RETURN
TO NEVERLAND ($30) is one of those
Disney animated sequels that began its journey on the direct-to-video
route, but at some point was deemed of superior quality- thus taking a
detour on the high road to theatrical release. All and all, this is a
rather enjoyable sequel to PETER PAN, with a fun story for the kids
and some adult appeal. Of course, the animation isn't quite as polished as
Disney's larger budget productions, but it isn't low rent by any means.
The
plot of RETURN TO NEVERLAND is set during the WWII era, Wendy has
grown up, gotten married and has had children of her own. Wendy's daughter
Jane has to live with the realities of London during the blitz and has had
maturity beyond her years thrust upon her- leaving her mother's tales of
Peter Pan and Neverland to her younger brother. However, just before she
and her brother are evacuated from the city with the rest of London's
children, Jane finds herself kidnapped by Captain Hook's pirate crew and
whisked off to Neverland, where she will be the bait in the old codfish's
latest trap for Peter Pan. RETURN TO NEVERLAND features the vocal
talents of Harriet Owen, Blayne Weaver, Corey Burton, Jeff Bennett, Kath
Soucie, Andrew McDonough, Roger Rees, Dan Castellaneta and Clive Revill.
Walt
Disney Home Entertainment has made RETURN TO NEVERLAND available on
DVD in a 1.66:1 wide screen presentation that has been enhanced for
playback on 16:9 displays. The image is quite nice looking, appearing
crisp, bright and colorful- everything an animated program should be. I
guess the DVD's THX certification helped guarantee that. The vivid hues of
the production are cleanly rendered without noise or smearing. Blacks are
quite solid, plus the picture produces pure, stable whites. The dual
layered DVD doesn't display any noticeable traces of digital compression
artifacts.
RETURN
TO NEVERLAND features a solid Dolby
Digital 5.1 channel soundtrack. Sound effects are well deployed throughout
this animated film, although this isn't the most aggressive mix that I've
ever heard on a program of this type. Still, there are some showoff
moments, plus the mix does allow effects to move throughout the soundstage
in a convincing manner. Dialogue reproduction is perfectly clear, crisp
and fully intelligible. The bass channel packs a surprising punch that
will give any subwoofer a couple of chances to show its stuff. Music and
songs are nicely reproduced with a very good level of fidelity. French and
Spanish 5.1 channel tracks have also been encoded onto the DVD, along with
English subtitles.
Animation
and sound serve to enhance the DVD's interactive menus. Through the menus,
one has access to standard scene selection and set up features, as well as
few extras- that are primarily geared towards the kiddies. Disney
Storytime: Neverland's New Hero is a short read-a-long, plus
children will also find the Rescue The Lost Boys interactive
adventure game on the DVD. More adult extras include two deleted scenes,
plus a music video for the song I'll Try by Jonatha Brooke.
Closing things out are some sneak peaks for upcoming Disney theatrical and
DVD titles.
RETURN
TO NEVERLAND will appeal to the
kids, as well as those adults with fond memories of PETER PAN from
their own childhoods. Disney's DVD looks and sounds really good, making
the disc a worthwhile purchase for the young and the young at heart.
RETURN
TO NEVERLAND ($30) is one of those
Disney animated sequels that began its journey on the direct-to-video
route, but at some point was deemed of superior quality- thus taking a
detour on the high road to theatrical release. All and all, this is a
rather enjoyable sequel to PETER PAN, with a fun story for the kids
and some adult appeal. Of course, the animation isn't quite as polished as
Disney's larger budget productions, but it isn't low rent by any means.
The
plot of RETURN TO NEVERLAND is set during the WWII era, Wendy has
grown up, gotten married and has had children of her own. Wendy's daughter
Jane has to live with the realities of London during the blitz and has had
maturity beyond her years thrust upon her- leaving her mother's tales of
Peter Pan and Neverland to her younger brother. However, just before she
and her brother are evacuated from the city with the rest of London's
children, Jane finds herself kidnapped by Captain Hook's pirate crew and
whisked off to Neverland, where she will be the bait in the old codfish's
latest trap for Peter Pan. RETURN TO NEVERLAND features the vocal
talents of Harriet Owen, Blayne Weaver, Corey Burton, Jeff Bennett, Kath
Soucie, Andrew McDonough, Roger Rees, Dan Castellaneta and Clive Revill.
Walt
Disney Home Entertainment has made RETURN TO NEVERLAND available on
DVD in a 1.66:1 wide screen presentation that has been enhanced for
playback on 16:9 displays. The image is quite nice looking, appearing
crisp, bright and colorful- everything an animated program should be. I
guess the DVD's THX certification helped guarantee that. The vivid hues of
the production are cleanly rendered without noise or smearing. Blacks are
quite solid, plus the picture produces pure, stable whites. The dual
layered DVD doesn't display any noticeable traces of digital compression
artifacts.
RETURN
TO NEVERLAND features a solid Dolby
Digital 5.1 channel soundtrack. Sound effects are well deployed throughout
this animated film, although this isn't the most aggressive mix that I've
ever heard on a program of this type. Still, there are some showoff
moments, plus the mix does allow effects to move throughout the soundstage
in a convincing manner. Dialogue reproduction is perfectly clear, crisp
and fully intelligible. The bass channel packs a surprising punch that
will give any subwoofer a couple of chances to show its stuff. Music and
songs are nicely reproduced with a very good level of fidelity. French and
Spanish 5.1 channel tracks have also been encoded onto the DVD, along with
English subtitles.
Animation
and sound serve to enhance the DVD's interactive menus. Through the menus,
one has access to standard scene selection and set up features, as well as
few extras- that are primarily geared towards the kiddies. Disney
Storytime: Neverland's New Hero is a short read-a-long, plus
children will also find the Rescue The Lost Boys interactive
adventure game on the DVD. More adult extras include two deleted scenes,
plus a music video for the song I'll Try by Jonatha Brooke.
Closing things out are some sneak peaks for upcoming Disney theatrical and
DVD titles.
RETURN
TO NEVERLAND will appeal to the
kids, as well as those adults with fond memories of PETER PAN from
their own childhoods. Disney's DVD looks and sounds really good, making
the disc a worthwhile purchase for the young and the young at heart.
