Rating of
4/4
Imaginative, Touching
Franz Patrick - wrote on 04/23/08
I have a penchant for films that feature the power of imagination and this is a fine example of that. Aside from an extremely moving score, I loved the acting of pretty much everyone, especially Freddie Highmore. This is one of his first movies and he deserved all the acclaim from both critics and audiences. Every time he was on screen, I felt like he was going to explode because the dramatic range that he had seemed to want to burst out of his small frame. He seems to shine brightest when he's interacting with Kate Winslet and Johnny Depp. Winslet's character reminded me so much of my mom because whenever she'd get sick, she wouldn't see a doctor. Somehow that really got to me, especially when the kids would worry, because I would feel the same way when it comes to my mom. There are many highlights in this film. One of my favourite scenes was when Depp's character noticed the point where one of the kids changed from being a kid to an adult. I like that the picture emphasizes that maturity does not come with age; it comes when circumstances force someone to cross that line between innocence and knowledgeability. It made me wonder which particular moment in time I crossed that line. Another great one was when one of the audiences commented on the ticking crocodile; how it symbolizes time coming after us. I never thought of it that way and it made so much sense. After hearing that, it made me feel so small, insignificant and humble. Lastly, I loved it when Highmore's character asked Depp's character why a particular character had to go to Neverland. That question really tugged at my heartstrings. By the time the film reached its end, there was so much emotional devastation yet it still looked and felt beautiful all the same. I wish more films would be like this one.
