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From Walt Disney Records

   

Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Directed by Klay Hall

The tale of Disneys favorite fairy, Tinker Bell, continues in an all-new magical adventure beyond Pixie Hollow! Discover how the Pixies make their magic dust! Let your imagination soar as Autumn comes to Pixie Hollow. Take off in a hot air balloon with Tinker Bell and her new friend Blaze, a lightning bug who lights her way, on an enchanting secret journey to find a new moonstone, the source of the Pixies mystical dust. But hold on tight! There ll be amazing encounters, some close calls, and a daring rescue by her old friend Terence! In her biggest adventure yet, Tinker Bell not only learns a lesson in responsibility, she discovers the true meaning of friendship. From the creators of Tinker Bell, Tinker Bell And The Lost Treasure is a captivating journey of self-discovery everyone will want to take.

Tinkerbell is back for a whole new season of adventure in Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure. Pixie Hollow is all abuzz with preparations for autumn and Tinkerbell is hard at work on her latest invention when she is unexpectedly summoned by Queen Clarion and the Minister of autumn. Tinkerbell fears that she's in trouble again, but is instead delighted to find out that Fairy Mary has recommended her for the important job of creating a one-of-a-kind scepter that will focus the light of an unusual blue harvest moon through a rare moonstone in order to replenish the pixie dust tree's supply of pixie dust. Tinkerbell gladly rises to the challenge, accepting her dust-keeper friend Terrence's offers of help, but as the days fly rapidly by, pressure begins to build and Tinkerbell becomes annoyed by Terrence's constant attention. Sending Terrence away on an errand seems like a good idea, but what he brings back inadvertently causes the almost finished scepter and the incredibly rare moonstone to break into pieces. Tinkerbell lashes out at Terrence and then departs alone on a desperate quest to fix the moonstone. What Tinkerbell learns on her journey is that she must take responsibility for her own actions and that the power and value of true friendship is much greater than she'd ever imagined. Like the first Tinkerbell, the colors and clarity of animation are simply breathtaking in this production, but the story lags somewhat thanks to a lengthy set up and a general lack of suspense in the first half of the film. Still, it's a perfectly entertaining movie that will delight children ages 3 and up as well as satisfy most parents. Returning voice talent includes Mae Whitman, Kristin Chenoweth, Jane Horrocks, Anjelica Huston, Jesse McCartney, and Raven-Symone. --Tami HoriuchiStills from Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure Review Character DescriptionsTinker Bell: Tink is feisty, rebellious, impatient, impulsive, determined, persistent, and temperamental... yet still charming and lovable. Her talent for tinkering has earned her the coveted duty of creating a new autumn scepter to hold a beautiful moonstone, the key to renewing the Pixie Dust tree. But when the scepter accidentally breaks, she embarks on a perilous adventure to a lost island far north of Never Land, in search of a spooky shipwreck that may hold the key to fixing the scepter.The Four Gals: (Silvermist, Fawn, Rosetta, Iridessa): Big Sisters to Tink, they are fairies who travel to the mainland for the change of seasons, to nurture nature.Rosetta a garden fairy: Brimming with confidence, grace and charm, Ro wants every friend, flower, and fairy to look their best. She will patiently spend hours turning a pumpkin the perfect shade of orange or mixing up a brilliant blend of flower petals for fairy fireworks. Both sweet and sassy, Ro watches over her friends like an older sister.Silvermist a water fairy: With her calm demeanor and sympathetic ear, Sil is always eager to lend a friend a helping hand or give some timely advice. Her go-with-the-flow attitude can make her wishy-washy, and sometimes she takes things way too literally, but her heart is always in the right place. Whether she s placing delicate dewdrops on a spider web or training tadpoles to blow bubbles for the Autumn Revelry, Sil approaches everything with an offbeat, cheerful manner.Iridessa a light fairy: Dess is a brilliant, detail-oriented perfectionist. When she hangs firefly lanterns for a celebration, you can be sure that every lantern will be placed just right and every firefly properly lit. She tries to look on the bright side of things, but is often the first to smell disaster brewing and certainly the first to worry about it.Fawn an animal fairy: A pony-tailed tomboy full of mirth and mischief, the only thing Fawn loves more than playing with her fairy friends is playing with her animal friends. And the more rough-and-tumble the game, the better. Always encouraging and supportive, Fawn is an excellent teacher. If the goose she s teaching to land mows her down, she ll pop right back up, pat his beak, and give it another go.Fairy Mary a tinker fairy: Big, bold, brash and bossy. A mentor to Tink. Fairy Mary has grown to respect and admire Tink s tinker talent... to the point where she recommends Tink for the most prestigious assignment of creating the autumn scepter. Fairy Mary lives by the motto: Tinker fairies never fail. If Tink messes up, it will reflect badly on Fairy Mary Clank and Bobble tinker fairies: Boy tinkers and best pals who love their jobs. Clank is a big lug who always has his ears plugged