New journey to Neverland a worthwhile trip

SARA SALAM

A boy who never wanted to grow up thrives within his desire to be

young forever. The only place where such a child could exist would be

in the confines of paradise known as Neverland. In this world, the

future is not an ambition, work is nothing but a chore, and fairy

tales are but a way of life. Imagination is a survival skill and

adventure is a necessity. Peter Pan is the boy of that I speak, yet

his life is comprised only of fun, excitement and not enough love.

One night in the midst of Victorian England, Wendy Darling

entertains her younger brothers with enticing tales of murder,

victory, deceit and death of pirates and mermaids.

Wendy is the storyteller, the one everyone looks to for the

conclusion of a fable or the beginning of a legend. On this night by

instant surprise, she comes upon the forever-young boy Peter, who is

attempting to recapture his stubborn shadow. Startled yet amused by

Peter’s demeanor and confidence, Wendy becomes curious about his way

of life. Upon learning of his home and beloved companions the Lost

Boys, Wendy and her two brothers John and Michael, with the aid of

Tinkerbell’s fairy dust, learn the art of flight and mark the

commencement of their own adventure.

Like the Disney-portrayed version of “Peter Pan,” this picture

signifies the conflict between childhood and adulthood, and the

possibility of youth forever incorporated into that problem. With

Neverland holding such marvelous recognition as every child’s

dreamland, the plot becomes more complicated.

Wendy is faced with this specific dilemma, for she has been taught

that becoming a lady is much more significant than remaining a child.

Peter shows her wonders she never envisioned or dreamed of, yet she

has an ambition of growing up, which Peter doesn’t have. Upon being

brought to Neverland, she was accepted as a motherly figure. In being

challenged with the decision she needs to make, she is forced to

leave behind all the adventure she speaks of in her stories, like

Captain Hook and his tick-tock croc.

The reality this film brings to the children’s story is more than

sufficient to allow someone to feel the presence of never-ending

dreams. The technology used to portray the writer’s visions show

different perspectives as well as various interpretations of what

things are, like mermaids and fairies. The movie flowed from scene to

scene, and the plot was complex enough to the point where drama was

present but not overwhelming.

This version of “Peter Pan” related more closely to the original

play written by James M. Barrie. It’s not to say that other

interpretations aren’t valid, but this one in particular brings more

correlation and understanding to the story line than others do. The

actors and actresses suit the characters they were given to embody

very well. Many aspects of this film can be greatly appreciated to

those who will always be young at heart.

* SARA SALAM is a sophomore at Corona del Mar High School.

The remake lacks charm of original

In 1950, we were impression-

able youngsters when the first “Cheaper by the Dozen” (a true-life

story in the 1920s) first showed in the movie theaters. Our folks

enjoyed the diversion in this postwar movie since America was going

through dismal times. It mirrored the basic notions of domestic

pleasure with a devoted husband (engineer consultant), his infinitely

understanding wife and their dozen children.

The two films move toward the large family plan from complete

opposite directions. The original detailed a capably run household

with the remake showing, in a mindless sort of way, that it is almost

impossible to raise 12 kids in the age of “two-working-parent”

households.

Here you have Steve Martin (Tom Baker), a successful high school

football coach, with his middle-class family of 14, and Bonnie Baker

(Kate) his wife, an aspiring novelist. Dad is not happy with his

small town job. When an offer comes from a large university to coach

football (his dream and alma mater) he cannot turn it down. He goes

to the children, who vote the move down.

The family moves to the suburbs in Chicago anyway. Before the

interior walls are decorated you can tell the Baker family fits the

neighborhood as well as the Addams family or Beverly Hillbillies. The

kids hate it.

As Dad goes off to his new all-consuming job and Mom gets her

break and is off on a book-signing tour, you see the American dream

family fall apart as the unruly offspring show their real colors

while plotting against their parents. The “dirty dozen” tears the

house apart, each one turning into a monster. Oh, there were a few

moments when not all characters were vying for “best stand-up” in

each scene, but they were overshadowed by the constant squabbling,

bizarre schemes and vomiting. All of this became very tiresome.

* GAY WASSALL-KELLY, 64, is the editor of a Balboa newspaper and

is active in the community. BILL KELLY, 62, is an industrial

engineer.