Production Year: 1991 - Family - Director: Steven Spielberg - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Bob Hoskins, Robin Williams, Robert Chapin, Maggie Smith more
Director Steven Spielberg brings J.M. Barrie's PETER PAN to the screen with a delightfully modernized twist. Forty-year-old Peter (Robin Williams) has grown up to be a workaholic... more
Hook [DVD] [1992]
Hookis Steven Spielberg's most spectacular film of the 90s. It is also seriously ... more
underrated, arguably the equal ofET, (1982) andClose Encounters of the Third Kind, (1977). An unofficial sequel to J.M. Barrie'sPeter Pan,Hookadopts the startling premise of what happened after "the boy who never grew up", grew up. Robin Williams, in his career best performance, is the corporate suit forced to remember he once was "The Pan", returning to Neverland to battle nefarious Captain Hook (a splendid Dustin Hoffman), for his children's love.This is a ravishingly beautiful, stunningly designed film, at once highly imaginative and with a genuinely magical atmosphere which ranges from exquisite, delicate fantasy to slapstick tomfoolery. There is fine support from Maggie Smith, Julia Roberts and Bob Hoskins, and John Williams' rapturously romantic score is yet another career high. Slated upon release, and dubbed a flop though it grossed $200 million,Hookreacted against the "greed is good" 80s by upholding family values and responsibility while evoking a genuine sense of wonder. Only the somewhat pantomime final showdown disappoints, but alongsideLegend, (1985)andLabyrinth, (1986),Hookis ripe for reassessment as a fantasy classic. The DVD transfer is superb and the disc, though not packed with additional features, has some interesting extras.--Gary S. Dalkin
A review by Amy_Coppock on Hook (DVD) August 12th, 2006
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Loved it
Story
Good
Characters / Performances
Good
Special Effects
Standard
How does it compare to similar films?
Good
Advantages:
fun filled for all the family
Disadvantages:
possibly showing its age a little
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
All children, except one, grow up - but what would happen if he did…..? This was the idea that Steven Speilberg came up with when he made Hook. Based on loosely on Peter Pan and Wendy by J.M.Barrie, Hook explores the idea of what would happen if the boy that never grows up, grew up.
Now I'm not saying it is the most fantastic film in the World, it certainly doesn't rival any films made nowadays when it comes to the special effects and even some of the acting can be a bit dodgy at times. Put these little qualms to one side and you have what is one of my favourite children's films of all times. I know for a fact that the film is not everyone's cup of tea. I often have to sit and watch it on my own due to the fact that my mum is never in the mood for something make believe, but then I had decided long ago that she was obviously quite a strange child, having never liked the likes of Mary Poppins or Bed Knobs and Broomsticks due to the fact that, well she never saw how both cartoons and people could go together….surely it was obvious that that was just not physically possible…!?! Anyway as I was saying, its not going to be everyone's cup of tea but for me it contains all the elements that every good children's film has - a little bit of adventure, swordfights, pirates, fairies and mermaids, good verses bad, magic verses reality and of course Hook verses Pan. Obviously there is also a morel to the story as well, which still applies today, possibly more than ever before.
Hook is primarily about one man, Peter Panning (Robin Williams) and his relationship with his children Maggie and Jack. He is over worked, extremely stressed, hates flying, and is always making promises to his children that he rarely for fills (due t o heavy work commitments). Therefore he is less than impressed when a family visit to London, falls right in the middle of a very important deal. However, as soon as he gets there things go from bad to worse. During a charity event to honour Granny Wendy, his children are kidnapped. Everyone returns home to find a dagger bearing a note signed Captain James Hook, admitting responsibility for then entire affair. The police are called in, Peter wants to get the FBI involved and so on and so forth, but there is only one person who can save his children….Peter himself.
There's only one problem, he doesn't know how. Even thought it is blindingly obvious to the rest of this slightly eccentric London household (except perhaps for Moira as she never knew her husband as Peter Pan) what he has to do. In the words of Tootles himself…. 'Have to fly, have to fight, have to crow, have to save Maggie, have to save Jack….Hook is back.' Now bearing in mind that Tootles has just spent the entire afternoon looking for his marbles, that he has supposedly lost, it's no surprise that Peter thinks he has gone a bit mad.
And so begins a swashbuckling adventure, the start of the war that will be remembered as the war of the century. Peter is whisked off to Neverland by Tinkerbell, his ever faithful sidekick, in order to rescue his children. However as we discover fairly early on Hook is not going to give up the children without a fight, yet at the same time Peter is no longer that cocky little boy who cut off his hand, quite frankly he's a bit of a disappointment. Somehow Tink manages to secure them 3 days, in which time Peter must convince the Lost Boys, Hook and most importantly himself that he is in fact the one and only Peter Pan. And so the training begins and Peter has to get back into the mindset of young, cocky, carefree rebellious lad that he once was in order to overcome all his fears and to rescue his children. All of which requires a little imagination.