with fluff (for banging on stuff), so he s always shouting. Bobble is a little guy with dewdrop goggles (for detail work) whose myopia often gets him in others personal space he s a close talker . They re good-natured geeks who are always talking shop.Queen Clarion: An ethereal being, she is practically Mother Nature and is like a Mother to all the fairies. Kind and loving, but also serious and firm when necessary.Vidia a fast-flying fairy: Vidia is a classic loner; she is one of the most special of special talent fairies and makes sure everyone knows it. Works with all the talents, creating breezes to blow down leaves in the autumn and spread pollen in the spring. She and Tink started off on the wrong foot. Vidia is the first to criticize Tink and expect the worst... but she is capable of acknowledging when Tink succeeds. --Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Review More Character DescriptionsTerence: Terence is a male fairy (sometimes called a sparrow man) and a dust-keeper. He distributes the daily ration of Pixie Dust to all fairies in Pixie Hollow. Terence is loyal to his friends, eager to please and a bit over-enthusiastic which can get him in trouble. He has a special soft spot for Tink -- we know it's a crush, but he's too innocent to realize it.Blaze: Blaze is a young firefly; he's mischievous, inventive and enthusiastic. He communicates with impeccable pantomime motions and buzzing. He can use his light as a flashlight, spotlight or SOS. Despite his diminutive size, he is courageous and supremely loyal to his friends.The Bridge Trolls: This curmudgeonly, yet comical duo have been on a lost island far north of Never Land for hundreds of years, guarding a bridge formed by an elevated bramble branch tunnel. They are a frightful, stinky pair, made partially of wood and covered in bumps and boils. Although their bugged eyes and pointy ears may help them detect trespassing travelers, they have a hard time focusing on the task at hand. When confronted by a guest, the trolls take turns delivering an ominous warning, threatening to grind their bones to make their bread. However, neither is very good at delivering their proclamation and things usually end up with them bickering like brothers and hurling insults at one another including the most offensive of them all garden gnome. Fairy Gary: The plump, Scottish-accented head of the Pixie Dust distribution center is a stickler to detail, protocol and the rules. If a fairy has already received her share of Pixie Dust, there is no emergency great enough for him to give her more. Still, he's a good boss and treats his fellow Pixie Dust distribution fairies like family.Lyria: A pretty Story-Teller Fairy, Lyria is Pixie Hollow's equivalent of a Troubadour. She entertains fairies by telling them stories of old -- most times with an appropriate moral or lesson. Her beautiful pixie dust holograms help tell her elaborate tales.Viola: A Summoning Fairy, whenever Queen Clarion needs to see a fairy, Viola is dispatched to summon them with her kazoo. Tinker Bell tends to avoid Viola because getting summoned is usually a sign of trouble. --Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
The Granddaughter's Review? Aaaaaa-mazing!!! My five year old granddaughter loved the first Tinker Bell movie (Tinker Bell (BD Live) [Blu-ray]) and has been anticipating this one with regular updates to me on just how many days still remained until it would be "available in stores everywhere on DVD and Blu-Ray Disc". I picked it up early today and we were able to watch it together this afternoon. Though my enjoyment of the film could not possibly have matched the pleasure I took in watching my granddaughter's face glow with joy, gasp with dismay and dissolve into laughter as SHE watched the film, I'm happy to admit that I darned well liked it, too. Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure in a genuine delight. Moms, dads and grandparents should be entertained right along with the little ones. The story of friendship, arguments, placing blame and taking responsibility is a very good one for the target audience (and the rest of us as well, for that matter). But above and beyond the story, what really stands out for me in this film is the incredible amount of creativity that lies behind it. The Imagineers have done a wonderful job "tinkering" with the natural elements of Pixie Hollow to make everything: clothing, tools, everyday items, machines to complete each fairy's work, etc. It's so much fun to see what they come up with. My favorite touch was the cricket clock. I also enjoyed getting a chance to go beyond Pixie Hollow and see a little more of the world surrounding Neverland. I liked seeing more of Terence, got a big kick out of the wise owl (there are more scenes with the owl in the extras), loved the calla lily trumpets and found the trolls very amusing. Extras: Though I'm sure she wasn't getting all the jokes, the "bloopers" had both my granddaughter and me laughing out loud. I was also happy to see some of the beautiful drawings from In the Realm of the Never Fairies: Secret World of Pixie Hollow, The (Disney Fairies), which I absolutely loved, used in one of the other bonus features, "The Magical Guide to Pixie Hollow". I've heard that two or three additional Tinker Bell films are planned, with the next being Tinker Bell & The Great Fairy Rescue. I can only hope my granddaughter anticipates the coming films with the same enthusiasm she anticipated this one and that I'll be with her as she views each of them for the first time so that I can watch her