‘Hook’ Robin Williams’ best movie ever

When I was a young kid my favorite actor was Robin Williams. I seriously had every family movie he was in. I owned “Aladdin,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Jumanji,” “Ferngully” — you name it, I had it. But my childhood favorite was and will always be “Hook.”

Directed by Steven Spielberg, the story of “Hook” opens with an adult Peter Pan who isn’t as cool and hip as he used to be when he was younger.

Instead, he’s an unhappy father who puts his job before the needs of his children. After his kids are kidnapped by Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) Peter must return to Neverland to rescue them.

While in Neverland the Lost Boys help Peter learn how to fly, sword fight, crow like a rooster and embrace the power of his imagination (yeah, it’s pretty cheesy).

The world of Neverland in this movie is excellent. The most outstanding sets include an old house Peter stumbles upon, Captain Hook’s ship, the pirate port and the Lost Boys’ giant tree house. Essentially, Neverland is an enormous playground.

It’s hard to pick a favorite scene in this movie. There’s the sword fight between Peter and Hook, the Lost Boys food fight and Peter’s flashbacks as a child.

But of all the scenes in this movie, my favorite would have to be when Peter learns to fly. The scene accompanied with John Williams’ score is extreme, energetic and uplifting. In high school I would listen to this music segment before all of my cross country races.

This movie is much more serious than the majority of children’s movies.

In one scene, Peter’s wife Moira (Caroline Goodall) tells him, “We have a few special years with our children when they’re the ones that want us around. After that you’re going to be running after them for a bit of attention. It’s so fast, Peter. It’s a few years, and it’s over. And you are not being careful.”

Peter’s neglect towards his children is a trait many parents can identify with.

Overall, this movie is terrific — not in a nostalgia kind of way either. It’s one of Williams’ best movies and the story is timeless. Did I mention it has a fat kid being used as a bowling ball? Bangarang.

Rating: A

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