*****
The cast has some well known names in it including: Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook Robin Williams as Peter Pan Julia Roberts as Tinkerbell Maggie Smith as Granny Wendy Bob Hoskins as Smee.
I think Dustin Hoffman is great as Hook he just has an air about him that makes him perfect for the part. I also like Maggie Smith as Wendy.
The scenery to some could look a bit dodgy I guess, It does look as if it is scenery as supposed to being real, but then again you are in Neverland where everything is make believe so I don't really think that matters too much. In a way it does give the sense of being in another world, and you can therefore definitely tell the difference between the magical world and the real one. Bon Hoskins's performance is a fairly amusing one and there are some fairly funny lines throughout the whole film, one of my favourites being when one guy is selling some fish, and says 'we've left the eyes in so they'll see you through the week!' not funny at all really but I like it!!
Another thing I would point out….although there is a big battle scene at the end, it is in a sense almost play fighting, The only three characters that have swordfights are Hook, Pan and Rufio (head of the lost boys whilst peter has been away). The rest of the lost boys just use a combination of eggs, marbles and paint. Soooo, it might seem a little lame if your children are used to seeing fight scenes like that in Narnia or Lord of the Rings. But then again it all in the name of fun and as silly as it may seem at times I think its good that the violence is not too over the top. By the end of the film Peter is a changed man and I think if anyone gains anything from watching the film, it is to learn that there are more important things in life than work.
The film is 2 hours and 16 minutes in length, Cert U The DVD does contain a few extra features, but as DVDs were not around when the film came out there are not as many as you would perhaps find on a more modern DVD, where the features have been made especially for that purpose. The features include…
4 trailers - only one of which is for Hook, the others are for more recent films. I have to say the Hook trailer is laughable and I could probably create one fairly similar with some of the software programmes etc available today, so in that sense it is starting to show its age.
A Featurette - shows the making of the film. 3 Photo Galleries - fairly self explanatory
'The Lost Treasure' Set top game - I couldn't get my head around this….but I'm sure its not that difficult to understand, possibly could entertain you for a little while if you can actually get it to work!!
Filmographies.
*****
I still enjoy this film every time I see it, yes at the age of 20 my mother thinks I may be regressing, but that's not the point. All you need is a little imagination, a few happy thoughts, and of course a little bit of pixie dust.
Advantages: A change from the normal Pan story Disadvantages: Poor acting and writing
Hook is a variation on the Peter Pan story, but rather than Peter being the 12 or 13 year old boy he always was, we find that Peter is a middle aged man, and a miserable one at that. Peter is now an a lawyer (no wonder he's miserable!!), spends more time concentrating on his clients than his family. He has been invited to be the key speaker at a function to honour Wendy, who's now an elderly lady who's devoted her life to helping orphans and Great ... ...a message from Captain James Hook pinned to the door. Hook wants a showdown with Peter and instructs him to return to Neverland to save his children. Peter of course, cannot remember Hook, and although Wendy tries to explain, he refuses to believe that he is Peter Pan. He calls the police, who put the disappearance down to a prank, based on the family connection to J. M. Barrie and the Peter Pan 'stories'. During the night, Peter attempts to sleep ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: fantastic!! everthing about it!! Disadvantages: none
...Boy's and Hook.
HOOK
Hook was made in 1991 and gave a different take on peter pan. Never before had peter grew up. No one expected him to become an accountant. The film was a hit. It had a great cast a great director and a wonderful modern story that gave pan lovers a modern day connection. Cast-
Dustin Hoffman - Capt. Hook
Robin Willliamas- Peter Pan
Julia Robberts- Tinkerbell
Bob Hoskins- Smee
Maggie Smith- Granny Wendy
Caroline Goodhall- ... ..."I recognise her"
Info-
Hook is 2hours 16 mins long and is rated U however there is some mild language and violence so a PG may have been a better rating. price- you buy this on ebay for £2-£5 now and on play .com for £4.99
I am 25 and I love this film, my mum( who's age I wont mention) loves this film and my two girls (5 and 6 ) love this film it really is a family film, great for all the family. Whether you like peter pan or not I highly recommend ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
...hooks and flowing syrups, Hofmann's Hook is a wonder to behold, sinister and sleazy with too much facial hair for his own good.
He just oozes unpleasantness along with the nasty smell, and you can't help rooting for him to see off the clearly distracted and directionless Williams.
It's quite a faithful reworking of the original story, just moving the action on a few decades with the grown up Pan back among the Lost Boys who have never grown up ... ...one quite equals the loathsome Hook of Hofmann, a masterpiece of evil. It's all pretty enjoyable hokum which isn't too subtle or taxing. Take it as a surface level adventure movie, because that's all there is to it. Williams' comic talents are only rarely stretched and it is not one of his better vehicles. It is quite easily forgettable, although it's tremendous fun while it lasts. All of the participants have seen better times and Hook never lived ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: None, excrable rubbish. Disadvantages: See opinion.
