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Stars:
Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts, Bob Hoskins, and Maggie Smith
Writers:
Jim V. Hart and Marlia Scotch Marmo
Screen
Story By: Jim V. Hart and Nick Castle
Based
Upon The Original Stage Play And Books By: J.M. Barrie
Director:
Steven Spielberg
Feature
length: 144 minutes
Languages:
English DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Sound, and French Language Dolby Surround Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese,
Korean, and Thai Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Amaray Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 28
Sound:
DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and
Dolby Surround Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1991/DVD Release: 2003
Theatrical
Distributor: TriStar Pictures
Home
Video Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: PG
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
“Hook”
is sort of an enigma in the film-directing career of Steven Spielberg. It has a
cast that featured Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts, Bob Hoskins,
and Maggie Smith and in some ways I see it as the early pre-cursor to the
contemporary big screen live action fantasy films that have been produced since
along the lines of the “Harry Potter” films though this is not so much about
growing up, but about being young at heart. The film was not a box office flop,
but it was not the huge success that is commonly associated with most of
Spielberg’s work either. I suppose the film is in itself an allegory to Mr.
Spielberg himself who at the time was often likened to a modern day Peter Pan
and had not yet won the acclaim and respect that “Schindler’s List” would
afford him. I often find it unfair when people refer to Spielberg’s early work
as not being adult. If anything I would argue that retaining a part of one’s
inner child and wonder is an important part of being an adult. How could we
relate to our own children if we did not have a piece of our own childhood in
our hearts?
So
“Hook” is enigmatic because it is kind of a transitional film between
Spielberg’s blockbuster 1980s work and the juggernaut success he has had
since. I mean if anyone ever doubted his abilities in the past, I think
Spielberg has proved that he can tackle just about any kind of film imaginable
with the exception of the big screen musical and that is simply because he
hasn’t tried. At the time Julia Roberts was still America’s “Pretty
Woman,” but her short haircut and her cocky attitude as Tinkerbell just did
not fit or flatter her. Dustin Hoffman seems like he’s having a great time
hamming it up as Captain Hook, but I’m not sure what is more depressing, the
idea of Captain Hook or Peter Pan in a midlife crisis?
The
biggest problem with the film is that nothing much extraordinary happens until
Peter Pan (Robin Williams) learns how to fly and that takes about 100 minutes
into the feature to happen. The movie is also way too long and boring to boot.
The effects are quite good, but there is something about the production design
and casting choices for the lost boys that dates the film. The lost boys look
like a bunch of contestants auditioning for some televised costumed children’s
talent competition and the sets look too much like something one might wrap
around the base of a Christmas tree instead of real pirate’s cove. However
while only the most hardcore Spielberg fanatics will probably watch “Hook”
over and over again, the truth is that the film is only entertaining for kids.
That is actually why truly “Hook” fails in the end. A film that attempts to
tackle real adult issues in a fantasy setting should entertain adults as well as
children. “Hook” is almost impossible to sit through as an adult without
skipping chapters to get to the action.
Originally
released in Region One North America as a featureless DVD a few years back by
Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, “Hook: Superbit” is not much better in
terms of picture and sound. It looks as though the same source print was used
and so some frames look a bit dirty and there are some artifacts in certain
scenes too. When the picture is clear, it looks vibrant with the storybook
colors just jumping off of the screen toward the viewers, but it does not look
significantly sharper than the original release.
The
English DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Soundtrack is only a slight
improvement over the Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack included on this
“Superbit” DVD release. A French Language Dolby Surround Soundtrack and
English Captions and Closed Captions for the hearing impaired as well as French,
Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai Language Subtitles are encoded
onto the DVD as options too. About the only thing I like better than the
original DVD release is the teaser cover on the packaging.
If
you are a Spielberg fanatic and have to have every one of his films on DVD, then
this is for you, but unless you do not already own the original release, I
can’t honestly recommend this DVD as an upgrade though if you want to see for
yourself, you could always rent it and compare between the two before you buy
it. “Hook: Superbit” is available on DVD-Video now from Columbia TriStar
Home Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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