Desperately Seeking Joy: Holiday Movies 2020 #6 - Peter Pan

 

Peter Pan (2003)

You can watch whatever Peter Pan you want. My preference is the 2003 live action version.

Now you might asking yourself, “Why Peter Pan?” Well, it is technically a “christmas” movie. It was originally released as a play during the winter holiday and continues to be released in the UK during this time. It also focuses on childhood wonder and to believe, which is part of the beauty of Christmas for children. J.M. Barrie appreciated the connection between the fantastical and the magic of childhood. There’s more to come in the Hook movie that draws out the connection, but for now, enjoy this wonderful and beautiful adaptation.

Note: The film is dedicated to Dodi Al-Fayed, who was executive producer of the 1991 film Hook. Al-Fayed planned to produce a live action version of Peter Pan, and shared his ideas with Princess Diana (who was President of Great Ormond St Hospital... The significance of Great Ormond Street is that, in 1929, author JM Barrie gave the copyright to the play of Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London.). Diana supposedly said she "could not wait to see the production once it was underway." Al-Fayed's father, Mohammed Al-Fayed, co-produced the 2003 adaptation of the tale after his son died in the car crash which also killed Princess Diana. He dedicated the movie to his son. This also ties into the memorial park that was constructed for Princess Diana in Kensington Garden, as well as the garden itself being the connected to Peter Pan.