face reflect their magic as well. Happily recommended. Note: Even if purchasers don't currently have a Blu-ray player, they might want to consider purchasing the Blu-ray Combo Pack (Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (Two Disc + BD Live) [Blu-ray]) rather than this DVD because it includes both the Blu-ray disc AND the DVD. That way, should they get a Blu-ray player sometime down the road, they would have the Blu-ray version already. (I only paid about $5 more for the combo pack, which I thought was a good buy.) The sequel is better than the first! Excellent! I had extremely low expectations for the first Tinker Bell but was very pleasantly surprised. Still, I wasn't quite sure that this particular "franchise" needed a sequel. So, with trepidation I put this disc into my player. "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure" actually blows away its predecessor. Sure, the story is a tad predictable, but with fantastic new characters (including Blaze the firefly, and the two Trolls at the Troll Gate), returning favorites (Garden fairy Rosetta whose bubbly personality is pure Dolly Parton), and top-notch animation, this movie will be a joy to watch for all ages. The story: Tinker Bell is entrusted with the creation of the scepter for the Autumn Revelry. Her friend Terence offers to help, but his micro-managing of Tink sets her off, and in her anger, she accidentally breaks the precious and rare moonstone, threatening the life of everyone in Pixie Hollow. Lashing out at Terence, the friendship between these two fairies is jeopardized, and Tink must find a way to fix the moonstone...and the friendship. The rest you'll have to watch on your own; this synopsis is greatly simplified, but I do not want to give away any spoilers. On Tink's journey to repair the moonstone, she is joined by Blaze, a firefly. He is absolutely adorable, and given plenty of spunk and character by the Disney animation team. The animation team deserves a plethora of kudos; on Blu-ray (good reason to upgrade from DVD!) this movie will take your breath away; especially the scene in the Fairy Tale Theater. The lighting effects are amazing; absolutely beautiful. All throughout the movie there are many visual touches that will show that the people behind this movie took special care to elevate this many notches above the usual straight-to-video movie. Hidden Mickeys, Skull Rock, and plenty of other details that bear repeated viewings. The Celtic-style music is back, but I feel it is blended much better into the movie than it was in the original film. I really can't say enough good things about this movie. SPECS: Video: Widescreen, 1.78:1 * Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound, French & Spanish; subtitles: English, French & Spanish. While the audio is crystal clear and pleasing to listen to, there are really no dynamic uses of the surround that seemed memorable to me. EXTRAS: Backstage Disney Tinker Bell Comes to Disney World (8:20): Both Disneyland in Anaheim & Disney World in Orlando have Pixie Hollow areas, but this featurette focues on the Orlando version which has beautiful topiaries and 3-dimensional recreations of objects from this movie. With careful attention to colors and characterization from the movie, garden designer Carla Schuman and team discuss how it all came together. Deleted Scenes (16:00): Includes intros by Director Klay Hall and Producer Sean Lurie Alternate Scenes (4:00): These are pretty much manufactured bloopers that are fun to watch, including gaffes, some bodily function jokes, as well as a few other mildly funny/amusing bits. Bonus Short (4:46): This is a magical guide to the Autumn area of Pixie Hollow, led by Terence & Tinker Bell. Pleasant to watch, it does appear to be more of an advertisement for [...] than a true short. Even the animation style is a little static and looks more like a 2-dimensional book illustration with simple movement than an animated film. "The Gift of a Friend" music video, performed by Disney Channel's Demi Lovato Previews include Dumbo (70th Anniversary Edition on Bluray in Spring 2010), The Princess & The Frog, Tinker Bell & The Great Fairy Rescue (the next installment!), Blu-ray/High Def Disney movies, Santa Buddies-The Legend of Santa Paws (with Christopher Lloyd), Ponyo, G-Force, Beauty & The Beast (Diamond Edition in High Def), and Disney on Ice-Worlds of Fantasy (including Tinker Bell & Friends) FINAL WORDS: You'd have to be extremely curmudgeonly not to enjoy this film and appreciate the high quality of animation and characterization! 80 Minutes of silence with a good message! I have two young daughters who both loved the first Tinkerbell, especially my 2 year old, so I got this last night hoping it would be as big of a hit as the first one. My 4 year old sat through the whole thing without budging, and my 2 year old kept telling Daddy "I love you" while she watched it (overly appreciative toddler FTW!). Both girls got giggles from parts of the movie. My youngest apparently laughed every time Tink counts. This movie is on par with the first one in regards to the visuals and music, but I think the message is much better this time around. I also like that Terrence is more involved in this film, and Blaze is just as cute as can be. I'm still out on my opinion of Tinks new outfit. My kids seem to like it though. The "scenes you never saw" are absolutely hilarious and frankly almost better than the movie itself. And if anyone from Disney reads these I know some little girls who would LOVE more about Silvermist, Iridessa, Fawn, and Rosetta too. ;)

