1991's
Hook was a sequel no one needed. Peter Pan was a rather
open and shut storyline and I doubt too many people were dying to know exactly how Neverland turned out after Captain Hook
was defeated. It turns out Steven Spielberg was one of the few people who were
wondering about Neverland's uncertain future. What's more, Spielberg didn't
want to know what happened after Hook died. Instead he wanted to know if Hook
died at all. His answer: a rapturous no.
Spielberg
came and went from this project a few times starting in the early 80's. But
when he finally did come on board in the beginning of the next decade he was
ready to make a film that centered on a subject matter near and dear to his
heart. For Spielberg like so many others in his generation were raised on the
story of Peter Pan. And frankly what child since its publication hasn't been
enthralled by the heroic story? Spielberg tackles the father-son relationship
again, saying that this time he was the boy in a relationship with a father who
had zero time for him. What's interesting about Hook is that
Spielberg gives the father a chance at redemption. In fact, the entire story
revolves around whether or not Peter Banning will decide to find his courage
and fight to save his children. Spielberg's own relationship with his father
drove the narrative's inception. The director's personal comment on the film
and the time period was as follows:
I
think a lot of people today are losing their imagination because they are
work-driven. They are so self-involved with work and success and arriving at
the next plateau that children and family almost become incidental. I have even
experienced it myself when I have been on a very tough shoot and I've not seen
my kids except on weekends. They ask for my time and I can't give it to them
because I'm working.
Hook is the film that cements my idea that though Steven Spielberg makes
films for the masses, he rarely forgets his heart. Sure there have been time
where we've genuinely wondered if he made a film for anything but the money but
when he does come out with one of his greats they're genuinely rooted in a deep
feeling. And like many of his other films Hook remembers what it's
like to be a child and though the film spends its majority in a fantasy world,
the children are true to their name. They're fun-loving, innocent and an essential part of helping the older characters (maybe not the villains) realize who
they once were and more importantly, who they really are. And speaking of villains, good god is Dustin Hoffman killer as Captain Hook.
Hook isn't
a perfect film. But luckily it doesn't take itself seriously enough to warrant
to much anger toward its flaws. It's fun, loving and like many of Spielberg's
films spreads an important message. I will say though for those who have seen
the film, the sequence where Peter and Wendy return home to find the
children have been taken by Hook is one of my favorite scenes on film. The scar
that Hook leaves on the walls from the front door all the way to the nursery is
a setpiece of shear terror and in my opinion shows Spielberg's true power as a
filmmaker. He utilizes a simple visual to tell you so much and horrify you at
the same time. Simply wonderful.
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