Review of Hook (1991) by Justin Y — 30 Aug 2012

I feel I need to go into greater detail concerning the quality of this film. My earlier review applauded the wonders and cheers and music. The real applause goes not to the whimsical "syrup" that people have dubbed annoying and not intelligent enough, but to the fullness of heart that the film unapologetically displays.

This film is about two boys becoming men. One of those boys is Banning's son, played by Korsmo and Banning himself, the delightful Williams. It's not about how being successful is bad or missing a baseball game is the end of the world or even that bad parenting can happen without direct intent.

This film is reminding us that we can lose our identity as humans, our innocence, our spirit of hope, our caring for what's really important, and reminding us of the slow sloping road to a miserable existence because of our faith in things of this world instead of things not of this world.

I'm glad this film hits audiences over the head with, "HEY REMEMBER ME, I'M THE PERSON YOU USED TO BE WHEN YOU LAUGHED AND SMILED AND DIDN'T WORRY SO MUCH!" We are created to enjoy and marvel and wonder and hope and cheer.

With all the sadness and tragedy we create for each other and ourselves we need a little adventure to remind us of what children understand so well; just have a ball! Now of course as adults we need to understand the seriousness of life and the great responsibilities we have.

Yet if we forget to have the heart of a child and lose the sparkle in our eyes and the spring in our steps(cheesy but true), then we have missed life all together. Critics can't get it through their heads that in a dark world, wisdom is in the childlike virtues.