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Hook (1991) and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

posted 3 years ago by TMC-4 (19425)
10 replies | jump to latest

These two movies are very similar in how they were received by critics and audiences, both good and bad.

Both were financially successful, Grinch being more successful in that department than Hook, while being PANNED by critics. They both received criticism for their over-produced sets and make-up, thin plots, and uneven tones. Many critics think both get by on their high profile filmmakers and performers, while drown in literally every other aspect.

With all that being said, both are considered “classics” to those who saw them at the right age, thinking either is the definitive take on the source material.

Last but not least, they were both somewhat ahead of their time in how they approached their adaptations. Hook is a “sequel reboot” to a classic story and The Grinch is Hollywood taking a beloved property and pumping a huge budget/star into it. These types of adaptations would dominate Hollywood years later.

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/k2b1nx/hook_1991_and_how_the_grinch_stole_christmas_2000/

[–] exithereplease (3553) 3 years ago

Hook was a great 30 minute movie in the opening. The rest was junk.

How about that John Williams score?

My God!

And where are the million dollar pirate ships?

Great set...

[–] samoanjoes (51105) 3 years ago

As much as the first 30 minutes has its problems, it turns into a mess once they get to Neverland.

[–] exithereplease (3553) 3 years ago

Yes it does.

So sad.

But what happened wrong in the first 30 minutes???

Never, neverland was TERRIBLE.

Dustin Hoffman was great (I think).

But the first 30 minutes was a Christmas movie...

Bob Hoskins was also fantastic in a rather silly role.

I like how Spielberg thinks it was 20 years to early to film. He's wrong.

There's nothing CGI can do.

A shitty script is a shitty script. And those casting agents outside of the main cast!!

What were they thinking?

And those sets???

With fully built pirate ships wasted.

[–] samoanjoes (51105) 3 years ago

But what happened wrong in the first 30 minutes?

I posted something similar on another thread, but oh boy, here we go.

1. Peter and his family flew to England for Christmas. How did Hook even know he was there? Did he call the airport from Neverland? How would he even know they were flying to England in the first place?

2. Peter Pan exists in this movie (old Wendy had the book) and Peter still doesn't remember who he was. I find that hard to believe especially when Tootles and Wendy were insanely old and they remember it. Even Tinkerbell remembers it.

3. Peter was once able to fly. When he left Neverland, did he suddenly have the urge to stop flying? The ability to fly exists outside of Neverland, Tinkerbell doing so proves it. And now as an adult Peter is scared of flying.

4. How did Hook and the lost boys even get to England? None of them can fly. Did they dock their huge pirate ship at the coast and hail a cab? How would they even know where he was staying?

5. When the kids got kidnapped and they knew Hook is the one who did it (he left the letter) why would Tootles and Wendy allow them to call the cops? They knew Hook existed. What did they tell the cops? "Some guy with a hook in a fantasy land came here to kidnap his kids and took them back to fantasy land".

[–] exithereplease (3553) 3 years ago

It sounds like Tinkerbell was a spy:

1. Knew the family the was going to England.

Tinkerbell doing so proves it.

...>4. How did Hook and the lost boys even get to England?

Tinkerbell

Tootles and Wendy both called the cops. They're both in the late 80's early 90's. Maybe it's an easy number to dial?

LOL...

I think Tinkerbell hated the entire family and was sent by Hook himself.

Julia Roberts was terrible, terrible to work with in this film.

Who has a hard time working with Steven Spielberg?

Only 1 EVER.

Frankly, I'm surprised so many superstars signed onto the project.

It's obviously a Spielberg failure now so many years later.

[–] samoanjoes (51105) 3 years ago

I saw this movie in the theatre when I was 8 and I remember sitting there thinking "how did Hook get there?" How does Peter not remember who he is? Is that going on happen to me at that age?"

[–] exithereplease (3553) 3 years ago

I'm a few years older than you.

Like most, I enjoyed the first 30 minutes.

I guess I was dumb.

I actually thought this was going to be some sort of horror/thriller film.

Weird. Huh?

All great points.

[–] exithereplease (3553) 3 years ago

Regardless, I still think Robin Williams completely owned the roll and is his best performance.

Also, Dustin Hoffman make a great Captain Hook.

[–] samoanjoes (51105) 3 years ago

Actually I think one of the positives of the film's was that the acting (except Julia Roberts) was actually good.

[–] exithereplease (3553) 3 years ago

Yup. it was.

Hoffman was a great Captain Hook.

And Maggie Smith was delightful coming down the stairs as the old [Wendy] lady.

The cast was great for sure. The ships and all the sets were amazing. The director was/is the greatest ever. The costumes were great. The makeup artist hit it perfectly. The John Williams score was arguably his best.

Did I mention Robin Williams? Dustin Hoffman? Maggie Smith? Bob Hoskins? Julia Roberts?

And it was the most hyped movie of 1991!

I just think the whole thing fell apart after 30 minutes.

And you know watching it now in 2021...the CGI wasn't that bad either.

Everyone who flies in film looks just as fake as it was in 1991.

People just can't seem to fly in the movies...