Blu-ray Review: Diamond Edition of Timeless ‘Peter Pan’

CHICAGO – Disney continues their stellar HD upgrades of their most important films with this month’s release of the absolutely timeless “Peter Pan.” Complete with new special features and an absolutely perfect HD transfer, it’s another great addition to the most important line of animated Blu-ray releases on the market.

Rating: 5.0/5.0

“Pinocchio,” “Beauty & the Beast,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves,” “Cinderella,” “Fantasia” — all must-own films if you have a kid at home or just consider yourself a Disney fan. Unlike most companies, Disney doesn’t just re-release films on DVD and Blu-ray. They give them loving, notable restorations for the HD market and always include not just new special features but all the previously-available ones as well.

The new stuff this time includes a 40-minute short called “Growing Up with Nine Old Men,” two deleted scenes, and two deleted songs, including the vocal version of the crocodile’s theme song, which was actually a single and recorded by The Muppets.

As for the movie, few Disney films hold up as well. Perhaps it is because Peter Pan has never really grown up for movie lovers. Tinkerbell continues to be a part of the Disney empire in a series of straight-to-BD features and “Jake and the Neverland Pirates” is a TV hit. “Peter Pan” is one of the most currently vital properties of the Disney canon. If your kid is into any of the mythology, you owe it to them to pick up this release, what will surely be one of the best family Blu-ray titles of 2013.

Peter Pan was released on Blu-ray and DVD on February 5, 2013
Photo credit: Courtesy of The Criterion Collection

Synopsis:
Think of the happiest things as Peter Pan soars to spectacular new heights for the first time on Blu-ray - now more sensational than ever with digitally restored picture and brilliant high definition sound!

Bid you cares goodbye as Wendy and her brothers embark on fantastic adventures with the hero of their bedtime stories… Peter Pan! With faith, trust and Tinker Bell’s pixie dust, Peter teaches them how to fly and leads them to the “second star to the right” and beyond… to Never Land!

Special Features:
o Disney Intermission: Press Pause And See What Happens!
o Introduction By Diane Disney Miller
o Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes
o Never-Before-Seen Alternate Ending
o Deleted Songs
o Growing Up With Nine Old Men
o Tinker Bell: A Fairy’s Tale
o Digital Copy Included

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com