Hook
Tags: fantasy, whimsical, cult, violence, good versus evil, action, revenge, entertaining, storytelling

Plot synopsis:
It is the present day, and the boy who was once known as Peter Pan, has become Peter Banning (Robin Williams), a businessman who is more concerned with his work than with his family, including his wife Moira (Caroline Goodall), and his two children, Jack (Charlie Korsmo) and Maggie (Amber Scott). Peter is hardly able to hold his attention during Maggie's recital of 'Peter Pan' (of which she is cast in the role of Wendy), and misses Jack's baseball game, leading to Jack growing irritated at how his Dad never seems to keep his promises.The family then take a flight to London (much to Peter's dismay, as he hates flying), to visit Granny Wendy (Maggie Smith), who is being honored for her charitable work. While Peter and Moira accompany Wendy to the party, Maggie and Jack are abducted. Liza (Laurel Cronin) the housekeeper saw noone, but Tootles (Arthur Malet) who is a former Lost Boy, tells Peter that it was Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman).The police are called, but even they are unsure of the whole thing, as the ransom note could be someone pretending to be Hook, seeing the history of the house, and of Wendy. Afterwards, Wendy takes Peter aside, and explains that he must remember who he is, in order to save his children. Peter is still confused, thinking Wendy is maybe in shock over what has happened.Later that evening, sitting in the house's nursery, Peter is surprised when a star appears to fall through the nursery window. It turns out it's Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts), who has come to help Peter. However, since Peter won't go willingly, Tink kidnaps him and takes him to Neverland.Peter wakes up in Pirate Town, where he is quickly disguised. All around him, pirates are gathering at the Jolly Roger, as Mr Smee (Bob Hoskins) presents the illustrious Captain Hook with a newly-sharpened hook. Hook then revels in the pirates cheering, telling of how he killed the crocodile that had once sought to devour him, and turned it into a clock, and now, cheers at the triumph in capturing Peter Pan's children in hopes to lead him back to Neverland and to his doom.When Peter steps forward (still claiming to be 'Peter Banning'), Hook is saddened to see that his once 'great and worthy opponent' has become a middle-aged man. Still wanting to test him, Hook demands that Peter fly up the ship and touch the fingers of his children, promising they'll go home if he can do so. However, Peter reveals his fear of flying, and Smee deduces that being away from Neverland for so long, has caused Peter to forget.Hook decrees that Peter walk the plank and wanders away, angered at being denied the war against a worthy opponent. Just then, Tinkerbell appears, and promises Hook that given three days, she'll get Peter into shape.Peter and Tink then return to the Lost Boy's hideout, now under the leadership of a boy named Rufio (Dante Basco), who also has possession of Peter's sword from the olden days. At first no-one believes, until a little boy named Pockets (Isaiah Robinson) speaks out. Much to the displeasure of Rufio, the Lost Boys unite to help Peter get his children back.Back on the Jolly Roger, Hook is still upset over his lot in life, until Smee hits on a master plan to make life even more miserable for Peter: get his children to love Hook. Hook finds this idea ludicrous, but soon warms up to it, claiming it as 'his idea.'Back with the Lost Boys, Peter is put through his paces with various exercises, and even tries to fly but with no success. The Lost Boys prepare a 'Never-Feast,' which is a meal of make-believe food. Peter finds the whole thing ridiculous, and Rufio makes fun of him, which leads to a game of name-calling, that Peter soon ends up winning. Peter then pretends to scoop up some food and fling it at Rufio. However, this gesture soon causes Peter's imagination to take flight, and the make-believe food now becomes real!Meanwhile, Hook attempts to turn Maggie and Jack to his side, claiming that parents hate their children. Maggie refuses to believe this, and is dragged away, while she yells for Jack to not forget their Mom and Dad, and to find a way to run home. While Maggie is not easily swayed, Jack's ire towards his Dad allows Hook to turn him easily. Finding a watch on Jack that Peter had given him, Hook and Smee lead Jack to a shop full of smashed up clocks, letting Jack work out his aggressions about his Dad by smashing the clocks and Peter's watch.Sometime afterward, a ballgame is held with Hook in attendance. Peter and the Lost Boys have also snuck over to the game, with some of the boys feeling that if Peter steals Hook's 'hook,' it'll provide him with the happy thought to fly with. However, Peter sees Jack make a home run, and Hook embrace 'his' son, yelling, 'my Jack!' The vision of Hook cheering on and holding his son causes Peter to run back to