Little Women/Hook

Starring:Winona Ryder, Gabriel Byrne, Trini Alvarado, Samantha Mathis, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes, Christian Bale, Eric Stoltz, John Neville, Mary Wickes, Susan Sarandon, Florence Patterson, Robin Collins, Corrie Clark, Rebecca Toolan, Curt Willington, Billie Pleffer, Louella Pleffer, Janne Mortil, Sarah Strange
Director: Gillian Armstrong, Steven Spielberg
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Hook
Steven Spielberg's deeply flawed but sporadically fun and moving update of the Peter Pan legend stars Robin Williams as the grown-up Pan, a corporate-takeover type who must embrace his old identity in order to save his kids from Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman). The stars put on a good show, including Hoffman's read of Hook's hysterical personality, Julia Roberts mini-turn as a tiny Tinker Bell, and Maggie Smith's touching performance as the aged Wendy. The visual contrast between the adult Pan's bustling outside world and the insulated fantasy of Neverland is striking, but Spielberg's ideas about the Lost Boys--politically correct in their ethnic diversity, energetic on skateboards--are contrived and cheapening. On the plus side, the story's theme about adults finding their innocence again through their children is very touching (though some people have found it cloying). If you can look beyond the glaring problems, there's plenty to like here. --Tom Keogh

Amazon.com

Hook
Steven Spielberg's deeply flawed but sporadically fun and moving update of the Peter Pan legend stars Robin Williams as the grown-up Pan, a corporate-takeover type who must embrace his old identity in order to save his kids from Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman). The stars put on a good show, including Hoffman's read of Hook's hysterical personality, Julia Roberts mini-turn as a tiny Tinker Bell, and Maggie Smith's touching performance as the aged Wendy. The visual contrast between the adult Pan's bustling outside world and the insulated fantasy of Neverland is striking, but Spielberg's ideas about the Lost Boys--politically correct in their ethnic diversity, energetic on skateboards--are contrived and cheapening. On the plus side, the story's theme about adults finding their innocence again through their children is very touching (though some people have found it cloying). If you can look beyond the glaring problems, there's plenty to like here. --Tom Keogh

Little Women (1994)
The flaws are easily forgiven in this beautiful version of Louisa May Alcott's novel. A stirring look at life in New England during the Civil War, Little Women is a triumph for all involved. We follow one family as they split into the world, ending up with the most independent, the outspoken Jo (Winona Ryder). This time around, the dramatics and conclusions fall into place a little too well, instead of finding life's little accidents along the way. Everyone now looks a bit too cute and oh, so nice. As the matron, Marmee, Susan Sarandon kicks the film into a modern tone, creating a movie alive with a great feminine sprit. Kirsten Dunst (Interview with the Vampire) has another showy role. The young ensemble cast cannot be faulted, with Ryder beginning the movie in a role akin to light comedy and crescendoing to a triumphant end worthy of an Oscar. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

Little Women.......2001-12-01

I love Little Women at Christmas. The DVD is wonderful. You can play just the soundtrack. I wish there were more DVDs out there like that.
Hook is good too!

GREAT COMBO!.......2000-08-31

My sister gets the LITTLE WOMEN flick. I got HOOK which is the ROBIN WILLIAMS, DUSTIN HOFFMAN, BOB HOSKIN's verion. Unlike what critic above says, HOOK is great. It is not and does not suggest that it is word-for-word the Peter Pan Tale. IT is an original fantasy that suggests what Peter Pan might be like after he has come back to reality and is now grown-up with his own kids. It's funny, creative, lovable for the whole family!

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Dan Haggerty

Standard Deviants: Shakespeare Tragedies -

Perfect Witness (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Stella Dallas

Popeye - All New Cartoons - Olive Oyl's Army