Martin Scorsese brings a story aimed at children to the silver screen, but you walk out from the theater with an adult's perspective on life and themes for quite mature audiences.
Hugo (Asa Butterfield) is a 12 year-old boy who lives in the walls of a train station. He is an orphan who lives life stealing food from the station shops and running the clocks in hopes of not getting caught by the station's inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen). One day, Hugo gets caught stealing mechanical parts from a toy shop run by Georges Melies (Ben Kingsley). He takes his notebook, causing Hugo to become suspicious as to why he became so distraught over it. The notebook contains sketches of a mechanical man that Hugo is repairing in hopes of getting a message from his deceased father and not being so alone in the station. He soon meets Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz), who is Melies's goddaughter and forms a friendship with her. He familiarizes her with the movies and she familiarizes him with the outside world since Hugo watches the lives of the shop workers from the various holes in the clocks kind of like a movie, and doesn't really get to live the life most children get to experience. Teaming up with Isabelle to fix his automaton, they find out many hidden secrets about Melies's previous life and why he feels broken inside. Hugo and Isabelle set out to fix him and we get a very intimate glimpse at the history of early filmdom and the works of George Melies.
I don't think all children will like this film as it is a little bit slow, but the story is one for all ages and it all depends on what kind of spirit a child possesses. If they are into mysteries, adventure and history then this is definitely the movie for them to see.
Filled with many homages to silent films of the early 20th century, the audience gets an exclusive look at the production process of the many works of George Melies and even the very first showing of a film on screen. You gain a very deep appreciation for the many forgotten works of silent films and also their makers who, probably until watching this film, aren't recognized by a wide audience across the globe except for maybe fans and scholars. Their works are essentially the first stepping stones to the blockbusters we get to see today! It was amazing to see how even then, the special effects were pretty sophisticated and realistic and it fascinated me very greatly.
It was a wonderful experience to watch the film in 3D and draw lines between the special effects Melies used and what technology has made possible for today's audience. The acting was absolutely superb, with the most memorable performances being drawn from the charming Asa Butterfield and the Oscar winning Ben Kingsley which looks very much like the real Melies. Sacha Baron Cohen brings a comical touch to the movie with his humorous dialogue and actions. The other shopkeepers and the various happenings in their lives at the train station bring a warm touch to the film and somewhat divert the audience from the dramatic development of the Melies storyline. Jude Law, Christopher Lee and Emily Mortimer play some small but important roles in the story and they are both wonderful in this as well.
The cinematography was absolutely perfect, and Asa's eyes give a haunting accent to the surrounding blues in some of the scenes. Being set in France, I was very convinced of the setting The score of the film is used effectively with emphasis on the events in some of the more dramatic parts and is very French indeed with the significant use of an accordion.
Many themes are touched upon in this story that children may not be able to understand or relate to yet, such as having a purpose in this world because everyone is essentially a working part. There are no extra parts that aren't needed. Everyone has a job to do, and if not being able to do what you love, it makes you feel shattered inside. This is shown by the situation with the automaton and Melies not being able to do what they are meant for.
To sign off, I say it's an intelligent children's film for a change compared to the majority of others that rely mostly on their visuals whereas in this case they add to the story because the film in its basis is very emotional. I highly recommend it to anyone but be warned, the trailer for this is not at all what is shown on screen throughout the movie. Scorsese has proven himself to be a master of film making once again even if the film is rated PG. It's definitely a good way to get kids to see history in the form of a fictional account of certain events, which in turn is exciting and captivating till the end.
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