the Lost Boys hideout, where he attempts in vain to try and fly. Looking around, Peter soon finds Hangman's tree, and the secret entrance inside. As he looks around, Tinkerbell appears, explaining that Hook had found the tree and burned it when he didn't come back. Peter's memory begins to come back, and he remembers his past.Peter remembers his mother, who when he was a baby, talked about grand plans for him. However, as a baby, Peter was afraid of dying, because everyone who grows up has to die someday. A gust of wind blew Peter away in his perambulator one day, and it was then that Tinkerbell found him, taking him to Neverland, where he learned how to fly.Even so, Peter missed his mother, and returned to London, only to find that he'd been 'replaced' by another baby that his parents had. Peter then wandered in and out of open windows, where he eventually lost his shadow in the Darling's nursery, leading to him finding Wendy. Peter would continue to visit Wendy after their first adventure, but as she aged, Peter grew sad, as soon she was too old to accompany him. On his last 'visit' to the nursery, Wendy showed him her granddaughter Moira, asleep in a nearby bed. Upon seeing her, Peter proclaimed he would give her a kiss...but not like the thimble Wendy had once given him, but a real kiss. It is with this revelation that Peter suddenly remembers why he left Neverland behind and grew up: he wanted to be a father.Finding his 'happy thought,' Peter is able to fly again, to the joy of the Lost Boys. Rufio returns Peter's sword, and stands by him as they prepare to go to war with Hook.Hook meanwhile, has managed to make Jack forget Peter, and now consider him (Hook) as his father. Peter appears, and is at first taken aback that Jack does not recognize him, but then goes to work, battling Hook's pirates, as the Lost Boys launch their attack.Rufio appears, and fights off Hook, as Peter goes to rescue Maggie. Returning to the Jolly Roger, Peter arrives just in time to see Hook run Rufio through with his sword. With his dying words, Rufio tells Peter that he wishes he had a Dad like him. These words seem to break the hold that Hook had on Jack, who looks to Peter, asking to be taken home. Peter then reunites with the Lost Boys and Maggie, and they begin to leave...but not before Hook vows to continue to threaten Peter's family forever.Peter then jumps back into battle against Hook. After some time, it appears as if Peter has the upper hand, but instead of killing Hook, Peter listens to his children, who beg him not to kill Hook. Peter then tells Hook to leave. Hook then pulls a dagger on Peter, pushing him against the carcass of the once killer crocodile. However, Hook misses, and ends up puncturing the crocodile, who seems to return to life, and ends up eating Hook.With Hook gone, Peter decides to return home, but leaves one of the Lost Boys named Thudbutt (Raushan Hammond) in charge, as he fought courageously in the battle.While Maggie and Jack return to the nursery, Peter ends up in Kensington Gardens, at the base of a statue bearing his likeness. Also nearby is Tinkerbell, who says her farewells to Peter. Peter then returns to Wendy's place, and greets his family, throwing his cellphone out the window when it rings regarding more business matters.

Review: Peter Pan was meant to be 'the boy who never grew up', so to have a tale of his adult life and to show how he forgot Neverland is a special and unique take on the story, one that won't be forgotten.There have also been many complaints about the scene where Tink becomes human-size and expresses some kind of love for Peter.
This movie is a continuation of the classic tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up, Peter Pan. Here, the infamous Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) kidnaps the children of Peter Banning (Robin Williams) and takes them to Neverland.
Banning must regain his youthful spirit as Peter Pan and return to Neverland to reunite with his old gang, including Tinker Bell (Julia Roberts), and rescue his children.It's a pretty good story filled with unending adventures and spectacular sceneries of the magical Neverland what is filled with colorful characters, played by a group of fun-loving, bratty but loyal boys.
Comedic and quirky Williams was a good choice to play the grown-up Peter Pan; it was fun seeing his character looking bizarre and confused in Neverland, forgetting his roots and adventures with the Lost Boys in the magical place.
And, Julia Roberts played a good Tinkerbell and she had some touching chemistry with Williams' character.Although it's not Disney, this movie does capture the magic and essence of the original animated classic Peter Pan from Disney.
This is because if you are looking for fun movie that really does pull at the kid inside you, then this is definitely it.Robin Williams is just the right kind of goofy for my tastes, and makes an excellent Pan. Captain Hook was perfectly fit by Dustin Hoffman.
