Sadly Over-hyped

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The magic of the "Peter Pan universe" is something that most children experience at some time in their lives. The thrill of staying young forever, flying away to distant lands, and battling pirates is one that can easily capture the imagination of the young. "Finding Neverland" is the story of how James Barrie created that magical universe that has stood the test of time.For a basic plot summary, "Finding Neverland" sees struggling playwright James Barrie (Johnny Depp) introduced to Sylvia Davies (Kate Winslet), a widow with four young children, on a chance encounter at a local park. While forming a bond with Sylvia and especially her playful children, Barrie begins to realize the power of "play" and "imagination" and begins to incorporate those elements into a new play about a boy who never grows up.This film is very successful on two different levels:1. The backstory on Barrie/Davies is very interesting. I knew nothing about it going in, so I can't speak to the accuracy of all the events depicted, but it sure seems as if Barrie was truly inspired by the Davies children.2. For fans of the Peter Pan narrative, seeing the story come together bit by bit is a visual and emotional treat. It is kind of strange to think of the Pan story as anything but pure childhood escapism fiction, but this movie shows us how it was quite real to the actors, theater-goers, and producers of the day.Only helping matters is the solid acting by Depp and Winslet, who are both so "classically trained" in acting (I believe they have both done much theater) that their casting is perfect in this period piece.Overall, then, "Finding Neverland" is a fun, informative film for fans of the Peter Pan cannon. It will bring out your emotions, humor, and sense of history while viewing.

Let's start with the idea that there are numerous biographies of J. M. Barrie, as there are of many other famous writers. Barrie is pretty much known for "Peter Pan" and little else. If asked about his personal life, could any of you come up with anything about him. So what happens here is a fictional account of the writer, making him a bit of an irresponsible boy (a lost boy?). While bouncing around with his writing and failing here and there, he one day come upon a widow and her four boys. Because children are so much to him, he begins to get to know the boys. His interactions help them (with one exception) diminish their sorrow over the death of their father. He also begins to befriend the young widow. The whole story is touching. I won't do anything to spoil the ending. Just to say that it is touching. It's a movie about love and sacrifice and it's beautifully done.

Johnny Depp went from playing a pirate to playing a writer who wrote about pirates, and ironically, he ends up playing against Dustin Hoffman who once played the pirate in the story his story wrote about. Depp is James M. Barrie, the British playwright who introduced the world to Peter Pan. He's married to a very beautiful but distant woman, and along the way, cures his off stage unhappiness by befriending beautiful widow Kate Winslet and her four boys. Becoming their "uncle", Depp takes them onto a magical journey to a wonderful land where boys never grow up and adventure awaits around every culture.This is indeed a magical movie, and it recently had a lengthy run as an equally magical musical. The movie features the legendary Julie Christie as Winslet's domineering mother, a woman of contradictions who certainly needs some magic of her own to lessen her inhibitions that are well meaning and understandable, not just some aging harridan who is unreasonably sour. It's a magical trip back in time too, giving a glimpse into a story re- told many times and reformatted in several different ways. Depp is fantastic in this, a film and musical I could watch or listen to over and over and never, never grow old from the magic it gives each time.

Wonderful, emotional movie.It is the early-1900s and author / playwright JM Barrie's latest play has flopped. He is in need of inspiration and meets Sylvia Llewelyn-Davis and her four sons. They ultimately inspire him to write Peter Pan...Incredible (true) story. The depth of emotion involved, and the wonder of seeing a creative genius at work make this a very moving journey. Excellent use of dream / fantasy sequences as we look inside Barrie's mind.Great work by Johnny Depp in the lead role, a performance for which he got an Oscar nomination. Good support from Kate Wnslet as Sylvia and Julie Christie as her mother plus also Radha Mitchell and Dustin Hoffman. The kids are great too - some of the best performances by child actors you'll see.