PAN (2015)

Wow, so much hate for this film!  I get it - it was ballsy, maybe stupid, of the filmmakers to make up a back-story for the boy-who-never-grew-up for this prequel.  But to make Peter and Hook start off friends, AND bring in Blackbeard the pirate as the bad guy, THEN cast paler-than-white Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily?  I get it.  But other than a fairy land that resembles a cheap backdrop from a 1970's "Doctor Who" episode for the finale, and a "wtf" all-over-the-place performance by Garrett Hedlund as Hook, the film is actually fun - mostly due to newcomer Levi Miller, who's brilliant as Peter.  The story's paper-thin: Peter's a headstrong boy living in an orphanage, sure his mother will someday come for him when he (along with a bunch of others) is kidnapped by pirates and taken, by ship, to the island of Neverland, where boys are forced to mine for pixie dust for Blackbeard the pirate (Hugh Jackman), who has his own agenda.  Adventure, swordfights, and much CGI follows - but no, it doesn't suck. (rated PG)  C+