All of these things that I'm sure you did as a child, as I did.As far as I'm concerned, all of the people who have written bad reviews for this movie, saying things like "The characters weren't believable", and "Spielberg tried to answer a question that didn't need an answer" have lost sight of the kid in themselves, have become pirates, and should have their hands fed to crocodiles.
But he left one nasty enemy there in Captain Hook and Hook captures his children to lure him back to Never Never Land where Hook can take vengeance upon him.Spielberg got some great performances out of his cast which also includes Julia Roberts as the elfin Tinkerbell and Maggie Smith as the aged Wendy.
I'm surprised that one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator films beat Hook out for Best Visual Effects, this one is clearly superior in that department if anything.Robin Williams has his innings as well, trying to remember his past as Peter Pan and get back into Pan like behavior to defeat Captain Hook.
There were points in the film where I even started weeping and getting emotional.Hook tells a great story about A grumpy lawyer named Peter Banning who takes life too serious who has forgotten about his childhood as Peter Pan. Captain Hook kidnaps his children and takes them to Neverland to lure him in for one last battle, the only chance he has of saving them is to remember his forgotten past as Peter Pan and do battle with Captain Hook.
The film is a huge reminder that I should always keep in touch with my inner child and never let go.Acting wise Robin Williams brings his A game as does Dustin Hoffman, Bob Hoskins and the rest, Julia Roberts is in it too but she's nothing to write home about.If you've never seen it then you should watch it, whether your a child or adult it doesn't matter, the film is one of the best adventure tales ever.
The Lost Boys try their best to make Peter bang-or-aign once again with them and that he'll get his kids back while learning the importance of youth.Hook is over all a good film that I would recommend to people.
The actors all turn in decent performances, the best being Robin William's uptight Peter Banning and childlike Peter Pan, Dustin Hoffman's deliciously evil Captain Hook, and Bob Hoskins.
Nothing to say about Bob Hoskins; if he's on screen, he's giving it his all.I deduct points from the film do to the third act with the war, not because the Lost Boys use incredibly implausible weapons to fight the pirates but because Peter stops being savvy about Hook, there's a rather unnecessary dark moment during an otherwise cartoony climax, and about a half dozen inconsistencies appear in the span of five minutes.
take the wonderful parts and acting and visuals and music and whatever aspects of the film you like, and ENJOY THEM.there are wonderful bits and pieces of Hook, and whole scenes, and the notion that people can change and try to make life better for those they may have hurt, and so on.this film, if you have a heart, and some of you don't, speaks to that heart and moves it and makes you thankful for those in your life who really do need you.am i a sentimentalist?
I enjoyed "Hook" a lot; Dustin Hoffman and Julia Roberts really stood out in this film.My only complaint is that there was too much silly playing between the lost boys and Peter in the middle of the film, and I feel that this became rather monotonous.
But I never once saw an Indian.Maggie Smith was a fine actress and it is always great to see her on screen.I thought that the end of the film, with the old man flying out of the house, was kind of nutty and really unnecessary, a la the all-too literal ending of "Cocoon", in which the senior citizens are shown flying away in an alien spaceship.My problems with this movie, though, are minor, and I generally consider this a very good fantasy film for kids and adults--at least those of us who never quite grew up--alike..
I am not the biggest fan of Robin Williams but I do like his portrayal of Peter Pan.A magical movie for the entire family.Granny included !!.
They're made so the next time your best friend comes up to you and says, "Boy, I just saw the worst movie ever!" You can say, "Oh yeah...have you seen "Hook?" All kidding aside this is a perfectly dreadful, awful film and a betrayal of everything James Barrie's "Peter Pan" is about.
If Director Spielberg and his collaborators had simply taken the time to actually read the story, (now there's a concept) and understand some of it's most basic themes, they might have ditched the silly, "What if Peter Pan grew up?" concept and made a decent straightforward film of the book.
It is visually stunning; straight out of a fairy-tale with mermaids, pirates, and flying lost boys.Robin Williams is kind of an odd choice for Pan, but the film plays out well, and the other cast members interact with him in a charming and satisfying way.
When Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan (Robin Williams) must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy.This film is a bit divisive, with some loving it and others not being very impressed.
Hook is perfectly creepy but also kind of strangely likable.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.
It is true that it was made at a period in Spielberg's life when he really should have been growing up himself (his next two features were Jurassic Park and Schindler's List, made back to back), but take this film at face value and you find a warm, sentimental piece of American culture.The cast all play out their roles superbly, especially Dustin Hoffman as the inimitable Captain Hook.