...badly drawn cartoon island.
( Hook enters with all his pirates on a million dollar boat furnished with needlessly lavish taste)
Hook
Ha ha ha ha, I’ve kidnapped some children so I can trap Peter Pan, or something like that.
Peter
Give me back my kids or I’ll act badly and spoil the film.
Hook
No! Don’t do that, here, take them! Don’t spoil the film!
Peter
Too late.
Cut to- Lots of kids of unidentifiable gender prancing about a tree house.
... ...tell your parents about the sinister undertones of simmering homosexuality that your community possesses.
Lost Boys
Yeah lets help this strange man with green leggings and eye liner get his talentless kids back.
Cut to- A big battle with lots of Pirates and sexless children of all races and colours because it would be racist if all the Lost Boys were white wouldn’t it.
Hook
Oh well I’ve lost, I’ll go quietly if I can kill the most annoying Lost ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
...Whilst at the ceremony Hook arrives at Wendy's house and kidnaps Jack and Maggie and takes them back to Never Land with him in an attempt to get Peter back there so as to settle unfinished business - namely Captain James Hook wants justice done for the loss of his hand.
So Peter and Wendy return to the house to find the children gone and a note from Hook telling Peter that his presence is required in Never Land.
Granny Wendy now feels it is time ... ...on Captains Hooks island.
Hook has his children and Tinkerbelle has 3 days to get Peter Panning to remember who he is and to FLY again!!!!
Peter is reunited with his lost boys who now have a new leader - Ruffio - and this new leader does not believe that Panning is "The Pan" - the lost boys after a little persuasion from Tinkerbelle help Peter remember his past and in 3 days Peter flys again - at which point he rescues his children and finishes ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Comedy will crack you up Disadvantages: None whatsoever
...Mock The Week is my favourite programme on tv. It has me in stitches every time i watch it so when my dad got this dvd off one of his mates and gave it to me i thought: "Yes, no more being down" because it is impossible to keep a straight face whilst watching this programme.
In my opinion, everyone on this show is a comic genius, even the host Dara O Brian is funny. My personal favourite is Russell Howard.
The actual dvd itself is 3 uncut episodes form series 5 and hours of extra footage and deleted scenes that were just too rude, offensive or outrageous for BBC to have broadcasted.
Every time i watch this dvd i crack up. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone because for a price tag of about £20 it is well worth your money and you will never get tired of watching it. Even my little sister is hooked on this dvd.
If you...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Great if you building the whole collection Disadvantages: could become obsolete you already have it.
...Scrubs Series 1 is the DVD of the hit US comedy first aired in the UK on Channel 4. I hadn't actually seen this show when it originally came out, however all my friends seemed to like it, and after borrowing a copy of the DVD, I was hooked. I think I watched the whole thing in a weekend, and couldn't stop talking about it for the rest of the week.
In the past month I have returned home from university, and instead of looking for a job, I have decided to spend my time slobbed out in front of my television. Hey, I'll look for a job after graduation, honest.The humour in Scrubs comes from the way the story is told - through the mind of J.D. The viewer is often offered JD's thoughts on various subjects as a series of literal interpretations of metaphors and such, with the end result being highly enjoyable comedy....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Excellent story, good acting. Disadvantages: Not enough special features.
...Hijack stories is set in Soweto, South Africa. A young man,
is auditioning for a role as a gangster. He is told to that he is not good enough for the role and should go find out what it is really like to be a 'gangsta', after that he could try audition again. After he gets involved with a gang he finds himself commiting real crimes to get accepted, the gangs leader. This movie is a must see and just shows how easy it is to get hook on crime in South Africa. Special features on the dvd are not so good as it shows only trailers. Similar movie to this is 'Tsotsi'. I would highly recommend adding this movie to your collection. Excellent story, Great DvD....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Director Steven Spielberg brings J.M. Barrie's PETER PAN to the screen with a delightfully modernized twist. Forty-year-old Peter (Robin Williams) has grown up to be a workaholic lawyer with more affection for his cell phone than his wife and two children. When the family travels to England to visit Granny Wendy (Maggie Smith), Peter's son and daughter are kidnapped by the villainous Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman). Peter's faithful pal, Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts), helps him return to Neverland--'Second star to the right and straight on `til morning'--to the world Peter has forgotten. There the Lost Boys welcome Peter back and try to get him in shape for his fight with Captain Hook. Peter must somehow remember his long-forgotten boyhood in Neverland and learn how to fly again before he can rescue his children away from the evil clutches of Captain Hook. Bob Hoskins costars as Hook's right-hand man, Smee, and Gwyneth Paltrow, in her first film role, plays the young Wendy. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Song for John Williams's 'When You're Alone'.
Technical information
Special Features: Trailers, Photo galleries, The Lost Treasure Set Top Game, Filmographies, Featurette
![Hook [DVD]](http://images.ciao.com/ide/images/icons/no_pic_generic_S1.gif){kind=icon}
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