"Second star to the right, and straight on `till morning." That is exactly where this magical score sends me to every listen. Williams' magical scoring touch graces every second of HOOK. I say magical because the music here is upbeatly enchanting and the depth John Williams gives the score is wondrous. The score begins with the now famous "Prologue" which is the main theme to HOOK. It stands up against the older swashbuckler themes in equal or greater quality.

John Williams, with HOOK, has composed some of the greatest themes of his career. The main theme, mentioned previously, is noticeable throughout. The next theme belongs to the portions of the movie that encompass the relationship between Peter and Tinkerbell. Flowingly beautiful, the music is quite heartfelt and elegant. Next up is the Lost Boys' theme. Well, there really is no discernable theme to speak of. Let's just say the music encompassing the Lost Boy scenes has a very recognizable sound and are always a fun listen.

One of my favorite scenes from the movie also has some of the most captivating music on the whole album. The track that I'm referring to is "Remembering Childhood." Eager strings kickstart the driving tone for the baseball game backdrop. The highlight here appears nearly 6 minutes in during the scene where Tink discovered the lost, baby Peter. If you're still unsure about this score, there are two stellar tracks that make the entire album worth its price. "You Are the Pan" and "Farewell Neverland" are, in my eyes, triumphs of modern film scoring. Both are immense in scale and the vocal chorus performances in each are powerhouses of heavenly emotion.

HOOK, next to FAR and AWAY, is my favorite of John Williams' many scores. Its myriad of themes nearly rival the number found in his own RETURN of the JEDI. One of the many keys to HOOK's success is mainly due to the previous statement above. John Williams took the intelligent approach of briefly showcasing each theme consistently which always keeps the score on its toes. This score is also unique because it has a sound almost nothing like his other scores. Timeless in its content and flawless in its delivery, this is music that old Captain Hook might even grow fond of.

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Running Time: approx. 75 min.

1. Prologue
2. We Don't Want to Grow Up --song
3. Banning Back Home
4. Granny Wendy
5. Hook-napped
6. The Arrival of Tink and the Flight to Neverland
7. Presenting the Hook
8. From Mermaids to Lost Boys
9. The Lost Boy Chase
10. Smee's Plan
11. The Banquet
12. The Never-Feast
13. Remembering Childhood
14. You are the Pan
15. When You're Alone --song
16. The Ultimate War
17. Farewell Neverland