Movies.ie

• Critic rating
• Currently 4/5 Stars.

Movies.ie Critic Review

A Paris train station in the early 1930s, and little orphan boy Hugo (Butterfield) is secretly living behind the walls, maintaining the clocks, and avoiding the station inspector (Cohen, channeling The Child Catcher and Inspector Closeau).

Hugo is also desperate to finish repairing the automaton his father (Jude Law, in a mercifully short flashback) rescued just before his death. Hugo believes this writing robot will have a message for him from his late father, and to find out what it is, he’s willing to steal the parts he needs. Mainly from the station’s toy store, run by a sad and angry old man (Kingsley) and his wide-eyed young daughter, Isabelle (Moretz).

THE VERDICT: An adaptation of Brian Selznick’s illustrated novel The Invention Of Hugo Cabret (cleverly optioned by Graham King and Johnny Depp months before its publication in January 2007), Scorsese’s first foray into 3D is ostensibly a family film, but Hugo is just as much an exploration of the power of cinema and the lost legacy of seminal French filmmaker Georges Méliès, a pioneer of early cinema. The film may start off as though Jean-Pierre Jeunet was rewriting Harry Potter, but Méliès’ story is the true beating heart of Scorsese’s film. That’s when proceedings take a distinctly Cinema Paradiso turn, and, if you’re a true lover of film – or just someone with a soul – the finale should bring a tear to your eye.

Review by Paul Byrne 

• Avg User rating
• Currently 3/5 Stars.

User Reviews

• • Currently 2/5 Stars.

  Mr_Twist

  

  Nice to look at - too long - hard to see what all the fuss is about but its one to keep the kids quiet for a while

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  jony_dols

  

  I found Scorsese's love letter to film to be aesthetically beautiful, but also lacking in the storytelling panache that's the hallmark of his own movies. The film's pacing is uneven and I was nearly tempted to fast forward through the flabby middle-section; it doesn't ruin the experience, but Chloe Moretz's irritating performance nearly does. Despite these flaws, it's still a good film that begs to be watched on a big 3DTV.

• • Currently 2/5 Stars.

  Onionhead

  

  The matic potency and cinematic virtuosity -- the production was designed by Dante Ferretti and photographed by Robert Richardson -- can't conceal a deadly inertness at the film's core

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  Doomofman

  

  I had no idea what to expect going into this. Was totally surprised by the Méliès link. It's a nice looking film for the most part, but some of the more grand shots are obviously cheated with CGI, which is unfortunate and surprising for Marty. Both child actors do great jobs in this.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  daverooney

  

  A great homage to classic cinema

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  Hadouken65

  

  Haven't seen a family movie done like this since the 90's. Very well made with non-grating child actors.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  mart

  

  Hugo may not be entirely successful as a children's film, but as the culmination of a lifetime love of the pure magic of film, this movie is a gift to be treasured and revisited.

• • Currently 5/5 Stars.

  WildRose86

  

  Absolutely stunning! A beautifully made, shot, decent child actors and has plenty of heart! I wasn't expecting such a journey and look at the director Georges Méliès legendary films. A lovely look at the history of film with some qualty characters and 3D. Simply splendid. Probably not the best for kiddy winks though!

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  JDX

  

  brought my 11yr old cousin to see this film in 3D, we both thoroughly enjoyed this film, great 3D experience, and more then just a "kids" film.. just a good storyline that keeps you captivated, although a little long for bringing younger children at 2hrs long.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  breneddery

  

  A beautiful film. It glows. The cinematography is amazing, giving every scene a golden tinge that seems to warm the heart and gives a sepia contrast to the light and dark aspects of the story. Great acting and cast. Only faults I could find where that 1. the film runs over 2 hrs so a bit long for young kids 2. The story in the end just isn't actually that relevant to Hugo himself and the characters in the train station and is more about Monsieur Melier. It just seems to miss something to tie Hugo and his father to the story. Regardless the story still holds it own and the film is just a visual delight. I sat with my daughter and saw her empathise with everything happening in the film, her eyes lighting up and really feeling this film. A testament to this was that she sat still for the whole thing, something which isn't usually possible even for the best of children's films. Its been a while since I have seen a family film with this much substance.

• • Currently 5/5 Stars.

  vu1999uk

  

  Wonderful, wonderful movie. Not at all what i was expecting, but an absolutely fantastic film. Beautifully shot, with a great storyline that deals with the wonders of early film making. Cast is universally excellent. Highly recommmended.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  filmbuff2011

  

  Martin Scorsese indulges his lifelong passion for cinema with this gorgeous, charming and heartfelt love letter to the silver screen. While it may look and feel like a children's film, it isn't really. Like Pan's Labyrinth, it's a film about children but with adults in mind. Hugo, a lonely boy in a Paris train station, befriends a bitter old man who he later discovers to be cinema's great fantasist, Georges Melies. He gradually helps him to connect with his past, as we take a journey with Hugo into the early days of cinema... It will certainly be too sophisticated for younger children, but older children and adults will enjoy the recreation of a bygone era (though the English accents do seem out of place). Perhaps those who will enjoy it the most are film buffs like myself, who will no doubt appreciate the spotlight on the distant Melies, one of cinema's earliest special effects pioneers. Highly recommended.