ooh! Don't bring the pitch forks after me, but can't say I share this enthusiam about the 2003 film...I really couldn't see or hear Peter in acting or any aspect of the film. Also hated the adding of the aunt, and Hook flying (sorry I have a pet peeve against films that have "power falling into the wrong hands!" themes...especially if it's fairy dust). Also missed the mother theme. That was cynical, but then again, I don't like ANY of the Peter Pan films (except The Lost Boys). Hook is always so boring or pathetic in the movies, and I've never watched someone capture Peter or his relationship with others (though 2003 had an interesting take on Peter's love affair, and I liked Peter's struggle about Wendy leaving him). For me, it's not really a matter of the film being different than what I imagined the book to be (though they always are!), it's that they're usually too filled with grownup ideas, and worse of all...MORALS! They seem to protray Neverland so lost in the translation that you can't even hear Barrie's voice...no heartlessness, no sense of humour, and none of the films have any of the haunting or tearjerking ways that book/plays do. It's a pity, cause everyone thinks Neverland and Pan are the junk in the Disney film or rubbish in Hook, and has no idea about Barrie, much less the very real and heart rendering story. Actually, haven't seen these films in years, nor will i see any of the new ones being released. I loved Peter Pan as a kid, so my mum got me the films mentioned above, and I tried to devour each one, but once she bought me The Lost Boys, and I watched Ian Holm become Barrie and heard Birkin's script...never went back to the others!

Oh, this is wonderful. I can't wait to intake it! Thank you, thank you, Nicholas and Andrew! Will shuffle over to ze library tomorrow to print and then read with rises of water.

"I like to write and I always believe that we put oueselves in our writing."

Oh yes! As for Peter Pan, Barrie and his life can become one with the boy who never grew up. You just wait and see...

The film is called The Lost Boys which is very much about Peter Pan and Barrie (and is far superiour to Finding Neverland, which doesn't capture the real story too well. I'm not talking about facts and details of the author's life that were way off, but the spirit of Peter Pan and Barrie aren't really in it too much either. The Lost Boys film is amazing in capturing the spirit of Peter Pan, and Ian Holm - who plays Barrie- is STUNNING and in a sense, JM Barrie, himself!). You can find this on amazon...but when you search its name, search it with Ian Holm or Andrew Birkin, or else you may get another film of the same name (this is not the movie with vampires!!!!!!)

The book JM Barrie and the Lost Boys by Andrew Birkin is about Barrie's relationship with the five boys he adopted (and as you're searching for books about Peter Pan, I highly recommend it for it has that a lot). As for others about Peter Pan, himself...hmmm...when I was in my mid teens, I used to have a lot books about the character, but I only read one or two, and I don't have them anymore, so can't give you exact authors and stuff. I remember one called 100 Years of Peter Pan (that's about all his versions on stage and film).

What I recommend you do is go to the jmbarrie.net and sign up for the forum and post any of your questions there. Other authors and Barrie studiers (which includes Peter Pan) will answer your questions and give you books recommendations and their own opinions. Way better than I can, at any rate!

I wish a lot of luck to you!! I'm glad you write, it's a wonderful bliss (maybe I'll read you someday  ) And again with your quote about ourselves being in what we write, why don't you listen to this awesome radio program about Peter Pan and a writer...and someone else, I'd give a better summury, but I don't want to spoil anything for you...

http://www.anno.co.uk/anno%20tracks/2006-09-13-AX-Lost_Boys_Radio_4.mp3

Hi, Helen

Are you talking about the youtube clips that say narrated by Rupert Grint? Appears to be a 6 part documentary. This is not the same thing as the RADIO thing, though they both came out the same time and for the same thing. I only just realized the VIDEO clips existed because of you, but i only watch the first minute or two, so i don't if it's about Barrie or Peter or the various productions or what.... 

Peter and Wendy is an awesome experience, because you get to see the story at how the wild boy was in a certain moment in Barrie's life (he's was always changing)  not to mention all the narration can throw you into a whirlpool. Hope you have fun with your work on it at school. I had a similiar end of year project when I was 14 or so, and the teacher let me go out of class and do whatever I wanted with it. The escape from bullies and encouragment to have my head in the clouds got me into Barrie, and what a heartbreaking bliss and change of life it became.

For Barrie info, you should check out Andrew Birkin's book, JM Barrie and the Lost Boys (or the film version with Ian Holm).

All the best!

As for my worthless take this, I say what person at any age isn't as multi-faceted and contradictory as that (even if it's not always definable in an outer sense). However, I agree with Andrew. Can’t really back it up as it will all just sound redundant with past comments. Maybe it’s just my fondness for Barrie…but I also think is an understanding of Barrie’s love…well, we all know the story. As for Rupert…oh, this is all so fascinating! However, the disappearance and return, though curious, is not so strange to me. That may simply be the fact that my mum is known for her disappearances and even stranger returns, and it’s a trait passed down to myself. All those reasons you suggested for what he was up to are possible, JAQ, though what happens to me is a number of different things (but yes, quite a few alien abductions). But why for Rupert…? Maybe some event in a way or maybe the poet in him.  I also don’t think Michael was tempting his “doom” nor that he and R were homosexual…sounds like lovers, but as friends often are without the physical since…heart, mind…strongest of all the spirit. Hope the more treasures for archeologists come along…I’m just as curious as all of you!

 I agree about Michael--hear that drum beating...

As for the devil in Peter...I've seen some glints here and there- some pictures of Anno Birkin that had that part of Pan's twinkle (as well as many others of star language) and I think Barney Holm, who played George in The Lost Boys reflected it when he smiled (like the scene when they're looking through pictures or when he's gazing on his back). Certain pictures of the five. Seen others on my own too that come to that and the novel discription, though those were never right on, and, of course, none of the ghastly movie versions! That's just my opinion, so it doesn't really matter.

As for Barrie's POV...wonder what his brother David looked like?

Many thanks for answering my question, Robert! You led me to a satifying answer as well as opening more curiosity...



And yes, Andrew, I hardly need tell you those words of his always stuck me...even though I didn't know who was saying them.



Something inside sparks, so must go onward in meeting Guthrie...better get reading. Though, to be honest I'm being pulled at a couple hundred different angles by quite a lot of different books and subjects, and at this rate, I won't ever be finished...that doesn't sound so bad actually, so...another game, Peter!

Many thanks, Robert!



I'll have to look into those...