Hook (1991)

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers (WGA):

J.M. Barrie (books)
J.M. Barrie (play)

Release Date:

11 December 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

What if Peter Pan grew up?

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Hook | Peter Pan | Captain | Flying Man | Fantasy World

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Capt. Hook
Robin Williams	...	Peter Banning
Julia Roberts	...	Tinkerbell
Bob Hoskins	...	Smee
Maggie Smith	...	Granny Wendy
Caroline Goodall	...	Moira Banning
Charlie Korsmo	...	Jack 'Jackie' Banning
Amber Scott	...	Maggie Banning
Laurel Cronin	...	Liza, Wendy's Housekeeper
Phil Collins	...	Inspector Good
Arthur Malet	...	Tootles
Isaiah Robinson	...	Pockets
Jasen Fisher	...	Ace
Dante Basco	...	Rufio
Raushan Hammond	...	Thud Butt

Runtime:

144 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL (DVD rating) | South Korea:All | Portugal:M/6 | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8/5 | France:U | Germany:6 | Ireland:G | Israel:PG | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:PG | Norway:10

Filming Locations:

Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

The film contains a number of subtle references to the James Barrie play and book. These include: * An elderly Tootles is one of the characters in the film, and is referred to as Wendy's "first orphan". Tootles was one of the original Lost Boys. * In both the book/play and the film, Wendy greets Peter by calling him "Boy". * Granny Wendy recites a prayer-like speech as she leaves Maggie and Jack in the nursery, asking the lights to guard the sleeping babes. This is a direct quotation from the book. In the book Mrs. Darling says, "Night-lights are the eyes a mother leaves behind her to guard her children." (Chapter 2: The Shadow) * When Tinker Bell is first trying to get Peter to remember her, she says, "I drank poison for you!" This is a direct reference to the events in Chapter 13: Do You Believe in Fairies. * The invisible dinner sequence is inspired by the lines in the book: "The difference between (Peter) and the other boys at such a time was that they knew it was make-believe, while to him make-believe and true were exactly the same thing. This sometimes troubled them, as when they had to make-believe that they had had their dinners." from Chapter 6: The Little House * After human-sized Tinkerbell kisses Peter, and he remembers he has to save his children, Tink says to him, "You silly ass, Go!" In the book, Tinkerbell repeatedly calls Peter a "silly ass". * Toward the end of the movie, Tootles says "I've missed the adventure again, haven't I, Peter?" This is in reference to the book, as it is mentioned that the reason Tootles was so humble was because, by some misfortune, he missed most of the adventures the Lost Boys participated in.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Peter is in the playroom at Granny Wendy's house, there is a teddy bear in the room. It's the same teddy bear that is found later by Peter in Neverland inside the tree but no-one brings the teddy back to Neverland when Peter goes there to save his children.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Maggie: [playing Wendy] Boy, why are you crying?
Boy playing Peter Pan: I was crying 'cause I couldn't get my shadow to stick. Besides, I wasn't crying.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Winning London (2001) (V)

Soundtrack:

When You're Alone

Why does everyone hate this film?

I, personally, cannot understand why so many people have left negative comments about this film. When it was released, many of us were young children and we all enjoyed it, but now that we are older, too many people are pointing out the bad jokes and mistakes and clichés that they have found. The point is, this is a children's film, and we didn't see those mistakes when we were children because it's designed that way. Even so, people fail to see deeper into certain aspects of the film. 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. Although she is not a human per se, she can have human feelings, so why would she not love him? As the original story tells, she is often jealous of other womens' affections towards him, and this film just extrapolates on that theme a little.

There have been comments about the 'father-who-is-so-busy-and-can't-go-to-the-game' cliché. Well, here's news for you. It's cliché because it happens all the time, and it's a truth! Some parents are just too busy to care. Lastly, too many people are moaning that Hook was too comical to be the bad guy. Well, this is a kids film and if he wasn't a little bit cheery-in-a-maniac sort of way, you'd have parents complaining that their kids were scared.

The main thing about this film is that it is really good, but it IS designed for children, and adults who go back and watch it years later, then suddenly spot loads of mistakes are just ruining it for themselves and others.