EVERY once in a while a film comes along that surprises us in a way that we could have never imagined.

Pete's Dragon appearing at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre this month is such a film.

Right from the opening moments movie-goers know they are in for something special.

The film begins with a young Pete and his parents travelling down a small road in the deep woods when a deer scampers into their path, causing their car to fly off the road and flip over.

The youngster, who is the only survivor, now finds himself alone.

As he wanders away from the accident and deeper into the forest, he eventually meets the large green dragon.

The two characters bond in an incredibly moving scene that immediately captures your heart as it sets up the emotional tone for the story to follow.

The film jumps ahead six years, with Pete still living in the woods with the dragon he's decided to name Elliot.

They've built a sturdy home inside the trunk of a large tree, and spend their days living as only two best friends could.

One day a young girl named Natalie and her soon to be step mum Grace, a no-nonsense and level-headed Forest Ranger, discover Pete and decide to take him home so that they can find out who he is and why he is living in the forest.

Meanwhile, the lumberjack brother of Grace's fiancé has an encounter with Elliot and sets out to capture the creature in hopes of using him to make a fortune.

But even with all that the film has going for it, it's the child performers who really shine.

Young Oakes Fegley is wonderful as Pete and may be the main reason the film has so much heart without ever feeling fake.

A young actor who hadn't done much before cast as Pete, he is one of those child performers that just seems like a natural born actor.

Information for this review was sourced from imdb.com.

WHAT: Pete's Dragon

WHERE: Proserpine Entertainment Centre

WHEN: September 16 - September 30

COST: Adult $13, students pensioners $12, kids $10

TICKETS: 4945 2312