Helpful Score: 4
This is a odd one. I want to like it more, but I can't. James (the young Capt. Hook) comes across as a right bastard. He puts up with very little shit and gets back his own. And in one sense its a delight to see this in a YA book. In another, its kind of hard to sympathize with him.
I think I put my finger on what I don't care for: Hart sets up James Matthew, to be a right bastard by all accounts (in all senses of the word), but also made him proud, charismatic, intelligent, charming, capable of firendship and love, as well as possessed of a sort of honor. In short, he moves towards the anti-hero category.
However, instead of embracing that, Hart chickens out and softens James' edges a bit. Instead of seeing these traits in the service of the bad guy, he tries to make James good. Especially in the end which is pure hollywood and a let down.
I think I put my finger on what I don't care for: Hart sets up James Matthew, to be a right bastard by all accounts (in all senses of the word), but also made him proud, charismatic, intelligent, charming, capable of firendship and love, as well as possessed of a sort of honor. In short, he moves towards the anti-hero category.
However, instead of embracing that, Hart chickens out and softens James' edges a bit. Instead of seeing these traits in the service of the bad guy, he tries to make James good. Especially in the end which is pure hollywood and a let down.
