Hugo [2011] [DVD]

This superb movie, set in 1931, has it all - interesting characters (some of whom actually existed), unusual locations, great music and world class acting. The cast includes many big names and the director is the legendary Martin Scorsese. The special effects, both visual and aural, are exceptional with 3-D that is realistic without being overdone. Asa Butterfield plays the neglected and unwanted orphan Hugo Cabret with remarkable sensitivity and composure, a faultless performance worthy of an Oscar in my opinion. Hugo lives secretly in the Gare Montparnasse (a railway station in Paris), where he looks after the clocks. His biggest problem is the prowling station inspector, a cruel and obsessive man who likes nothing better than to catch homeless orphans, trap them in a cage and then hand them over to the local orphanage, which by all accounts is not a good place to be. But he is also clumsy and inept and he provides the film with much humour. The inimitable Sacha Baron Cohen does the honours here and he is on top form! Hugo's unhappy existence begins to change when he befriends Isabelle(Chloe Grace Moretz), a precocious but caring girl whose Godfather is an old man who owns a kiosk in the station and whose hidden but interesting past is destined to be rediscovered.(He is played by Ben Kingsley, one of our finest character actors).Jude Law appears briefly as Hugo's father in a flashback scene and Christopher Lee,looking as menacing as ever, is actually an amiable librarian and one of the few people to show Hugo any respect or kindness. I don't want to reveal too much about the plot, but there is a happy ending, unlike one of Asa's previous films,"The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas",whose closing scenes are the most heartbreaking and disturbing I have ever seen. "Hugo" is a hugely enjoyable and often surprising movie with a complex storyline that gradually draws you in. Brilliant and refreshingly different!

I love this film, it's a beautifully made, uplifting period piece that celebrates the magic of cinema and one of it's earliest pioneers. An intelligent and beautifully constructed plot weaves fact and fiction into a hugely enjoyable historical entertainment. Based on the illustrated novel “The Invention Of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick it brings the characters and Paris settings to life and highlights the work of Georges Méliès who appears as a character, played by Ben Kingsley. The cast is uniformly excellent, the photography and special effects colourful and well-realised, making this a very pleasurable family film. Although this was made with 3D in mind it works very well in conventional screening – though it benefits from viewing on the largest screen you can find. The DVD release presents a sharp, well-mastered transfer in 16x9 ratio; there are English SDH subtitles. There's a decent selection of extras including a “making of”, a short piece on Méliès, a look at the effects, a piece on the automaton featured in the movie and a short consideration of Sacha Baron Cohen's role in the film. Warmly recommended.

Richard Adams of "Watership Down" fame said something like "If you ask some one 'Did you read this book?' and they answer 'No, but I saw the film.', they may as well say 'No, but I had breakfast this morning.' They are that different." OK, quote not perfect, but you get the idea. So, do not compare this film with the book which is itself a delight with its unusual format and structure. It was clear that big changes were necessary to make a movie, so you have just to accept that. So, to the film. It looks marvellous, and works in 2-d beautifully, unlike some movies which need 3D because they don't have a plot. Here, there are scenes that will clearly be more dramatic in 3-d, but I managed quite nicely. There are some nice little homages to early cinema. The renditions of Melies' work and his movies are marvellous. Several pleasant little sub-stories are woven in. The cast all do what's required, even if there are no acting Oscars coming here. Ben Kingsley is a joy to watch as usual. The basic story of challenged orphan with a mission is not new, but done well enough; predictable hurdles are overcome in familiar style. I'm far from being a big Scorsese fan, but there are a number of things I enjoy in his CV. I cannot think of a single negative thing to say about this movie; the two hour running time just flies past, and for the first time, I enjoyed watching Sacha Baron Cohen. And yet, it's perhaps not involving enough to earn five stars, but a very solid 4. Don't listen to the naysayers; if you're a sucker for simple joyful storytelling, young or old, just watch it. Charming, delightful, delicious- all those words and a few more. When I've re-read the book, and given this a second watching, I may up this to five stars.

A delightful family friendly fantasy film. Great cast, well acted. In my opinion it's well worth watching.

