Hook has been given a great treatment with the new 4k transfer and Dolby Atmos track, enough to satisfy any fan of the film!
“A high-flying adventure from the magic of Steven Spielberg, Hook stars Robin Williams as a grown-up Peter Pan and Dustin Hoffman as the infamous Captain Hook.
Joining the fun is Julia Roberts as Tinkerbell, Bob Hoskins as the pirate Smee, and Maggie Smith as Granny Wendy Darling, who must convince middle-aged lawyer Peter Banning that he was once the legendary Peter Pan. And so the adventure begins anew, with Peter off to Neverland to save his two children from Captain Hook. Along the way, he rediscovers the power of imagination, friendship, and magic. A classic tale updated for children of all ages, Hook was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Visual Effects in 1991.”
Hook opens as Peter Banning’s daughter plays Wendy in a school play about Peter Pan. Despite the riveting performance onstage, Peter cannot help but be distracted by phone calls from someone at his firm to help facilitate a multi-billion dollar deal. Hearing the news about a possible meeting in the morning before they leave for London, his eldest son Jack protests due to his promise of attending his big baseball championship the next day. To set his mind at ease, Peter makes an empty promise that he’ll be there, and that his word is his bond. Of course, this promise is broken as Peter is a no-show, instead sending an assistant to record the game. On the way to London, Jack lets his father know how upset he is with a drawing of him plummeting to his death as the plane bursts in flames. In London visiting Granny Wendy, things come to a head when Peter’s deal falls through. He explodes in anger as his children annoy him, screaming at them and sending them away in fear. Later that night, Jack and Maggie are kidnapped from their beds, with a note left by Captain James Hook.
Wendy tries to convince Peter that he is indeed the real Peter Pan from the story, which sends him into a drunken binge and passes out in the children’s room. Waking up to find Tinkerbell looming over him, they argue back and forth whether or not she is real and he passes out, allowing Tink to wrap him in a sheet and somehow fly away with him in tow to Neverland. Landing on Captain Hook’s ship, everyone is in disbelief that the middle-aged, overweight man before them is indeed Peter Pan, Peter himself doesn’t even believe it. Giving Tink three days to get him into flying mode to avoid execution, Peter finds his way to the Lost Boys who try to jog his memory in order to save his children.
Hook has always held a special place for me, and what fascinates me about the film is how my love of the film has changed since I saw it as a kid in 1991 to now. For a children’s movie, this is as good as it gets. A live action Peter Pan with flying, magic, sword fights, humor, and the Lost Boys with all their gadgets they use in the final battle. As an adult, it’s a heartwarming story about growing up, becoming a parent, and living life in the moment with your children. So many layers to the story, it’s still a great watch after all these years and I discover something about it that has new meaning to me every time. Some films you have to grow up with to appreciate; I still laugh hysterically at the Lost Boys shooting rotten vegetables in the faces of the Pirates, or them being blinded by light reflected by mirrors. Is this one of those films? Perhaps, but if you did see the film as a child, that magic stays with you through adulthood, a testament to the film and its message.
Knowing how much I love this film, I’m always disheartened when I hear how much Steven Spielberg disliked it. I can only imagine the stress of working with all those children, many of whom were not professional in the least. Another non-professional was Julia Roberts, whose selfish antics have been noted by many in the production, including Spielberg. Whether this is the reason I think Tink is the worst part of the film and seems so disconnected from the story I can’t tell, but for me, that is what changed from a child to an adult, my dislike for the character and how forced her involvement seems.
We can’t neglect to mention the performances. Robin Williams as always is great. Throughout his career there are very few instances I can think of where he plays a character like this in the beginning of the film; so cut-off from his family and downright mean. The change he goes through by the end makes it all the more meaningful. Dustin Hoffman’s Captain Hook was just perfect in every way. Although there are many more films that highlight his amazing capabilities as an actor, Hook will always be one of my favorites for nostalgic reasons. Bob Hoskins steals every scene he’s in as Smee, one of my favorite characters in the film in which I have always wished I could’ve seen more of.
Hook may not be Spielberg’s best, but for those growing up with the film it was a staple of our childhood and is still as entertaining today as it was then. This new 4k set will renew many fans interest in the film and hopefully gain a new generation of fans.
Video
Hook is presented in 2160p Ultra High Definition 4k 2.39:1 with HDR. Hook, if nothing else, is a very colorful film. In Neverland, the color palate is all over the place, with the bright colors of the food, the costumes, the scenery, contrasted nicely with the palate of the Pirates and their area. The HDR brings those colors to life, giving you a very vibrant display, highlighting things you may never have noticed before. This transfer indeed does look exceptional, with a very clear image and the grain kept to a manageable level. This enhanced clarity does accentuate some of the wiring for the flying thanks to the high resolution, but I only saw one or two instances of that. Regardless, this is a great transfer that alone would be worth the upgrade for me.
The Blu-Ray disc included is presented in 1080p High Definition Transfer 2.39:1.
Audio
The audio is presented with a brand new Dolby Atmos mix which for me was one of the highlights of the film. Although there aren’t too many instances of things flying overhead taking advantage of Atmos’ true capabilities, the overall mix sounds phenomenal for what it is, making this sound better than I’ve ever heard it sound. The John Williams score also sounds great on this mix, with well-balanced levels throughout the surrounds.
Special Features
There aren’t many extras on this disc, but, what it does include is never-before-seen deleted scenes. For fans such as myself, the opportunity to see more from this world is something you can’t pass up, and although these deleted scenes are pretty bad and cut for good reason, it’s still a great bonus.
- 11 Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes
- Theatrical Trailer
Hook will always be a favorite of mine, and for fans like me, this 4k set will bring renewed joy and is like seeing and hearing the film for the first time.
