Hook Review

Title: Hook (1991)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts, Bob Hoskins

Summary: When Captain Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy.

Sup all it's Ari, and I'm here to remove your nostalgia goggles on old movies. The story of Peter Pan has many iterations, from the flamboyant redhead from the animated Disney film, or the blonde heartthrob that was Jeremy Sumpter. For this one we're going to the man, the myth, the legend - Lucius Malfoy, wait that's the wrong one, Dante - is that professor McGonagall? If you haven't read the title, we're going to cover Hook, so if you haven't seen it or haven't in a while, I suggest you watch it since we'll be speaking of some spoilers.

Everyone knows the story of Peter Pan, a boy who doesn't grow up takes Wendy Darling and her brothers to a world where no one aged. But, what would happen if Peter didn't return to Neverland and stayed with Wendy? Well, this movie answers this question in a way, but it also doesn't. This format hasn't been retold since, probably because Spielberg is the one that directed it. Instead of Peter marrying Wendy, he married her granddaughter? Ok so who married Jane then?

Throughout this whole film, it's interesting that they have kids with the pirates and teenagers with the lost boys, maybe the pirates had children while the teens probably got lost or went missing themselves. Heck in one scene they even show Rufio getting upset at the lost boys not listening, and maybe that's how he ended up in Neverland. Issues with authority to the point that he has a small fit when there's a mutiny. Right now if you haven't seen the movie, or in a while, I suggest you watch it right now. We're going into some spoiler territory.

Okay, we good? Alright, if you just kept reading that's fine too. So there is one thing I don't like about this movie, and she has one name. Julia Roberts! Okay yes, she is a good actress (though the only film I know her from besides this is Pretty Woman), her version of Tink felt desperate. Alright, Tink is that one girl who's still in love with her high school crush when she should move on. She even kisses him after she reminds him of his children!

That said, the cast - aside from Tink - was a perfect fit. Bob Hoskins did an excellent job as Smee, Dustin Hoffman is one of my favorite versions of Hook. My favorite actors have to be Robin Williams as Pan and Dante Bosco - obviously pre Prince Zuko - as Rufio. Williams plays the movie in a way that brings back childhood whim. Bosco even shows what a teenager would be like in Neverland, and I can't dislike it. Everyone had/has a revolting phase, but for Rufio, I think he grew up with a dad similar to Jack's but a bit more aggressive. It gives more depth to the character, and it explains why Rufio doesn't like Hook so much. He grew up with the stories, so maybe him killing a character who would have given him nightmares would be him "killing his father" in a way.

Still, the message in the film hits home. It's not to remember childhood innocence, but to live and enjoy everything around you. To me, Captain Hook is afraid of clocks because it tells him that death is inevitable and his time is almost up. That's why in the end, he finally dies; he accepted death and the grim reaper - Tick Tock - finally took him. So with every stage play and film adaptation, it's a tradition that who plays Mr. Darling also play Captain Hook, that said Dustin Hoffman is Wendy's father. Maybe with Mr. Darling long gone, Hook got weaker and took control as if to remind us of Mr. Darling's "authoritarian" grip on the Darling children.

So, Steven Spielberg. My man had a golden touch in the '90s, now not so much, Ready Player One is alright, Jurassic World eh. He knows how to make a good story, and this film could play after any rendition of Peter Pan. The visuals he used are stunning, though some are a bit outdated, they fit the film well. Heck, even the practical effects for the pool of paint, the food fight, and also the mermaids. Still, with how they showed Tink, it was quite interesting.

Overall this movie brings out the childhood magic from Peter Pan and the witty humor with the late Robin Williams and Bob Hoskins. It's always a joy watching this movie, and I honestly can't wait to see this movie again. It's a joy, and Spielberg once again deserves the praise he gets. With that, I'm giving this movie the first A of this blog.

Thanks so much for reading, and for the next movie, we're going to turn a bit animated and review a film that took over thirty years to make. That's right, for the following review we're going to cover Richard William's magnum opus and greatest failure, the Thief and the Cobbler.

Till then keep those rosy goggles on till I rip them off your face. See you in the next review!