Too much of everything

Excellent but underrated film

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

When I was 6 (in 2002), my father gave me this movie's videotape. I loved it and I love it now, after hundreds views. Peter Pan became my hero, like Robin Williams. I loved this story and I became to write thanks to it. I knew the Peter Pan's fable but not this new version. This ipotetica sequel. Genious.

Hook is a film directed by Steven Spielberg. I read about the film some time ago and critics especially had trashed the film for not being upto Speilberg's standard. But watching the film last night on TV, I found it quite good.Plot: Peter Pan, now, Peter Banning has to return to Neverland when his arch-nemesis James Hook kidnaps his kids.Story and direction: I Have always loved Spielberg and his films. He is quite a genius when it comes to film-making. Give him any kind of film, dark or light, in tone, he will deliver it. So I was curious to find what the hell went wrong with this film. First, lets see the positives. I liked the father-son relationship that is shown in the film. A son always has some expectations from his father and when those not fulfilled the son is disappointed. Also the working environment in present days where you get no time to breathe and no time for your family is very well shown. Then we have the scenes from Neverland. Most of the scenes especially with the Lost Boys were awesome. I chucked each and every moment in those scenes. And finally, the battle between Pan and Hook. That was the kind of battle you want to see in a swashbuckling film (although at some places it felt like Star Wars' lightsaber battles). John Williams' score was awesome too. Now for the negatives, the production design of the film felt very poor. The sets actually felt like large giant sets constructed. Then it would be the interaction betwen Peter Pan and Tinker Bell just before the finale. I mean that actually made no sense. And also, Hook's ultimate fate with the crocodile. I didn't get that also. Also the interest in the film during the first hour was on and off. Also as a character I felt the villains were given nothing much to do.Performances: Robin Willaims was great from the scared and taget driven Peter Banning to the child-like Peter Pan. Dustin Hoffman was good too, but he wasn't actually given much to do. Julia Roberts was also excellent. The Lost Boys especially Rufio and Thud Ball were awesome. Bob Hoskins was OK. Maggie Smith was great in her role. So as Caroline Goodall.Favorite Scene: It would be the food eating scene where everyone just starts eating and Peter begins to wonder where the hell is the food. And suddenly he lets his imagination go wild and sees food in front of him. My mouth watered seeing the scene. And the subsequent scene, where there is a war od words between Rufio and Peter. That was hilarious.Verdict: Hook is an enjoyable film. I had a great time with it. Yes, it has some issues regarding themes, characters and some random scenes, but it is still very entertaining. I am going with an 8/10.

I absolutely love this movie. I know that it's different for Peter Pan growing up and starting a family but I like that he wanted to grow up. Not everyone can live forever and not get bored of it. I know I would. I thought it was a nice change from the original Peter Pan. I love how Peter falls in love and wants to start a family but has to choose if he wants to be a lost boy or a dad. This movie has the amazing Robin Williams that I always close to my heart. With his humor and story- telling skills, he makes this movie a one in a million.

Over a lifetime of watching movies, one thing I've come to understand is that criticism is just part of the game. One can make the greatest movie imaginable, and their will always be a sect that just doesn't like it. When it comes to "Hook", however, I still can't quite wrap my mind around the fact that it is so lowly-regarded by most critics. Have someone rank Steven Spielberg's films, and this one will likely be on the bottom. For the life of me, I cannot fathom such a statement about a movie where every single scene is either meaningful or poignant.For a basic plot summary, "Hook" tells the story of Peter Banning (Robin Williams), a miserly father and lawyer with little time for the "distractions" of his wife Moira (Caroline Goodall) or children Jack (Charlie Korsmo) and Maggie (Amber Scott). He also just so happens to be the heir of the family that made the Peter Pan stories famous, more specifically family matriarch Wendy (Maggie Smith). One night, a family outing on the town turns tragic when the returning adults are confronted by the empty beds of the children. The only evidence? A dagger and note bearing the mark of one Captain James Hook (Dustin Hoffman). It is then that Wendy reveals the family secret to Mr. Banning...that he is the real Peter Pan, and the only way to get his children back is to return to Neverland--with the help of a familiar little pixie (Julia Roberts)--and confront Hook.There are so many areas in which this movie succeeds admirably...-Every single scene is either pregnant with emotion or hilariously funny. -The soundtrack is one of the best from John Williams (and that is saying something!) -The acting is first-rate. Williams (always a bit under-appreciated in serious roles) shines brightest as the lead, but is closely match by Hoffman's swashbuckling Hook and the child actors. -The cinematography is stunning in how they create the look of the inhabitants of Neverland (Lost Boys, Pirates, etc.).Perhaps the main reason "Hook" is an all-time classic, though, is because of the themes it espouses. I mean, what better of an idea than to examine what a grown-up Pan would look like and how he could potentially re-capture that old magic. Of course, Spielberg being the master film-maker that he is, is able to relate those themes to everyday life. There is a particular plot thread in the movie involving Hook trying to turn Banning's son Jack into a pirate that will particularly hit close to home. Growing old and growing up is something we all can (and have to) relate to, so weaving those real-life themes into the Pan story is a genius move.Finally, "Hook" is a film that can be enjoyed by the entire family equally (and I truly mean equally...young and old). Youngsters will be intrigued and excited by the film's boundless energy (especially the ever-engaging Williams), while seasoned viewers will see the human commentary and be moved by the deep themes of family and staying young at heart.So, like I said in the beginning, I consider this to truly be one of my favorite films of all-time. In the words of Toodles (and blissfully ignoring the aptly-named critics, in this case): "I haven't lost my marbles after all!!". If you haven't enjoyed this movie with your entire family, you are missing a sincere treat.