The cast is good; Dustin Hoffman was a goofy Captain Hook but a good one; Robin Williams is brilliant as always and clearly enjoys his character; Julia Roberts is gorgeous and has nice legs.
Steven Spielberg's distinctly nonmagical rendering of J.M. Barrie's tale of "Peter Pan", the flying, fun-loving boy who battled pirates and never grew up, casts Robin Williams as a crotchety adult who discovers his true origin as Pan. He returns to his island home and eventually takes on old nemesis Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) after his own children are kidnapped.
I met friends, shared incredible moments but most of all we used the power of performance in a drama about 'women empowerment' bridging the gap between two classes of society through art.This is what Steven Spielberg clearly does throughout this film, he captivates you and makes you want to believe even when there is doubt.After my life changing experience I started acting, I landed a lead role in a music video for a company based in Manchester called Video Ink. Whilst not in shot or on screen I was actively aiding people's performances, little did I know I was naturally Directing I clicked with the super lad's Adam and Oliver.
Thank you to Dustin Hoffman as 'Hook', and Julia Roberts as 'Tinkerbell' both amazing professionals.To conclude, this film still has so much importance to me to this day and will always be my favourite movie until I die...I thank all the cast and crew for helping me realise a journey, see you on the red carpet sometime soon...
The positives outweigh the negatives: The fantastical music score by John Williams will pull at your heartstrings, the premise of Peter Pan leaving Neverland and growing up is an interesting one, and I'd say Dustin Hoffman (who is totally unrecognizable) and Robin Williams are outstanding as Captain Hook and Peter Pan.This was a childhood favorite of mine, I grew up with it, and even when I'm about to turn 25 in the next couple months, I STILL LOVE this movie.
Right now I'm watching it after so long and I had shed tears during the "There you are Peter" scene, man does time fly.But still, I say this is one of Spielberg's most underrated films, and if you need a big reason to watch it, watch it for John Williams' music score, it will take you into the film on an emotional level.
We like seeing Robin Williams as Peter Pan, Dustin Hoffman as Hook, Bob Hoskins as Smee, Julia Roberts as Tinkerbell, and Maggie Smith as Wendy.
The Lost Boys, while not the ones we are familiar with in the novel or from the original story do a great job playing the Lost Boys, showing their feelings toward a grown up Peter Pan. Basically, these characters are all good to make the fictional Neverland, a real place again without CGI effects.
Hook is a brilliant movie with a very well developed storyline and an outstanding cast.The movie gave me great joy and wonder all the way through,Robin Williams was perfect casting as Peter Pan as he has a childlike sensibility but can also deliver more dramatic acting when it is needed,Dustin Hoffman also did a great job as Captain Hook,it seemed like a strange choice to me but he really became the character,this is certainly the best acting I've seen in a Peter Pan film.Steven Spielberg did a great job making this movie,the sets are absolutely beautiful,if it was made just a few years later this would have been mostly special effects,but luckily it didn't and this movie is all props and real locations which makes it look some much better and you can see the hard work everyone put in to this film.The only casting choice I didn't appreciate was Julia Roberts,I think she's a brilliant actress but she just didn't seem interested in playing Tinkerbell and didn't get sucked in to the childlike wonder of this film like everyone else clearly did.Very underrated film,I don't see why it gets treated so harshly,I loved Hook from start to finish and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good family film.
The tale of a grown-up Peter Pan (Williams) who has forgotten his childhood past and must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to save his kidnapped children (Korsmo and Scott) from Captain Hook (Hoffman).
You can call it a sequel to Barrie's 1911 novel PETER AND WENDY, but the genius of this particular story is all contained within this film, from the spot-on cast to the sets of Sony Pictures Studios bringing Neverland to screen in live-action, this movie is magical to anyone who grew up in the 1990s despite critics' panning.
I myself try to maintain a "kid at heart" approach to living life - it keeps me happy and youngish - and, maybe, that's why I've always loved the story of Peter Pan.And Captain Hook...
Quite an interesting pirate that could learn a lot about love, life and laughter from Peter Pan.This is a great family film but even those of us who are single and/or childless can still enjoy this interpretation of the story.9/10.
Until about three hours ago, I had never seen 'Hook' (1991), which is surprising considering that Steven Spielberg is one of my favourite directors of all time and I grew up watching some of the old Peter Pan films on the floor in my grandparents living room.However, I kept hearing mixed reactions to the film.
