For those of us born in the 90’s and before: Was there any better sound than the rewind and click of a VHS tape as a kid? The patience you had to wait to watch something made the viewing experience that much more special. It was a time where you had to have so much more intention of the movie watching experience. In a time where everything is easily streamed, it can be hard to really appreciate movies. There is so much effort that goes into making them, but these days it takes zero effort to watch a movie so it can be confused that it’s just as easy to come up with and create a story for people to view.

This was all brought to mind when I was thinking about all the movies I loved to watch as a kid. I think back to the piles of VHS tapes my mother found for me at garage sales and thrift stores like our local Salvation Army. I then remembered that there was a movie I had asked my mom to put on for me repeatedly, Peter Pan (1953). Patiently waiting for that rewind after it finished so I can experience the magic all over again. I always knew that as a kid I loved Peter Pan, but it wasn’t until I sat and realized how much effort we put into watching movies before, that I realized how special of a time that was for me in my formative years.

These childhood movies, like Peter Pan, bring a sort of nostalgia to us but I think rewatching them can help us keep some of our whimsy and curiosity. Funnily enough, Peter Pan is the epitome of the never growing up syndrome, isn’t it? I don’t like to think of it so negatively though. I mean, I guess I have some bias but let’s set conspiracies aside for a minute, (please?!) and think about what the story of Peter Pan could really be illustrating. From an optimistic and idealistic point of view. Stick with me for a bit, okay?

Peter is the leader of the lost boys and seemingly never wants to “grow up” or leave Neverland. Despite the pleas of Wendy and the forceful nature of Captain Hook. We can see these characters, in a “realistic” view as Wendy being Peter’s love and Captain Hook as society, “the man”, maybe even on a more personal level his father. Captain Hook is trying to catch Peter and force him into what the world expects of him and Wendy is trying to love him into her version of maturity or “domesticate” him. I think these are valid points and we all need to “grow up” eventually.

(Side note: This isn’t an excuse for you to ignore your duties like taking care of your home, kids, or whatever responsibilities you have. We’re talking about mindset here, okay???)

However, what if we actually look at Captain Hook as the villain here and Wendy as the product of falling into the system? Just like how streaming took over and left us with zero patience to watch what we want, the magic of our childhood fades away with what is forced upon us. Soon we aren’t excited about the rewind of a VHS tape and are only focused on what we can attain now. Peter Pan was a character who used the time when the tape was rewinding to explore, play, and imagine other worlds. His strength was his childlike wonder and that patience you inherently have when you lose yourself in play.

From this angle. I see Peter as someone who is challenging those societal norms. “stickin it to the man” He’s standing there and saying. “The Lost Boys and I are choosing a path we create. We want to swing from vines and play for the rest of our lives because the life you’re forcing me into is, frankly, full of shit. Hook, you’re hear chasing coin and forcing me to do the same. Wendy, you want to mold me into someone I’m not, when you are fond of the person I am. Everyone is forcing me to fit into boxes that were created by someone else and I don’t blame you, but I’m trying to show you that there is another way. We can play as enemies and I can show you that life isn’t all about wandering aimlessly on a boat looking for someone to hate or for wanting to escape a reality you don’t truly want. If you’re bold enough, you can live free like me. With curiosity and fun. Creativity is life.”

Or something like that. Sure, it may be idealistic and irrational. Maybe this line of view can be seen as immature and you can call me a real life Peter, but this movie taught me that growing up is about being bold enough to stand up and admit that I’d rather play make believe my whole life then go scouring for change in the wide vast ocean. At least in playing make believe I can stumble upon riches you can’ even imagine.

What childhood movie has had the strongest impact on you and why? Let me know below 🙂

For today’s song recommendation, how about:

Time to Pretend MGMT

Love you, thank you.

-rae