Peter Pan (2-Disc Platinum Edition)
Directed by Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson

Let your dreams take flight with Walt Disney's original classic. PETER PAN soars to new heights in the magical 2-disc Platinum Edition DVD with an all-new digital restoration. Fantastic adventures await Wendy and her brothers when Peter Pan, the hero of their stories, whisks them away to the magical world of Never Land. After following Peter and his feisty sidekick Tinker Bell past "the second star to the right and straight on till morning," they explore the island and Peter's secret hideout with the rambunctious Lost Boys and leap into high-flying battles with swashbuckling pirates and the infamous Captain Hook! Bursting with fantasy, adventure, and pixie dust, this 2-disc Platinum Edition includes three all-new games in Camp Never Land, deleted scenes, a new discovery -- in which Walt Disney reveals why he made PETER PAN -- and much more.

Peter Pan has a special place in the realm of classic animated Disney films: it instills an element of childlike wonder. The 1953 version of James M. Barrie's story is colorfully told and keeps on the straight and narrow of the book. Barrie's wondrous focus on child's play is the key to its longevity: kids who don't grow up, shadows that run away from their owners, pirates, a fairy, and the magic ability to fly. In short, you can't help wishing the adventure would happen to you. Fueled by a few memorable songs (the stunner being "You Can Fly") and the strong impression of the pixie fairy Tinkerbell and the goofy Captain Hook, Disney's version of this story neither supplants nor lessens the Broadway version with Mary Martin that was produced for television the same decade. Unlike some classics, Peter Pan never ages along the way. --Doug Thomas On the DVD The Platinum Edition of Peter Pan is absolutely packed with special features that include everything from Walt Disney's own words about why he made Peter Pan to interviews with animators, producers, historians, and film critics; games; activities; and songs. Like the 2002 Peter Pan Special Edition, the Platinum Edition offers an excellent commentary track hosted by Roy Disney that features interviews with some of Disney animation's "nine old men" like Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas, historians, voice talent including Kathryn Beaumont, character models, and film critic Leonard Maltin. More "backstage" features include a 15-minute "making of" segment that looks at 1940's and 1950's animation technology and the challenges posed by transforming J. M. Barrrie's well-known story, stage play, and silent film into a believable animated film and an 8-1/2 minute featurette that focuses on Tinker Bell's character, its animation, and Margaret Kerry's experiences as a real-life model for the character. Most intriguing is a 7-1/2 minute featurette based on a 1953 magazine article that provides a rare chance to hear, in Walt Disney's own words, his thoughts, motivations, and ultimate goal of creating a children's world where adults and children could feel they belonged in Peter Pan. Equally fascinating is the 21-minute "The Peter Pan That Almost Was" segment detailing the developmental stages of the Peter Pan story and the multiple versions considered as Walt Disney and his crew strove to make the most powerful film possible. The 1952 featurette "The Peter Pan Story" explores multiple story telling mediums and details various stages of the animation process including drawing, layout, story boarding, animation, background art, and sound effects. Children ages 3 and older will delight in a host of appealing special features created just for them that include "Peter Pan's Virtual Flight" through London, two read alongs, songs with or without on-screen lyrics, deleted songs, music videos by Paige O'hara and T-Squad, Sudoku challenges with multiple difficulty levels, and interactive "Train to be a Lost Boy," "Tarrrget Practice," and "Tink's Fantasy Flight" games. Disney's Peter Pan is a truly classic, intergenerational film and the abundance of special features included in this Platinum Edition make it a must have for all ages. --Tami Horiuchi
THERE IS NO WIDESCREEN VERSION ! I can't add anything to the praise for this film. If you love Disney films, this is considered one of the classics. I just wish to briefly comment on the criticism of the lack of a widescreen version. The first widescreen film, The King and I, was released in 1956. Previous to this all films were full screen. Peter Pan, released in 1953, and a good many of the Disney classics are only available in full screen aspect. This is not the Pan and Scan alteration of an original Widescreen format. The way this film is presented on the DVD is the original aspect ratio; Nothing has been altered. I have seen this so called criticism leveled against many Hollywood classics such as Casablanca, Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. Please, get off your high horse and stop whinning about how Disney or whatever movie company is ripping you off. None of these films ever had a widescreen version to begin with. Do a little research and you could be content to enjoy these classics in the aspect ratio they were orginally presented in. Thats all I wish to say. I Love This Movie! The children in the Darling family love story about Peter Pan. So naturally when he shows up one night looking for his missing shadow, they're thrilled to go back with him to Never Land. There, they face Indians and "the world's most famous crook," Captain Hook. Will they survive their adventures with the boy who never wants to grow up? I have always had a fascination with this story. As a kid I remember checking the Disney picture book version out of the library week after week. When I finally got to see it, I was enthralled. There is just something magical about the story. It's partially the coming together of all the boyhood adventures in one place. Mermaids, Indians, and Pirates? What more could any boy want? And, of course, the ability to fly. The "You can fly" sequence over London is one of my all time favorites. The whole movie really is animated very well with a story that movies quickly from place to place with lots of humor to keep everyone entertained and gorgeous animation of the fanciful Never Land. This special edition is worth tracking down. The picture (original full frame) is sharp and the surround sound is very nice. Extras include a documentary on the making of the movie and a promotional theatrical featurette from the original release. The "audio commentary" is unique. Hosted by Roy Disney, it consists of selections from interviews of the voice talent, live action models, animators, and animation historians. While not your usual commentary, it's fascinating stuff and well worth a listen. Finally, there's a treasure hunt game and DVD storybook for kids. This movie still brings a smile to my face and probably always will. Maybe my friends are right when they say I love this movie so much because I always wanted to be Peter Pan. Be careful to order the right VERSION Disney's Peter Pan requires no introduction. However, the "Special Edition" includes several Asian languages in addition to English, but each time you put the DVD in, you have to go to the settings menu and turn off the subtitles if you don't want them to come on automatically. If you are an English speaker and want the regular North American edition, buy the "Limited Issue".