Hook Review

Hook

Release Date: 26th March 1992 - Australia

Production Companies

TriStar Pictures

Amblin Entertainment 

Distribution

Sony Pictures Australia

Genre: Fantasy/Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 136 minutes


Budget: $70,000,000

Box Office Gross: $300,854,823 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary
When the fearsome Captain Hook kidnaps the children of his arch-foe Peter Pan, who has grown up and forgotten everything from his past adventures. Peter must return to Never Land with the aid of Tinkerbell and the Lost Boys. Learning to rediscover the child within and his memory of being Peter Pan, he must confront the vengeful pirate and rescue his two precious children.

Cast

Dustin Hoffman - Captain Hook
Robin Williams - Peter Banning

Julia Roberts - Tinker Bell

Bob Hoskins - Mr. 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 (Cameo)
Arthur Malet - Toodles
Isaiah Robinson - Pockets
Jasen Fisher - Ace
Dante Basco - Rufio
Rasuhan Hammond - Thud Butt
James Madio - Don't Ask
Thomas Tulak - Too Small
Alex Zuckerman - Latchboy
Ahmad Stoner - No Nap
Max Hoffman - 5-Year-Old Peter Pan
Ryan Francis - Young Peter Pan
Lisa Wilhoit - Young Tinker Bell

Kelly Rowen - Peter's Mother
Gwyneth Paltrow - Young Wendy

Rebecca Hoffman - Jane in

Play

Jake Hoffman - Little League

Baseball Player

Geoffrey Lower - Brad

Don S. Davis - Dr. Fields

Cameron Thor - Ron

Brad Blumenthal - Jim
David Crosby - Tickles (Cameo)
Nick Tate - Noodler
Tony Burton - Bill Jukes (Cameo)
Glenn Close - Gutless (Cameo)

Matthew Van Ginkel - Baby Peter Banning

Ray Tveden - Man in Stands

Kim Robillard - Toothless Cripple

Michael Runyard - Screaming Pirate

Gary Epper - Growling Pirate

Jimmy Buffett - Shoe-Stealing Pirate (Cameo) (Uncredited)
Carrie Fisher - Woman Kissing on Bridge (Cameo) (Uncredited)

George Lucas - Man Kissing on Bridge (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Steven Spielberg

Based on the Stage Play

and Book Series "Peter Pan" -

J.M. Barrie

Screen Story/Screenplay/

Executive Producer - Jim V. Hart

Screen Story - Nick Castle

Screenplay/Associate
Producer - Malia Scotch Marmo

Script Supervisor - Ana Maria Quintana
Associate Producer/First Assistant Director -

Bruce Cohen

Executive Producer - Dodi Fayed

Producers - Kathleen Kennedy and

Frank Marshall

Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Gerald R. Molen

Co-Producers - Gary Adelson and

Craig Baumgarten

Casting Directors - Janet & Michael

Hirshenson and Jane Jenkins

Production Designer - Norman Garwood

Visual Consultant - John Napier

Illustrators - Edward Eyth,

Thomas W. Lay Jr., David Lowery

and Jacques Rey
Art Directors - Andrew Precht and

Thomas E. Sanders

Assistant Art Director - Daniel T. Dorrance

Set Decorator - Garrett Lewis

Choreographer - Vince Paterson
Additional Choreographers - Smith Wordes

and Kim Blank

Costume Designer - Anthony Powell

Special Makeup Creator - Greg Cannom

Makeup Supervisor - Christina Smith

Director of Photography - Dean Cundey

Camera Operator - Raymond Stella

First Assistant Camera - Clyde E. Bryan

and Larry Davis

Stunt Coordinator/Action Choreographer -

Gary Hymes

Animal Trainer - Jules Sylvester

Special Effects Supervisor - Michael Lantieri

Animatronics and Puppets Creator/

Puppeteer - Rick Lazzarini

Visual Effects Supervisor - Eric Brevig

Production Effects Producer - Colin Wilson

Executive Charge in Production: ILM -

Jim Morris

Executive Charge in Post-Production: ILM -

Ed Jones

Art Director: ILM - Harley Jessup

Model Shop Supervisor: ILM - Lorne Peterson

Matte Artists: ILM - Eric Chauvin,

Christopher Evans, Rocco Gioffre and

Yusei Uesugi

Plate Photography Supervisor: ILM - Michael Owens

Post Photography Supervisor: ILM - John Knoll

Bluescreen Unit Manager: ILM - Edward T. Hirsh

Motion/Wing Supervisors: ILM - Patrick T. Myers

and Charlie Clavadetscher

Computer Graphics Supervisors: ILM -

Stefen Fangmeier and John Andrew Berton, Jr.

(Uncredited)

Animation Supervisor: ILM - Wes Takahashi

Storyboard Artist: ILM - Iain McCaig

Film Editor - Michael Kahn

Additional Editor - William Goldenberg

Supervising Sound Editors - Charles L. Campbell

and Richard C. Franklin

Sound Mixer - Ron Judkins

Re-Recording/Music Scoring Mixer -

Shawn Murphy

Re-Recording Mixers - Andy Nelson

and Steve Pederson

Foley Artists - John Roesch,

Hilda Hodges, Catherine Rowe,

Joseph Sabella, Kevin Bartnof and

Jeffrey Cupernell

Music - John Williams

Lyrics: Songs - Leslie Bricusse

Music Editor - Kenneth Wannberg

Awards

1992 Academy Awards
Best Art Direction - Norman Garwood and
Garrett Lewis (Nominated)
Best Costume Design - Anthony Powell (Nominated)
Best Visual Effects - Eric Brevig, Harley Jessup,
Mark Sullivan and Michael Lantieri (Nominated)
Best Makeup - Christina Smith, Monty Westmore
and Greg Cannom (Nominated)
Best Music, Original Song "When You're Alone" -
John Williams and Leslie Bricusse (Nominated)

Review

Many will recall J.M. Barrie's classic story of Peter Pan and its screen adaptations like the one made by Disney. PP tells a heartwarming tale about children who never grow up and swashbuckling pirates like Captain Hook. HOOK was shown on the Disney Channel years ago when I first saw it. It introduced me to the presence of Robin Williams on the big screen and the name of Steven Spielberg. I never knew it wasn't on par with the director's highly acclaimed works until I got older. Since the actor Robin Williams passed away, I wanted to revisit some of his golden classics in memory of his energetic charisma, such as his character Genie in Aladdin.

This once nostalgic fantasy adventure has become almost the lowest common denominator for Spielberg and the actor/comedian Williams himself. With HOOK, the director was a far cry from his usual potential. As a result, this movie was considered one of the low points in his career. The legend of Peter Pan has come and gone. Maybe Spielberg had too much creative control of this film. HOOK was problematic in certain illogical scenes, and there was no explanation of how certain events unfolded.

Then there is the art direction, which looks fantastic. Williams' portrayal of a grown-up Peter Pan was remarkable, and Dustin Hoffman's interpretation of the main character is fun to watch. The background music by John Williams fits the movie by my standards.

I wanted to enjoy this film, but I must be honest about HOOK and admit that it did lack a few crucial aspects.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

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