   

Capt. Hook: The Adventures of a Notorious Youth
By J. V. Hart

With his long black curls, a shadowy family tree, and an affinity for pet spiders, James Matthew bears little resemblance to his starched-collar, blue-blooded peers at Eton. Dubbed King Jas., he stops at nothing to become the most notorious underclassman in the prestigious school's history. For James, sword fighting, falling in love with an Ottoman Sultana, and challenging the Queen of England are all in a day's skullduggery. But when he sets sail on a ship with a mysterious mission, King Jas.' dream of discovering a magical island quickly turns into an unimaginable nightmare.
Amazon Sales Rank: #553160 in Books Published on: 2007-05-01 Released on: 2007-04-24 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Binding: Paperback 368 pages
From School Library Journal Grade 6 Up–Opening with young James's arrival at Eton and following him to the beginning of his life at sea, this is a disturbing and engaging portrait of a young villain. At school, he feuds with the young Arthur Darling and falls in love with the forbidden Sultana Ananova. After taking his revenge on Darling and pursuing Ananova, James and his friend Roger join the crew of the Sea Witch, a ragged ship with a cruel captain. When its identity as a slave ship is revealed, James sides with the slaves to earn his own name, Hook. Throughout the story, his dreams of finding a magical Neverland set the stage for his future role in Barrie's classic story. Hart, whose screenwriting credits include the movie Hook, has taken information from Barrie's Peter Pan, including his protagonist's attendance at Eton, his yellow blood, and his unusual appearance, and used it to create a character of his own. James's illegitimate status and its prominence in the story seems to be Hart's own invention, and while it provides ample motivation for James's actions, it takes away from the story's appeal to younger Peter Pan fans, who may also be confused by some aspects of British school life. This is a much darker Pan prequel than Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's Peter and the Starcatchers (Hyperion, 2004). Helquist's illustrations add slightly to the text, but seem an attempt to appeal to Unfortunate Events fans. Overall, this is a detailed look both at Victorian life and what a young Hook may have been like.–Beth L. Meister, Pleasant View Elementary School, Franklin, WI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Gr. 7-10. Hart wrote the screenplay for the 1991 film Hook and in this sprawling novel, he imagines the notorious villain's troubled youth. When he enters England's storied Eton school as a teen, James (the future Hook) has never known his mother and has only met his aristocratic father a few times. He channels his loneliness and rage into superior scholarship, plotting wild "devices of revenge" against sadistic classmates. At last, he escapes to the high seas, but he unwittingly boards a slave ship that reveals horrifying brutality and family secrets. Hart's novel is much more challenging and dense than Peter and the Starcatchers (2004), Ridley Pearson's and Dave Barry's spin on the Peter Pan story. The elevated language, slow pacing, and lengthy specifics of swordplay and Etonian culture may deter some readers; others may be startled by the bloody torture, both at school and at sea. Still, some determined, sophisticated readers will be pulled in by the magical, tall-tale details; James' triumph over bullies; the exciting adventures; and the thought-provoking portrait of a villain who is capable of both murder and great sympathy. Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved About the Author J.V. Hart has written the screenplays for several feature films, including Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Hook, Tuck Everlasting, Contact and Muppet Treasure Island. He lives in New York with his wife. His son and daughter are both writers and directors in theater and film. Capt. Hook is his first novel. In the spirit of the Peter Pan charitable legacy, a portion of the author’s royalties will go to the Peter Pan Children’s Fund, an organization that supports children’s hospitals through philanthropy programs.
Amazing! Very intriguing and well written. Not recommended for younger readers. The book develops Capt Hook's character much more fully than "Peter Pan," explaining and humanizing the antagonist exponentially. Wonderful book about a complex character James Matthew is a very strange boy, with his long and curly black hair, yellow blood, ability to speak with spiders, and exaggerated sense of revenge. But, when he is dropped into Eton College, the cruelty and repression he finds there hones him into a weapon. This is the story of James Matthew, who becomes notorious as a youth, and notorious as a sea captain - Captain James Hook. Overall, I found this to be a wonderfully interesting book. It is set in 1860s England, mostly in Eton, and succeeds in bringing that world to life. Indeed, if anything, the author does go a little too far, using Etonian slang words that are bound to leave most readers far behind. But, that said, even the most casual of readers should not be put off of this book. The story is quite interesting, with James being presented as a complex character who is quite difficult to describe. He's not cruel to anyone who isn't cruel to him, and is capable of a good deal of love and devotion. No, this is a complex book with a complex story about a complex main character. Definitely not a feel-good book, but one that will keep you glued to your chair, waiting to see what happens next. An Eloquent Dramatic Narrative- A Satisfying Read! Five Stars! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! 'Capt. Hook: The Adventures of a Notorious Youth' is English language at its finest! A recommended read for all teens and adults seeking fun, dramatic literature to drive their imagination wild. Inspired visuals accompany Hart's attention-grabbing text; Brett Helquist of Lemony Snicket fame illustrates. A must-have addition to every literature-lover's library. Trust me on this one...