It presents such a wonderful story with great drama, excitement and also human kindness. The actors are well chosen and the two youngsters give great performances. The locations and sets are exceptiomal as are the clockwork machinery and the automaton human form. Now a classic of course and thoroughly enjoyable!

Hugo is a gorgeous storybook experience, best viewed in the intended 3D format. In short - I found the story intriguing and compelling, and the visuals from beginning to end absolutely stunning. I also feel that this is a benchmark 3D film to compare others to. This film tells the stories of an orphaned boy (Hugo) and an old man (Georges), both broken by the pains of their past. In order to move forward they must discover how they are connected to each other. The backdrop is 1930s Paris, in a big train station they both work at. The overall story is robust, following not only the boy and the old man's journey, but also the supporting comic relief stories of the train station's residents; The station inspector who needs to soften his heart, A tea shop lady with a dog that drives off her admirers, and one of those admirers who never gives up, in spite of the protective dog. The film creates a feeling of storybook enchantment and though there are painful moments for Hugo and Georges, getting past those hard times is what its all about. The actors give their all, every one of them owned their role and made it real. Even the station inspector played by Sacha Baron Cohen, though the silliest character, gets the viewer to feel for him. There is another interesting character in the film but its not a person or an animal; it is The Movies and their history. Sure, some artistic license is taken to tell a story about our love of The Movies but the essence of that love is what comes across. With 3D cinematography, the atmosphere of each scene is emphasized, not ignored; Jets and wisps of steam coming from hard-working pipes, dust motes floating in the air, and lightly falling snow are a few amazing examples. Looking to the bigger 3D picture of large, deep settings like the train station, these particles and elements make the illusion of place complete. What the viewer sees is a detailed look at a world from the past, given the polish and shine of fond memory, movie magic, and the depth of 3D camera work. Color is used to direct the viewer's eyes by making the main set-pieces lush and vivid, with more subdued tones in the surrounding scenery. Each scene is an illustration brought to life, with a touch of stylization making for the storybook feel. I highly recommend an annual repeat viewing of Hugo. It recharges nostalgia, reminds us to keep a sense of wonder and even teaches us a little something about the earliest movies.

3D映画が見たくなったので購入しました。 一度2Dで見ているのですが、全然違うものとして楽しめました。 3Dとしては『ラプンツェル』の評価が高いと思うのですが、こちらの方が立体感があると思いました。 映像的にただスゴイで終わるのではなく、ストーリーも秀逸ですので最後までしっかり見れます。 また、この映画は音響も優れているので、知名度は低いかもわかりませんが、隠れた(？)名作ではないでしょうか。 子どもから大人まで楽しめます。

Tout était parfait 👍 Merci pour l’envoi rapide 🙏

See the trailer. If you find it interesting, you will love the movie. My wife and I first saw it in 2D. We loved it so much we bought the 3D version a few days later and watched it again. Wonderful, wonderful!

Hugo is based on a book called "The Invention of Hugo Cabret". Hugo is an orphan who lives within the walls of a Paris train station, keeping numerous clocks wound up. The reason he does this is because he doesn't want anyone to know that his uncle has left him alone (the uncle was supposed to be taking care of the clocks), and the station policeman is always looking for orphans to take to an orphanage. Hugo is also finishing a project that he and his father were working on before his father was killed in a fire. An automaton. There is a mystery about the automaton, and Hugo is determined to solve it. Even without the intriguing story, Hugo is worthwhile viewing just for the magnificent visual effects, creative sets and amazing photography, At times, the story seems to be taking place in an antique French painting, the colours are so stunning. The music aptly fits every scene and adds to the mysteriousness of the movie. There is a visually dramatic dream sequence to take your breath away. The storyline manages to take us into the birth of the film industry through the advanced technology and genius of what is produced today. Superb performances by all the actors contribute greatly to the success of this movie. There is one scene that alludes to sexual "relations" and becoming pregnant, but it's brief and not explained. I would recommend this movie for teens and adults. Younger children might be fascinated with the special effects, but I wouldn't expect they would understand much of the storyline.