He was menacing and threatening, but oddly charming all at the same time.Whilst 'Hook' is not one of Spielberg's best films, it has a lot going for it and I would reccomend that people check it out, especially when looking for an film to sit down and marvel at with the family.I think you'll have a good time.And remember, in the words of Robin Williams: "To die would be a great adventure"..
Movie Review: "Hook" (1991)Based on James Matthew Barrie (1860-1937) books, director Steven Spielberg fulfills himself another childhood picture dream by telling the classic story of a sword-fighting 10-year-old boy called "Peter Pan" in the imaginative land of "Neverland", firstly brought to wide U.S. audiences with the animation classic from Walt Disney Pictures, releasing inn February 1953, before presenting abroad to a European Premiere audience at the Cannes Film Festival, out-of-competition, in its 6th edition in May 1953.Director Steven Spielberg must have been that enchanted to risk the highest budget of his career to that date of holiday season 1991/1992 with fellow producers Kathleen Kennedy & Frank Marshall handling 70 Milion U.S. Dollars, when Spielberg's own production company Amblin Entertainment, founded in 1981, teams up for one-time world-wide motion picture presentation with Columbia affiliate TriStar Pictures, bringing in Holywood stars as Dustin Hoffmann in heavy as splendid costume as "Captain Hook" in his 60s, when leading character Peter Banning, growing to be a successful, non-stop broker in London's financial center, given face by star-power as comic-talent indulging Robin Williams (1951-2014), armed with a cellular phone, whose character finds himself back in "Neverland" as a 40-years-old adult going back in dark-green costume to fight nemesis Captain Hook, meeting lovable characters portrayed by professional as moments of magic-sharing Julia Roberts as Tinkerbell and Bob Hoskins (1942-2014) as match-making "Hook" side-kicking first boatsman "Smee", all presented in extraordinary sound-stage construction work and visual effects orchestrated by Academy-Award-nominated supervisor Eric Brevig and associates alongside with first steps into digital image integration at Lucasfilm Ltd. affiliate "Industrial, Light and Magic" (ILM), when John Williams' fantasy-intriguing score compositions seem to rescue the slightly-dust-spreading movie of being an emotional fall-out especially for Internet-spoiled children, who suffer under out-of-balanced sensualities these days.Nevertheless, this enjoyable no-offense nor emotionally-challenging motion picture prevails after an enduring 135-Minute-Final-Cut by thanks to Spielberg's fellow editor Michael Kahn seems the intended target group of 8 to 12 year-old boys-less-girls, who want to come to the movie houses with their parents, in reminiscence of seemingly one in a life-time Spielberg-Movie-Experience with "E.T.-the Extra-Terrestrial" of presumingly 148,000,000 reprising U.S. moviegoers in one of the greatest attendance in motion picture history against 30,000,000 ten years later to modest attendance with ticket prices up to 43 % raised in average worldwide box office reception against season 1981/1982.Copyright 2018 Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC.
Let me start by saying what I did and like the casting is pretty spot on, I love Robin Williams as Pan, Dustin Hoffman is amazing as Hook, Maggie Smith was a perfect choice for Wendy (and wow that makeup job was great), and Bob Hoskins was also great as Smee.
The classic childrens story is updated with Robin Williams as Peter Pan, now a Lawyer who must return to Never Never Land.The problem with the film however is that there are too many American accents in what I always imagined was a typically English story.D Hoffman is not nearly nasty enough as Captain Hook.This is one for the younger members of the family, and while the film does have it's moments, overall it was a disappointing effort..
oh, and Julia Roberts' performance as Tinkerbell is so out-of-place and ridiculous that I remember finding it off even when I saw this movie for the first time as a young boy."Hook" proves that sometimes, all the right elements needed to make an unforgettable classic sometimes turn into...
sure robin williams wasn't the best for the role of a peter pan, but as the movie was not meant to be serious and was meant to be as a "what if" film.
Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman are well-matched as, respectively, Peter Pan and Captain Hook.
And some also feel that it get's way too "smaultsy." Personally I think it has a nice balance, but at some points, yeah, it can be trying a little too hard.Robin Williams and the lost boys are all funny and likable, but by far the best parts of the movie are the ones with Captain Hook and Smee, Dustin Hoffman and Anthony Hopkins are absolutely hilarious, and their plan to steal Peter's children away from him is a great villainous scheme.