Steven Spielberg's Hook is the most criminally misunderstood movie of all-time!

[NI-Gunner]

I've heard and seen so many people "pan" (no pun intended) this movie to death, and as someone who grew up with it, I REALLY do not understand it.

I think it's John Williams best score, bell-to-bell. How could you not find Robin Williams engaging? The production design is wonderful, magical, and completely befitting Neverland. Hoffman's turn as Captain Hook is so far beyond perfect... Bob Hoskins as Smee! Julia freaking Roberts as Tinkerbell! COME ON!

Beyond all of that, the movie is a beautiful tale of fatherhood, which I think is lost on so many people. Seriously, think about the entire message of the movie, it's about growing up, being a man and taking responsibility as a parent without losing that inner child. A fantastic message if ever there was one for this kind of movie.

I've always been genuinely befuddled by the criticisms this movie has gotten over the years and I'd love to hear from people who agree with me, but honestly, I'd like to hear from those who disagree that little bit more. Make me understand why this is such a heavily criticised movie.

[slumcat]

The score is to die far. Outstanding theme after outstanding theme after outstanding theme.

Williams went to town on this one. A shame people don't recognize it (the score) for the classic it is.

[Gacivory]

Agreed! I grew up with this movie, so I always wondered if nostalgia is attached. Also one of the only movies that I have owned on VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K.

Hoffman as Hook is one of my favorite Hoffman performances. Along with Straight Time.

I like to quote, “But what about Smee?”

[Cremildo]

Steven Spielberg's A.I. is the most criminally misunderstood movies of all-time!

You got that right!

[PipesDonatello]

I have to agree. Great score. And it also has one of the most chill-inducing moments for me, when Peter finally learns to fly again after finding his happy thought (the first time he held his son). Also, Charlie Korsmo is easily the least annoying child actor that Spielberg ever worked with. That kid was a natural.

[NI-Gunner]

Originally Posted by PipesDonatello

And it also has one of the most chill-inducing moments for me, when Peter finally learns to fly again after finding his happy thought (the first time he held his son).

Completely agree. Spine-tingling moment that kind of sums up what the movie is about. Pure magic! John Williams' score makes me FEEL SO MUCH during that scene. Brilliant work.

[NI-Gunner]

Originally Posted by CyberpunkCentral

Wrong! Man of Steel is.

I don't want to derail my own thread, but I will, since you're hijacking it to talk about Man of Steel for no good reason...

Man of Steel is atrocious! Zack Snyder didn't make a Superman movie, he made a morose alien movie. His decision to do a deconstructionist superhero move was silly to begin with, but to do a deconstructionist SUPERMAN movie, of all things, well that's right up there with the dumbest ideas in cinema history.

[SteelbookCat]

Originally Posted by CyberpunkCentral

Wrong! Man of Steel is.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Originally Posted by NI-Gunner

I don't want to derail my own thread, but I will, since you're hijacking it to talk about Man of Steel for no good reason...

Man of Steel is atrocious! Zack Snyder didn't make a Superman movie, he made a morose alien movie. His decision to do a deconstructionist superhero move was silly to begin with, but to do a deconstructionist SUPERMAN movie, of all things, well that's right up there with the dumbest ideas in cinema history.

Oops! My apologies for that. I'm make a new thread and take it somewhere else. Seriously, my bad.

[NI-Gunner]

Originally Posted by CyberpunkCentral

Oops! My apologies for that. I'm make a new thread and take it somewhere else. Seriously, my bad.

No hard feelings or anything. I get that it was just a flippant response. Chill...

[spaceball-one]

Absolutely fantastic Williams score, but his BEST? No way.

[NI-Gunner]

Originally Posted by spaceball-one

Absolutely fantastic Williams score, but his BEST? No way.

Has more iconic themes for sure, but top-to-bottom, I really think Hook is the best.

[Rayjg]

I’ve always like it. A very melancholy blockbuster. I think his Always is underrated too. It must’ve been a gut-punch to Spielberg that these two personal films were both considered failures. At least by his standards.

[CyberpunkCentral]

I need to properly rewatch Hook to say, but I do notice that's it's somewhat split with people.

[Spud_Almighty]

Easily Williams' best score. He has more iconic numbers, but the Hook soundtrack is to die for. It's a thing of beauty.

I always thought I enjoyed this movie purely out of nostalgia until I watched it with my kids. When I saw how much they loved it, I knew then it wasn't just my generation. I still love watching it for Smee and Hook, they're so funny together. Also, Robin Williams in his prime. His lovely smile kind of makes me sad these days. I miss seeing him movies, knowing my kids don't have that kind of person to look up to. It's just sad.

[NI-Gunner]

Originally Posted by Spud_Almighty

Also, Robin Williams in his prime. His lovely smile kind of makes me sad these days. I miss seeing him movies, knowing my kids don't have that kind of person to look up to. It's just sad.

I felt that RIP Robin.

[therealjondoe]

The VHS definitely got a lot of burn growing up

[steel_breeze]

Hook does have a fantastic friggin' score from John Williams, and I do agree the movie is underrated. Plus, it will always have a special significance for me, since my first exposure to real Hollywood movie-making was an internship at Industrial Light and Magic in the fall of 1991.... when they were finishing up Hook. Not only did I get to see them shooting a low angle of the towering Nevertree model in the concrete alleys between sound-stages at their old San Rafael location (tucked back in secret behind a Circuit City), but I also got to sit in the room for "dailies" -- every day. THAT was a masterclass in visual effects; the passion for the art and the attention to detail was awe-inspiring.

At dailies, the dozen or so effects artists would gather in a 35mm screening room to examine whatever shots they were currently working on in a continuous loop -- with no sound, of course, since that would be added later. As each shot played over and over again, they would analyze the various photographic elements and make sure they were all working, or discuss what changes needed to be made during the next pass. These weren't digital effects, remember; these were old-school opticals that required every element to be filmed in "live-action" on a sound-stage.

My favorite "dailies" moment was when they were working on the shot where Robin Williams flies into the foreground, and the clouds part to reveal Neverland far, far below. There were so many elements in play: the clouds, the sparkling ocean water below, etc. At one moment, the visual effects supervisor walked up to the screen and observed: "it's a sunny day and the waterfall is way over here... so what's causing this rainbow over here??" The response: "It's Neverland!" Everyone laughed and immediately agreed: that works!

Piece by piece, I got to see the visual effects come together -- including endless passes of Tinkerbell's glow-and-flare. And then, at the end of my internship in December, I attended the special ILM "crew" screening of the finished film. It was a pretty amazing experience for a young kid who grew up 3000 miles away in New Jersey, and who'd wanted to get into film since seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark at age 10. Hook will always bring me back to that sense of wonder.

[Spud_Almighty]

Originally Posted by NI-Gunner

I felt that RIP Robin.

His smile makes me smile and it has been that way since I can remember. The world has been lacking something special since. But to a degree, it'll always be there. Seeing your kids react the same way to Aladdin's Genie for example. Shame they had to try ruin that with the awful Will Smith movie.

[Markgway]

Haven't seen it since I was 13. I liked it at the time.