Luke Skywalker 1,805 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 Well seeing the debate created by other topic, which movie do you think is worse?Have all things in mind: score, performances, audience it was aimed to... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRuleOfThirds 0 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 The problem with both of them is that Spielberg didn't follow through. Both were supposed to be musicals, but Spielberg caved at the last minute and decided to do away with the musical numbers and just make them into films. They were already formatted and written as musicals, but without the song-and-dance routines, they fall apart as movies. Seriously...if Hook had been a movie all along, it would've given Raiders of the Lost Ark a run for its money. As for 1941...well...it would've just been another war movie. Maybe the failed musical premise is what made it the okay movie it is today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 Both are flawed but watchable films. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock 11 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 Hook has Bob Hoskins and Dustin Hoffman playing an old married couple. That's a heck of a lot more fun to watch than most anything in 1941. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker 5 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 Hook is an unwatchable mess. At least 1941 has the genius of Belushi and several good laughs. Neither is perfect, but only one at least partially succeeds.Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Breathmask 555 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 I have only seen Hook. Last time I saw it, I quite liked, although I wasn't really paying attention to anything but the score, and it's been a while since I last saw it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock 11 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 Hook is an unwatchable mess. At least 1941 has the genius of Belushi and several good laughs. Neither is perfect, but only one at least partially succeeds.Neil 1941 is a mess, and is unwatchable for a good portion of it. It has the genius of Belushi and several good laughs, but Hook has Hoffman and Hoskins in great comic form, and is a wonderful kids adventure. Hook succeeds very well as a kids movie, maybe something lost on someone who was not a kid when they saw it. 1941 is a mess for men, women, and children of all ages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 Hook is a total piece of $#!%. Utter garbage. Its only redeeming feature is Hoffman, but Hoskins is a waste. Of course what do you expect from most Robin Williams films which are mostly bad.1941 is very flawed but very watchable, and less cloying and annoying. As for Hook why not just shoot pure sacharin into your blood stream, you'll get the same effect and the cancer will hit you faster so you'll die quicker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 How about dawgs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Awalt 0 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 Both were supposed to be musicals, but Spielberg caved at the last minute and decided to do away with the musical numbers and just make them into films. They were already formatted and written as musicals, but without the song-and-dance routines, they fall apart as movies. This is not accurate to say at all. "1941" was never written as a musical, nor was "Hook." In the case of "1941," Spielberg second-guessed himself after the fact and said he should have done the film as a musical (something he likely thought of during the production, perhaps), but the screenplay by Zemeckis and Gale was not written as a musical."Hook," again, was not written as a musical either. At one point, the concept of reconfiguring Hart's screenplay into a musical was a serious consideration (grafting on songs from the un-produced Williams/Spielberg "Peter Pan" musical, but the script for "Hook," as developed by Nick Castle and Jim Hart and written by Hart (plus a number of other second-stringers) was not written as a musical. So to base an argument on the fact that the movies "fall apart" like a house of cards due to being gutted musicals isn't fair or correct.I'd say that the real problem, particularly in the case of "Hook," is that Spielberg (for one of the few times in his career) seems like he didn't havea clear conception of what he was after with the film. Both movies come across tonally and narratively unbalanced, but not because they were at one time written as musicals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Awalt 0 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 And I'd gladly watch "1941" any day, flaws and all, over "Hook." Most days, I think I'd rather go to the dentist or a proctologist than watch "Hook," as much as it pains me to say that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker 5 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 And I'd gladly watch "1941" any day, flaws and all, over "Hook." Most days, I think I'd rather go to the dentist or a proctologist than watch "Hook," as much as it pains me to say that.So getting either cavity searches is preferable to Hook?Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 Hook fails because Spielberg forgot what made his last "children's" film, E.T. so brilliant.E.T. has a few soppy, sentimental scenes, but they are perfectly balanced by the moments of darkness and even terror that that film also contains.Hook has no darkness at all, surprisingly in a story that involves the kidnapping of children.The whole film is glazed with a think layer of honey, and you can only eat so much honey.Even Rufio's death is sugarcoated with that whole "I wish I had a father just like you" stuff...The film has other problems, especially concerning it's length and pacing, but it's serious lack of dark undertones is what kills it.It's staggering to think this film comes from the same director of Saving Private Ryan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McClane 1 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 It's staggering to think this film comes from the same director of Saving Private Ryan.Or the Indiana Jones trilogy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QMM 