   

PETER PAN


The magic, the excitement, the wonder of the true Peter Pan comes to life for the first time in this spellbinding fantasy that critics proclaim "a fun and fantastic tale!" (Daily Herald). Brimming with spectacular special effects and non-stop action, this all-new adventure is sure to be a family favorite for years to come! "One of the finest films of the year!" (Daily Gazette)

Fine casting, genuinely special effects, and a keen combination of whimsy and danger make this Peter Pan the one to beat among all previous adaptations of J.M. Barrie's classic children's fantasy. The technical advances of CGI make the magic of Barrie's tale come alive, and the spectacular effects combined with luminous live action create an action-packed Neverland that's both believable and breathtakingly artificial, like a Maxfield Parrish landscape springing vividly to life before your eyes. More important, however, is the fact that director P.J. Hogan (whose splendid films include Muriel's Wedding and My Best Friend's Wedding) has taken care to develop a substantial, pre-adolescent affection between the boyish sprite Peter (Jeremy Sumpter) and resourceful London girl Wendy, played by Rachel Hurd-Wood in a marvelous screen debut. This emotional bond--and the mixed blessing of Peter's eternal childhood--is what gives Hogan's Peter Pan its rich emotional subtext, added to an already bountiful adventure that's equal parts delightful and menacing, especially when the villainous pirate Captain Hook (Jason Isaacs, doubling as Wendy's father) threatens to spoil the fun. With a mischievously dazzling Tinker Bell (played by Swimming Pool's Ludivine Sagnier) and no expense spared on its lavish Australian production, this Peter Pan gets it entirely right by presenting childhood as fun and frightening, in all its wondrous joys and sorrows. --Jeff Shannon
One of the greatest children's films for adults of all time I do not think that most kids can appreciate how great of a movie P.J. Hogan has made with this new version of "Peter Pan." However you really have to be familiar with not only all of the various versions of the story from Disney to Steven Spielberg but also J. M. Barrie's original plays and books to really appreciate everything that is in this movie. Hogan's purpose was to go back to that original material, but it is impossible not to touch upon everything that has come since then. My generation cannot hear the words "I do believe in fairies" without thinking of Mary Martin beckoning out from our television sets beseeching us to clap (or when Smee turns and gives an aside to the viewer).On the one hand there are the fantastic elements as Peter Pan (Jeremy Sumpter) and the Darling children Wendy (Rachel Hurd-Wood), John (Harry Newell), and Michael (Freddie Popplewell) fly off to Never-Land. But this is a more realistic Never-Land than every before for all the wonderful computer generated images. More importantly, these are more realistic children than ever before. Peter Pan is the boy who will never grow up, but he is also on the cusp of puberty, as is Wendy. Into the Darling household comes Aunt Millicent (Lynn Redgrave), who insists that Wendy is not a girl anymore and while her father should start looking for marital prospects at the bank where he works, the more immediate goal is to move her out of the bedroom she shares with her brothers. When Peter Pan appears on the windowsill and requires his shadow to be sewn back onto this feet, Wendy not only does the sewing but accepts his offer to come to Never-Land because she too desperately wants to avoid growing up.In this "Peter Pan" a kiss is more than just a thimble. This is not to suggest that there is a sexual element to these children or this film that parents need to worry about, but there is the potential for sexuality in Peter and Wendy. It is around the corner and that is important because there is a price to pay for never growing up, and never before has the tragic flip side of Peter Pan's joyful and magical existence been so obvious in telling this tale. Adults will recognize that period of their life it all it's metaphoric splendor in this film.We also have the most realistic Captain Hook (Jason Issacs) of our acquaintance as well. Hogan continues the long-standing tradition of having the actor who plays Hook do double duty as Mr. Darling as well, but in this richer vision of the story they are as opposite as night and day. When this Hook crosses swords with Peter we know that they it might look like great fun, but these two are deadly serious about the final, fatal outcome. More importantly, when this Hook blusters and bellows he manages to do it without falling into parody. This is Hook as Barrie intended him to be, larger than life, but still a real figure.Ultimately the power running throughout this story is the power of the story. The Lost Boys are despearate for a mother and to them Wendy can fulfill the role because she has what they consider to be the single requirement: she can tell stories. But there is another, more important requirement for a mother, and this film remembers that as well in the end when the Darling children return to their mother (Olivia Williams). I especially liked the way the film plays the beginning of the reunion of the scene, a nice underscoring of the idea that you can wish for something so hard that you do not notice when you have it. This is a stunning visual film, but it is also a film of substance that mines Barrie's idea of the boy who would not grow up for everything it is worth. This "Peter Pan" has a depth greater than every all the other versions we have seen on the silver screen to date. This is a glorious film and even if few will really appreciate it the way it truly deserves, there is still the fact that just coming into contact with it will open the minds of its viewers to the greater realm of meaning and significance. Besides, there is always the possibility that somewhere down the road as they enjoy this beautiful film again and again, that eventually they will appreciate what it is all about. "Second star to the right and straight on til morning!" This live-action version of Peter Pan stars Jason Isaacs as Captain Hook and Jeremy Sumpter as Peter. The story begins in London, where motherless Peter has come to listen to stories told by young Wendy (Rachel Hurd-Wood). He takes her and her brothers to Neverland to live the wild pirate life, until it is time for them to return home and grow up. All the characters you remember from your childhood are here: The ticking crocodile (computer-animated and scary), the fiesty Indian Princess, funny Pirate Smee, spunky Tinkerbelle, and even Nana, the dog-nanny. The film is photographed almost entirely in dark, moody lighting to heighten the feeling of magic and danger. Jason Isaacs hams it up just right as the dashing and outrageous Captain Hook and he is good as the timid clerk, Mr. Darling. Jeremy Sumpter looks just like Peter should look - beautiful, cocky, and fun-loving. Definitely darker and more sinister than the old Disney version, this film has a lot to offer adults: It is visually stunning and reminds us about the innocence and fun of childhood. It's an interesting movie that will put a smile on your face and perhaps a few wistful tears in your eye. "That was no Thimble!" The last time J. M. Barrie's infamous creation hit the big screen was in the lacklustre "Return to Neverland", the latest in a long line of pitiful animated sequels that the Disney Company have been mechanically churning out. The time before that was in Steven Spielberg's critically ill-received "Hook". With these two movies as a somewhat stale background for writer/director P. J. Hogan's attempt to recreate the fairytale, it was not surprising if audiences at large were somewhat cynical.But children's literature translated onto the big screen is always successful when it is done faithfully and respectfully, and that is precisely what Hogan and his team have done. For the first time ever (if you can believe it) a young boy plays the part of the Boy Who Never Grew Up: Jeremy Sumpter, complete with bare feet, pan pipes and captivating smile. Following in the pantomime tradition, Jason Issacs plays both George Darling and Captain Hook, meek and clumsy in one role, charismatic and brutal in the next. Ultimately a figure to be pitied, Hook is more aware of his dependence on Pan than he lets on, and the two are more similar than either would like to admit.Olivia Williams plays the beautiful and graceful Mrs Darling, whilst Richard Briers makes a humorous Smee, often making side-comments directly to the audience. John, Michael and the Lost Boys are played by some wonderful child actors, in particular Slightly (Theodore Chester) who creates most of the laughs for the movie: "Okay boys, look lovable." Ludivine Sagnier takes on the rather difficult role of Tinkerbell. The role means she has to rely solely on exaggerated facial expressions to present Tink's "one emotion at a time", though I was disappointed in the failure of creating the bond between Peter and Tinkerbell, which somewhat lessens the impact of her later sacrifice.The real star of the story however belongs to Wendy, and new-comer Rachel Hurd-Wood breaths her to life. Gone is the prissy Wendy of the Disney productions, thankfully replaced by a young woman who is both mischievous and wise, playful and sensual, with a hidden kiss in the corner of her mouth. She is a remarkable find, and shows considerable talent for one who has no previous experience. There are a few changes to the original story (mostly surrounding the considerably heightened romantic inclinations between Wendy and Peter), but they are sparse. The inclusion of Aunt Millicent was something that intially didn't appeal to me, but luckily she is not portrayed as a grumpy, aristocratic matriarch, but a somewhat befuddled, though loving aunt. And let's face it, Lynn Redgrave never fails to deliver a performance. The changes are slight and understandable, but those kept true are breathtaking. My main concern was that of Tinkerbell's cure, would could come across as cringe-worthy if done badly, but just try to refrain from smiling when Peter, then Wendy, then the Lost Boys, then the children of London begin to chant: "I do believe in fairies! I do! I do!" (and I was especially glad to see adults included in this declaration - I'm certainly one of them!)The visual creation of Neverland is something I can't really comment on, as it is entirely a matter of opinion - let's just say it's bright, vibrant and doesn't hesitate to bend the rules of reality. I thought it was beautiful, but only wish I had more time to enjoy it, as sequences of potential awe (such as flying through London and the fairy-covered pirate ship) flashed by too quickly to really soak in.There is one fault (if you can even call it that) in the telling of the story, and as it's playing on my mind, you'll have to bear with me in sorting it out. By creating a mutual attraction between Peter and Wendy (whereas in the book he called her "Mother" like the Lost Boys), the screenwriters begin a personal development in Peter that is not brought to a conclusion that makes sense. Throughout the story, Peter shows signs of perhaps wanting to leave Neverland: he is horrified at the thought Wendy might marry someone else, it is discovered he loves Wendy's stories because they all end in love, her "thimble" saves his very life, and he even admits to himself at the conclusion - "to live would be an awfully big adventure". And yet, he still returns to Neverland. It would seem all that Wendy has shown him, all that he has discovered about himself comes to nothing, and there is no doubt in audience's minds that the choice he made was the wrong one.But of course the alternative was that Peter actually *does* grow up, and that defeats the very purpose of Barrie's book. It was a no-win situation for the screenwriters: they could either stay true to the novel, or continue with their own creation and complete Peter's self-awareness. They choose the former, making the conclusion not just bittersweet, but truly heartbreaking.There is no real right or wrong answer to my comments, its just something I wanted to bring up for people to think about. Ultimately, the story of Peter Pan is as Hook says: a tragedy - a boy is trapped in youth without any experiences of love or marriage or fatherhood. Whilst Wendy will one day embark on what her Aunt Millicent called "the greatest adventure of all", Peter remains a boy that cannot give her what she seeks. Only a hidden kiss connects these two soulmates as a testimony to what might have been.

