-A perfection for both characters. And Bill Thompson, who played the White Rabbit, is delightful as similarly-voiced Mr. Smee.

Peter Pan is just a magnificent adventure. It makes you just want to get away to a fantasy land and have an adventure all your own. My favorite feature has to be the Indian tribe; from the moment they attack (which is hilarious) to the end of their dance (which is amazing), they just take the cake.

Which brings me to the soundtrack: I'm lost for words. Nobody can sit there and tell me that "You Can Fly" isn't one of the catchiest Disney songs ever due to it's speed-up rhythm. And "What Makes the Red Man Red?" is both comical and fun for the ears. And the three notes repeated throughout the film. Pan plays them on his flute, and you hear it in the background from time to time. There's just something about those notes that's... intriguing yet dangerous.

It's all very difficult to explain. So watch it yourself!

A Dream Is A Wish (++++++)