4 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 1941 more than Hook just for the fact that I laughed more, even if it was for the completely wrong things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie_twinkle 48 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 1941 is much more watchable than Hook IMO. It may be a cobbled-together mish-mash of random scenes, but at least it never gets bogged down in its own sentimentality or boring. Plus the visual effects in 1941 are stunning. Now if only someone could do a PROPER job of remastering it! The picture is way too grainy, and the sound is extremely dodgy with too much high-frequency and sounding like it's been through a limiter. The "Jaws" music at the beginning is very hard to hear at first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam 1 Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 I agree with most of the comments about the problems with Hook but its still quite a bit more watchable for me than 1941. Whatever overkill Hook engages in with regard to its sentimentality, 1941 does at least as much in the direction of the whole you're-watching-a-zany-spectacle thing. And way too much of the humor seemed kind of tone-deaf. Some enjoyable scenes but doesn't add up to much for me. Hook is perhaps more cringe-inducing at times, but competent and professional enough in its production value that I could more easily sit through it. A little more of a showcase for Williams which doesn't hurt either.- Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Awalt 0 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 "Hook" does have one good (though not great) moment of darkness and suspense: when the children are "hook-napped" and when the adults come home to find them missing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docteur Qui 1,544 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Listening to the score of Hook by itself it's hard to imagine that some o the truly dark underscore isn't actually carried into film. "Hook-napped" is really the only dark scene as Steven mentioned, but there are plenty of dark moments in the score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RomanticStrings 10 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 I was six when Hook was released, and, from my point of view, it is a far better film than 1941. When I first saw 1941, I enjoyed all of the humor, but it was just way too long for me. It never stopped. As good as the humor was, as well, it seemed oddly shoved into this otherwise "dramatic" movie. It is just a weird film, I believe. However, Hook is very special to me. I was never a huge fan of it until I found out that it was Speilberg/Williams, which I know is redundant . However, that said, I always thought it was a good movie. I can remember singing Hook's theme, making a hook with my finger, and twisting my wrist, like in the movie. My 20-year-old sister loves the film to this day, and I still enjoy it immensly. I have never found one flaw with it. It seems like a perfectly well-made movie, all of the sappiness fitting perfectly with the kind of movie it is. I also enjoy Robin Williams. Hmm, what else...? I always understood the sap, even when I was six. I guess I just really like the movie.~Conor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Again I repeat, Swing, Swing, Swing. Hook has no answer for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRuleOfThirds 0 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Comparing Hook and 1941 is like comparing Sesame Street to SNL. Apples and oranges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,363 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Comparing Hook and 1941 is like comparing Sesame Street to SNL. Apples and oranges.Yes, but they both have one thing in common. Together with Jurassic Park II and Amistad they are Spielberg's lousiest movies. ----------------Alex Cremers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock 11 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Again I repeat, Swing, Swing, Swing. Hook has no answer for that. 'Presenting the Hook' blows it out of the water. It is brilliant in the movie. That one scene alone, coupled with the music, is as fun to watch as anything in 1941. That is such a brilliant JW piece. I've never heard a pirate captured better in music.Comparing Hook and 1941 is like comparing Sesame Street to SNL. Apples and oranges.Yes, but they both have one thing in common. Together with Jurassic Park II and Amistad they are Spielberg's lousiest movies. Surely you mean Jurassic Park II and Always. Amistad is a SEVERLY flawed film (moslty because of the screenplay), but it has it's share of qualities as well. Always is just boring, aside from the footage in the air. Dreyfuss and Hunter sleep walk through it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,363 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 I forgot Always. Oh boy, it's amazing how someone as good as Spielberg can be so bad.----------------Alex Cremers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock 11 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 3 films I don't really like against 18 I do. I'm not complaining. And even in those 3, JPII shows a pulse whenever Pete Postletwaithe is on screen, and there's that score, and 1941 is also watchable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halloran 0 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Hook.But the worst Spileberg´s film is "Something Evil" (1972) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Skywalker 1,805 Posted December 23, 2004 Author Share Posted December 23, 2004 Well anyway, regardless of the Hook bashing, 1941 won the prize.As I suspected, too much ado about nothing.Really you guys bash out loud! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 On this board did you expect anything else, I mean considering the taste of most here who think Empire is better than Star Wars, and that more than half here think A.I. is good or a masterpiece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock 11 Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 On this board did you expect anything else, I mean considering the taste of most here who think Empire is better than Star Wars, and that more than half here think A.I. is good or a masterpiece. You're right, impeccable taste as usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 or lack of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock 11 Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 No, no, I got it right the first time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danielle 0 Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 1941 is a mind-numbing, incoherent and loud mess of nothing. It is as if Spielberg thought big explosions every two seconds would be a good substitute for humour. The only aspect of the film that is remotely bearable is the score.I go with Hook being better. At least it makes a shred of sense at times. I mean considering the taste of most here who think Empire is better than Star WarsErrr, it is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trumpeteer 302 Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 My impulse told me to vote for "Hook." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScratch 294 Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 I voted Hook, '1941' is a misfire but still does contain some good laughs. I want to like 'Hook' so bad, it has all the ingredients of a wonderful family fantasy film. But when I start watching it, I cringe.Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmo Lewis 6 Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 But the worst Spileberg´s film is "Something Evil" (1972)Quite right, Halloran. Quite right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QMM 4 Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 Nothing beats the trailer for 1941."You walk down the street and all the billboards are in JAPANESE!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 Hook.But the worst Spileberg´s film is "A.I" (2001)couldn't have said it better myself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock 11 Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 Supposedly you did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Skywalker 1,805 Posted December 24, 2004 Author Share Posted December 24, 2004 On this board did you expect anything else, I mean considering the taste of most here who think Empire is better than Star Wars, and that more than half here think A.I. is good or a masterpiece.Of course the minority reports are the important thing here, then?Oh wait, you aslo dont like MR, sorry for the comparison...Then the Prequels must by masterpieces for the same reason... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 Amistad was a snooze.Always was pretty good. I don't know why people bash it.1941 was good because I like explosions.Hook was okay. I've got nothing against it.The Lost World: Jurassic Park was flawed but was still fun.A.I. - Artificial Intelligence was part Spielberg perfection, part Kubrick-WTF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesie 1 Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 As my past spirted defenses of Hook have stated, if you looove kids... or even like them... then you will like Hook because it is an excellent film, directed towards kids. If it had tried to be serious then it wouldn't have been as much of a classic as it is with families today. So it's a great family film... Give it credit for that, if anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 On this board did you expect anything else, I mean considering the taste of most here who think Empire is better than Star Wars, and that more than half here think A.I. is good or a masterpiece.Of course the minority reports are the important thing here, then?Oh wait, you aslo dont like MR, sorry for the comparison...Then the Prequels must by masterpieces for the same reason...Luke, I like Minority Report, I own the dvd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRuleOfThirds 0 Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 I think The Lost World is Spielberg's worst movie. With 1941 and Hook, there are aspects that entertain me and keep me reasonably interested. TLW puts me to sleep. It doesn't have any kind of fresh energy pushing the film through the projector and it's gets boring watching the dinosaurs do the same thing--eat people--all the time. At least with the first film, you had some scenes that played with the concept of bringing dinosaurs into a realistic environment (i.e. the scene in the kitchen) aside from the nonstop feeding frenzy with transition scenes in between courses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock 11 Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 I'll tune in to The Lost World just for Pete Postletwaithe. He's in fine B movie form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,363 Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 According to a still ongoing survey at The-Movie-Times, the worst Spielberg movies are:5. Amistad (250 votes)4. Always (428 votes)3. The Lost World (483 votes)2. A.I. (533 votes)1. Hook (714 votes)It seems that in order to make a successful movie you better don't start your movie title with an "A".----------------Alex Cremers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon R. 10 Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 1941. I actually quite like Hook. I also really enjoy Always and A.I.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Skywalker 1,805 Posted December 26, 2004 Author Share Posted December 26, 2004 According to a still ongoing survey at The-Movie-Times, the worst Spielberg movies are:5. Amistad (250 votes)4. Always (428 votes)3. The Lost World (483 votes)2. A.I. (533 votes)1. Hook (714 votes)It seems that in order to make a successful movie you better don't start your movie title with an "A".----------------Alex CremersIn that list i consider some movies to be better than 1941.They may do not count it as a movie... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 I think the Last Crusade is a bottom feeder too, its really weak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McClane 1 Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 HOW DARE YOU SAID THAT TO AN INDY FILM?!?!?! It must be a typing error or something... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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