Hook [DVD] [1992]

Have any of you got that one film in your collection that no matter how many times people put it down, you just can't help but love it? For me, that film will always be Hook. I still remember going into the cinema as a kid and being drawn in by the magical world of Peter Pan. Everything was larger than life and was a breathe of fresh air. The older I got, the more I discovered that people really don't like the film. But I've never managed to see the movie from that perspective.I recently bought the bluray release so I could introduce it to my five year old girl. She recently fell in love with Aladdin and Jumanji. Two films I grew up with, mainly because I simply adored Robin Williams. It kind of made me think, what would she think of the crazy world of Hook. I proceeded to pick it up for £4 and It was the first time I had sat down and watch the movie in a number of years. Seeing her little face light up just brought back so many good memories of being a child. She adored everything from the hilariously over the top pirates to the relatable lost boys. Tinker Bell and the Mermaids looked really pretty too (Dad agrees!). It was like everything she wanted in a film, wrapped up in a ball of pixy dust and left to run wild in her imagination. The exact same reactions I had thirty years ago.Seeing the movie from an adults perspective was interesting. I'm not one to let nostalgia take over. I am like everyone else and do enjoy going back to those old memories. But I understand the sets look a bit cheap, some of the costumes are silly and the whole end fight is just beyond ridiculous. God knows how multi-coloured custard pies and marbles were going to subdue and destroy an army of pirates, but they do and it is still silly to this day.With that said, I also saw a film that has a sort of innocence that we don't see in family films now. There's plenty of jokes for kids, plenty slipped under the table for the adults (the suicidal Hook scene. Hilarious!) and many great scenes. The actors makes the best of it. Duston Hoffman and Bob Hoskins steal the show by far. Those two had great chemistry here and I was in stitches with their antics (probably can't do that now). I won't deny it, I think I shed a bit of a tear when I saw the smile on Robin Williams. There's something about that man as an actor that always had a place in my heart. He could let off the slightest look and make me laugh. Seeing him here in all his glory was just wonderful. We don't have actors like Robin anymore and I'll cherish everything he did.Then there is the score. I tell you, everyone remembers John Williams for his beautiful scores from Star Wars, Superman, Jurassic Park etc. But in my honest opinion, his work never surpassed this movie. The music in Hook did everything it was required to do. It gave the film a wonderful amount of emotion, a magnificent sense of adventure and gave every scene a wonderful hook or melody to latch onto. The score is very much like E.T. in that it just tugs at your heart strings at the right moments. I went so far as to actually buy the soundtrack CD. It's now up there with some of my favourites.Hook really wasn't appreciated when it came out, not by certain crowds. But people of my generation grew up loving this movie. It sure is silly, a little childish and very over the top. That however, that is the point. It's suppose to make you feel like a child. It's suppose to make you think of your happy thoughts, just long enough to go to Neverland. As an adult, I have grown to love this movie. It has its flaws and there's no denying they are there. But we don't see movies like Hook anymore and that a lone is enough encouragement to break this film out for my kids. I recommend picking this one up. It's great family entertainment, a film that has held up rather well.

Superb film for the kids.

👍

Good film I have seen many times although only managed to keep kids occupied for ten minutes

We watched hook recently and the kids absolutely loved it. It was a hit with them! The movies, imaginative characters and captivating story kept them hooked from start to finish. Great mix of adventure, humour and heart.Highly recommend recommended!

I loved this film when I was younger and nothing has changed about that, even though I'm now 22!Robin Williams is, as always, brilliant. He's hilarious and I think he makes a great Peter Pan - definitely one of my favourite portrayals. He plays the grown-up Peter fantastically, as a man who has forgotten all about Neverland and his life before growing up. Once he returns to the magical world and finally remembers, his take on Peter was wonderful to watch. Who'd of thought Robin Williams in tights would have been so cool?I loved the lost boys in this. They were so dependent on Peter and had clearly missed him so much and the ending when he left again just ripped my heart out. They were also so funny (BANGARANG) when they were 'training' Peter to become himself again (the dinner scene was just awesome). Also: Ru-fi-ooooooooooooooo.Dustin Hoffman as Hook was just splendid. He's such a great actor and I've learned to expect nothing better than AWESOME from him. And he delivered. Hook is perfectly creepy but also kind of strangely likeable.The puns in this movie provide a lot of laughs (perhaps more now, watching as an adult: see the dinner scene when Peter and Rufio get into an argument) and the film is just a joy to watch throughout.Okay, so it's not a completely oscar-worthy masterpiece. But it's a film that will keep you entertained throughout and get you back in touch with your childish side, something we all need once in a while. In my opinion, it's a must-see for anyone who's a fan of Williams or, you know, fun.

Robin Williams, Bob Hoskins, Julia Roberts & Dustin Hoffman make up the best starting line up for a movie ever. The story is based around Peter Panning (Williams) Name sound familiar? well it is Peter Pan only 40 years old. Peter left Neverland and forgot who he was and eventually began to age and forgot about his childhood. Work becomes Peter's first priority over his marriage and his family which isn't a good thing. Determined to make Peter remember who he is Tinkerbell (Roberts) comes to collect Peter and remind him of who he truly is.Once in neverland we are first introduced to the scary and imposing figure that is Captain James Hook (Hoffman) and his trusty sidekick Smee (Hoskins). As the story progresses of Peter being brough back to neverland we see the painful task of reminding Peter who he is so he can go into one final battle with Captain Hook. Apart from Hook, Peter has one adversary to overcome first and that's Rufio (Dante Basco) the new leader of the Lost Boys since Peter's absence.Because of Peter's neglegance of his children his son Jack is easily persuaded to join Captain Hook along with his little sister and this is a true low blow for Peter.I have already said too much but all's i'm going to say is you'll love this film as much as i did. Very heartwarming, funny and just a plain nice film that is for the entire family.

Watching this took me right back to my child hood! I loved watching it with my kids who also loved it!