Peter Pan: 2-Disc Platinum Edition

MPAA Rating: G
Genre: Childrens animated
Age Range: Ages 3+
Runtime: 77 minutes
Studio: Disney

Most people remember the classic Disney animated movie Peter Pan, and many people already own the DVD. As with many movies, though, re-releases of Disney movies are abundant, and Disney DVDs are usually only available for a limited time. So, is it really worth it to buy the newest, latest edition of the Peter Pan DVD? The following is a review of the added effects and bonus features that are included in the Platinum Edition Peter Pan DVD.

Peter Pan 2-Disc Platinum Edition - Overview

Wendy Darling and her little brothers love to tell stories about an adventurous boy named Peter Pan. One night, the night before Wendy has to stop sleeping in the nursery and "grow up", Peter actually comes to visit the Darlings.

When Peter, who will never grow up and is completely opposed to anyone doing so, hears of Wendy's problem, he convinces the Darling children to come to Never Land with him. All it takes is a bit of pixie dust, and the children are off and flying toward the second star on the right.

Trouble is brewing in Never Land, though, and the children get caught up in a battle between Peter and his nemesis, the evil Captain Hook. Not only are the children's lives in danger, but in Never Land there is also a danger that they may forget about their former lives and never want to return to their mother and father at all.

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Peter Pan 2-Disc Platinum Edition - Bonus Features

Picture and Sound:

• All-New Digital Restoration with Enhanced Picture and Sound
• All-New 5.1 Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix
• All-New Music Video "The Second Star to the Right," performed by the T-Squad

Games & Activities:

• New Camp Never Land Multilevel Games
• Sudoku Challenge
• Tarrget Practice
• Tink's Fantasy Flight
• Peter Pan's Virtual Flight (A flight with Peter around London)
• Peter's Playful Prank DVD Storybook

Backstage Disney:

• Never-Before-Seen Alternate Opening
• Deleted Songs Including "Never Land" (The Lost Song Performed by Paige O'Hara, voice of Belle)
• Tinker Bell: A Fairy's Tale
• Walt Disney Reveals "Why I Made Peter Pan"
• Sneak Peek at the All-New Tinker Bell Movie

Peter Pan 2-Disc Platinum Edition - Review

The new Platinum Edition Peter Pan DVD looks and sounds considerably different from the older versions. The animation has been enhanced, resulting in richer color and a clearer picture. The movie looks great, but it does lose some of the charm of the classic Disney animation.

I have never been a fan of DVD games and activities. The remote is an awkward tool to use for game playing, and I really don't want my kids playing with it anyway. The Sudoku Challenge with Mr. Smee is actually a pretty good game that engages kids' brains, though. The other games are typical DVD games that are not that exciting. I was impressed, however, with the read-a-long stories, including the subtitled version of the movie (also called a read-a-long on the DVD). The subtitles are really easy to read and attractive to look at, with the speaking character's picture next to the words. As subtitles help children learn to read, this feature is great for kids ages 3-7.

The "Backstage Disney" features in this movie really make this version special. The story of Tinker Bell is truly magical, and my kids even got to see what an old silent film looks like. Watching deleted scenes, performances of lost songs, and older versions of this classic movie is like going back in time, and I think that anyone who follows or is interested in Disney history or the animation process will appreciate the bonus features available on the Peter Pan Platinum Edition DVD.