   

Peter Pan
By James M. Barrie

Peter Pan is a book written by James M. Barrie. It is widely considered to be one of the top 100 greatest books of all time. This great novel will surely attract a whole new generation of readers. For many, Peter Pan is required reading for various courses and curriculums. And for others who simply enjoy reading timeless pieces of classic literature, this gem by James M. Barrie is highly recommended. Published by Quill Pen Classics and beautifully produced, Peter Pan would make an ideal gift and it should be a part of everyone's personal library.

   

Bad
Michael Jackson

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essential recording "We wanted a tough album," producer Quincy Jones recalls in a bonus interview on this special edition of Bad. Though the 1987 blockbuster would appear to be Michael Jackson's most personal statement to date--9 of its 11 cuts were written solely by him--its appeal also rested more on craft than the idiosyncratic art of Thriller and Off the Wall. At the same time, most of Bad has aged well in spite of its digital brittleness and MIDI treatments of gems like Jimmy Smith's organ solo on the title track. While the third best of his first three Epic solo discs, Bad carries a lot of what people love about Jackson's music. This disc also benefits from two fine outtakes, the exciting, uptempo "Streetwalker" and the Carpenters homage "Fly Away." Either could easily have extended the record's run of hit singles. --Rickey Wright
A Very Good Album And I Even Like it Better Than "Thriller!" I know some of you are going to say it's just plain sacrilegious but hey, just because everybody jumps into the lake.... "Thriller" is a great album with great tracks and because of a variety of fortunate reasons e.g. timeliness, MTV etc, has become the biggest selling album of all-time but that doesn't mean that everything else that MJ comes up with later that doesn't sell as much is crap. In fact, this is the album when MJ's weirdness first became pretty obvious. "Hey! Is that really Michael on the cover?" was my reaction as well but I chose to look beyond the looks and not to judge the book by the cover and just listened to the tunes. Some of my favourite MJ songs ever are on this disc. "The Way You Make Me Feel" is an MJ classic and clearly among his top 5 ever songs. "Smooth Criminal" was always a great track even before Alien Ant Farm showed us why, "Liberian Girl" and "Man in the Mirror" are also great tracks and the rest of the tracks cannot be called album filler by any stretch of the imagination. The sound quality of this special edition has also been remastered to near perfection and the bonus interviews and tracks are a real bonus to fans. This album grows on you over time and for me has aged a lot better than "Thriller" has. Maybe I've heard "Thriller" too many times but give me a choice between the two if I had to put one of them on the cd player, I'd choose "Bad" any time and if not "Off the Wall" before I'd reach for "Thriller." Get over the Wacko Jacko hangup and just judge the cd for the tracks if you can and then you'll see just how great this album really is. This very well remastered and special edition is very highly recommended. Have You Seen My Childhood? I grew up almost solely on this album and I'm sure many 80s children can relate to that. A little too young when Thriller was at it's peak it was the relative pop perfection of "Bad" that appealed to this young child and a few million other new inductees. This is not to say it doesn't stand up to repeated listenings by the more critical adult ears though... it very much does.The title track kicks things off in boastful style, with MJ assuring he's "Bad". This big hit was initially hoped to be a duet with 80s rival Prince however the line "Your butt is mine..." meant the MPLS Genius was less than enthused. ;)"The Way You Make Me Feel" is a catchy pop effort, recently re-immortalised in his excellent single "Rock My World" (Both concept wise and video scenario)."Speed Demon" is amongst the more experimental music on "Bad" with it's clunking chain sample and unusual tempo. It all works well however as Producer Quincy Jones doesn't allow duds onto any MJ material."Liberian Girl" is an exotic sounding ballad with a celebrity packed video. "Just Good Friends" is a duet with the legendary Stevie Wonder, a brave move as you just know you can't out-do that man! MJ holds his own however in this funky pop tune. "Another Part Of Me" continues this tempo in good style."Man In The Mirror" is a very inspiring tune which builds to the familiar gospel finale we expect from MJ's big numbers. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" is a beautiful love duet with Siedah Garret.The album ends in very strong style with the final three tracks. "Dirty Diana" is a superb atmospheric song which makes use of great guitar work and crowd samples. It seemed quite spooky when I was younger and remains dark to this day.My album highlight is "Smooth Criminal" (Like "The Way You Make Me Feel" it's excellent video was also recycled in the recent "Rock My World") it's got a superb bassline and addictive melody. It's a real shame that to many it's more associated with Alien Ant Farm now after their parody cover version."Leave Me Alone" begins MJ's disillusionment with the attention he gets (Leading to "Scream" etc) and is a fitting end to the CD album.Though not even approaching the commercial success of Thriller's sales it still easily slots in alongside it, "Off The Wall" and the underrated "Dangerous" in terms of quality. This is a great compliment in such legendary company.The re-mastering and bonus tracks only add to the appeal on this re-issue. Bad-Ass Mo'Fo Of An Album! Michael Jackson was always going to have trouble with a follow-up to his multi-Grammy award winning, record breaking, revolutionary and 50 million selling "Thriller" album. After all, it was the biggest selling record in history and spent a remarkable 37 weeks at No.1 on the US chart. So along came 1987, and with it, Michael's long-awaited follow up, "Bad." It's a well-known fact that it wasn't as good as Thriller, but it's definitely still an excellent and classic record too - and 25 million sales prove it, even if this was only half of its predecessor. As with all Michael Jackson albums, "Bad" spawned a string of massive worldwide hits which topped the charts worldwide and set new trends, broke records and revolutionized the way the world listens to music. Bad contains an impressive eight singles that were released in the UK. Bad opens with the superb title track, "Bad." As the second single to be taken from this album, the song peaked at No.3 in the UK and was another massive US No.1 for Michael in September 1987. The beat is heavy on this song, and the vocals from Michael are nasty - they really do give the sense of bad and evil. The verses are subdued, while the chorus is a full-on assault in which Michael proudly declares his 'badness,' perfectly built up with the bridge. "The Way You Make Me Feel" is just an absolute classic. By far one of Michael's best ever songs, the song peaked at No.3 in the UK and was a US No.1 in December 1987. The deep and very tight bassline on this song is absolutely amazing, which runs the entire five minutes of the song. The way the song is arranged is just perfect, and Michael's voice is excellent as it rises and falls. "Speed Demon" is another excellent song, with a clunky beat that captures the imagination. The highlights include Michael's high-pitched vocals halfway through and the car engines revving up. "Liberian Girl" is one of the most laid-back and relaxing songs on Bad, yet it isn't really a mid-tempo song. Michael's subdued vocals are perfectly contrasted with the deep beat and the mysterious woman's foreign chant every so often. Not the best song, but still a good song overall. "Just Good Friends" is perhaps the worst song on Bad, despite it being rather good. It tries too much to rely on past songs from Michael's previous two albums, in which people speculate a romance over the two, so they publicly declare they are 'just good friends'. The formula worked well on previous albums, but fails here. "Another Part Of Me" is one of the best songs on the album, with its nasty and ear-catching beat. It was a very radio-friendly song, which only peaked at No.15 in the UK. "Man In The Mirror" was Michael's 10th US No.1 single, but charted at a disappointingly low No.21 in the UK. The message behind the song is that if you want to make a difference in the world you should start with yourself, and if you're not happy with yourself, you probably won't be bothered in making that difference. The song has a memorable chorus with a catchy hook, but the verse lacks this. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" is without a doubt one of Michael's best-ever songs. A UK and US No.1 hit single in August 1987, this remarkable mid-tempo ballad opens with spoken text by Michael, about how much he loves the lady in his life. The song then begins after around 37 seconds with a beautiful tune. The verses that follow have a catchy and smooth arrangement, and the chorus is amazing. Michael also shares the song with Siedah Garrett - her contribution to the song is equally thrilling. "Dirty Diana" is another absolute classic and a favourite amongst many fans. This is the perfect song to sum up the atmosphere of the album - dark and bad, but in a good way. The verses are rather slow and swaying, before the chorus jumps in with its heavy-rock chorus and Michael's screeching vocals. "Smooth Criminal" is yet another amazing song. The song has a funky beat, with brilliant and flamboyant vocals, along with Michael's classic line "Annie are you ok? So, Annie are you ok? Are you ok, Annie?" The video is legendary and features Michael pulling off some amazing moves in his white suit, and who could forget the scene where he throws a quarter in the club before it lands in the jukebox at the other side of the room? The final song on Bad is the extraordinary "Leave Me Alone." Michael addresses all those critics who have only negative things to say about him. The song is rather different to anything Michael has every done, and works very well. The chorus has layered vocals which give it a perfect sound, while the beat is typical Jackson. The song was never released in the US, but peaked at No.2 in the UK in February 1989. Even more amazing is the video. It is mainly an animated video, with the media's perfect world which has destroyed Michael, but he gets up off the floor, taller than any building or mountain and starts ripping the place to bits. OVERALL GRADE: 10/10 Michael Jackson is one of the biggest selling male recording artists of all-time. His musical style has run all the way through society. From "Rock With You" to "You Rock My World" and "Billie Jean" to "Black And White," Michael has always been there setting the trends, breaking records and literally ruling the world. He is the best male artist ever, and no one anytime soon will replace him. Therefore, his records are essential in your collection - the most essential are "Off The Wall," "Thriller," "Bad" and "Dangerous." Bad is probably the worst, but still a classic record for anyone's collection.

   

Disney Fairies - Flutter Wing Fawn 5" Doll
From Disney

Soar through the wonders of nature with our Flutter Wing Disney Fairies Fawn Doll. The animal fairy doll's flutter-action wings help bring a smile to all the forest creatures of Pixie Hollow.
Amazon Sales Rank: #109398 in Toys & Games Brand: Disney Model: 200016

She's so pretty! I have this particular doll for my computer desk. She is my little fluttering piece of inspiration and she is as beautiful as I had hoped.