Movie

Am I ever glad I did! This is a sweet and gentle tale, full of unexpected warmth and depth. It is the story of Hugo Cabret, an orphan and keeper of the clocks at a train station in Paris. His only connection to his deceased father is a broken-down automaton the two were repairing before his father's demise in a fire. When Hugo is caught stealing parts for the automaton by the old owner of a toy shop in the station (Kingsley), his booklet of sketches related to the curious mechanical man is taken from him. Attempting to retrieve it, he meets Isabelle, the goddaughter of the aged man. Together, they begin to unravel the mystery behind Kingsley's character and help bring his true identity to light.
(It shouldn't be that much of a surprise to anyone with knowledge of early film history that has a chance to look at the cast list here on IMDb. Does the name "Georges Méliès" ring any bells?) Asa Butterfield does capably in the title role, and Chloe Grace Moretz shines sublimely as the precocious Isabelle. Of course, Ben Kingsley gives a terrific performance, powerful and poignant. He plays a broken man anguished by the shadows of the past.

These three are the central figures of the film, yet the side characters are handled equally well. That really struck me. A lesser filmmaker might have let such characters come off as just caricatures, especially in a children's film. Scorsese doesn't allow for that to happen. Richard Griffiths', Frances de la Tour's and Christopher Lee's characters are all skillfully imbued with humanity so that the audience feels for them and seems to get to know them in spite of their short periods on screen. Even Sacha Baron Cohen's silly Station Inspector is more than a one-dimensional figure. In between his cartoonish antics and chases after Hugo, he is shown to be painfully shy, pining desperately for the affections of an attractive woman who sells flowers. We learn also that he was wounded in World War I, and that it was his days growing up without love in the strict environment of an orphanage that so embittered him towards the world. He is not merely some comic antagonist tossed in for the sake of slapstick. Instead, he is a fascinating and well-developed character in his own right. One feels compassion and pity for him, and hopes he will have the courage to speak up and win the heart of his love, that their quirky relationship will blossom into romance.

Buy This Movie

In short, this is a simply lovely film. There has been some uproar and befuddlement over the director of such films as "Taxi Driver" and "Goodfellas" making a 'children's movie'. I must admit I was a little abashed myself upon first hearing it. But "Hugo" shows that a so-called children's movie doesn't have to be inane or infantile. This is an intelligent and wondrous work – never sappy or banal. In part a tribute to the magic of cinema, it reminded me why I love motion pictures so much. With its richness and nuance, "Hugo" should appeal to children and adults alike. I realize that saying sounds a little clichéd, but in this case I have faith in the truth of it.

The 3-D effects of this period movie while not perfect are superior in quality and add to the brilliance and visual impact of the solid, personal and intimate and focused storyline. Whether or not its a technological problem, the most noticeable weakness of the film is the failure to capture the enhanced ambiance of the 3-D potential of the vapor and mist that seemed to be found in many of the scenes in Hugo. Nevertheless the fusion of actual historical characters, the use of 3-D to recall the earliest days of cinema combined with mystery drama of this movie results in a remarkable captivating movie plot that involves the audience on the number of levels - visually, auditory (with notable sound differentials between speakers), clear and singular plot without distracting subplots. The implicit fantasy genre elements of this movie actually are more realized in reality and magic than in sci-fi or fantasy as part of the storyline itself which in some ways makes this movie even more remarkable and involving because of its actual possibilities as an authentic event. The weakness part of the movie occurred toward the end of the movie with the train station's guard who at the last minute makes a decision which appeared to be more based on another character's presence then his own which significantly reduces the emotive and ethical impact of the scene.

Happy Feet 2 review Happy Feet 2 Photo galery

The two 3-D scenes of the faces of at different times of the station guard and Kingsley are perhaps some of the finest uses of 3-D yet in its achievement of visual clarity and enhancement to cinema since 3-D came into its own. The additional fascinating element of the craftsmanship, the building and fixing and repairing of objects that has seemed to have gone of out fashion in today's contemporary throw away society of printers and consumables makes for both a traditional but enlightening and uplifting moral tale. This is a story of our time using the past, the good parts of it unlike perhaps Charles Dickens. With elements from A.I. (2001), Polar Express (2004) the fairy tale that becomes real makes for a truly memorable movie. 

Aardman movies are great, and that first drew me to what I had presumed was a children's film. A huge surprise, though, that this was a wonderfully "deep" and richly textured movie for adults. In fact, I would be surprised if a very young child would enjoy it much. Under 10s may find a bit of color and a few sight gags, but I don't see them understanding the humor or the references.

I am fondly nostalgic toward the old style Claymation animation Ardman was famous for- but it was not really missed here. The subtle wit and meaningful humanity came through just fine without it. For me, Christmas films about Christmas being spilt or other evils befalling the Santa myth are tiresome. But here all of that merely stood in for a genuine and engaging story that I actually related to.

SPOILER ALERT--- I may be opening myself to ridicule here, but I found the moment Grandsanta and his one old reindeer (he's 136 years old, we are told, and the reindeer is equally ancient, living a life of creaky disability) purposely stopping the sleigh and awaiting certain death and destruction, just to insure the safety of his sons' mission very touching. I know, sounds silly even to me now when I write it, but their sacrifice was depicted without fanfare, and without irony, and felt very real. It was as touching and moving an example of devoting oneself to something bigger, and sacrificing "all" for the sake of others as I have ever seen in any war movie. Sometimes the most affecting heroism is the simplest.

Overall, I, an older adult, loved this movie very much. I plan to see it again, but without any grandchildren or nieces or nephews in tow. Not from selfishness, but because the little ones just wouldn't get it, and it's such a delight, and such an inspiration, that I would want to enjoy it fully myself. And I wouldn't take a lady friend to this film, because I would be embarrassed to have her see me tear up.

Buy This Cristmasmovie

Aardman Animation, home of claymation classics Wallace And Gromit and Chicken Run, first turned their attention to CGI features with Flushed Away. They now return to CGI, with the addition of 3D, in Arthur Christmas. Santa Claus is an hereditary role, it seems, with the current Santa - Malcolm Christmas - on the point of retiring. His older son Stephen masterminds the entire Santa operation from a high tech mission control, with his father on board an enormous craft which has long since superseded the low-tech sleigh, and thousands of elves both on the ship and back at base. Precuupied with logistics and the expectation of inheriting the Santa role, he is a bit humorless and single-minded. Younger son Arthur, however, loves everything about Christmas. Unfortunately, he is incredibly clumsy which is why he has been sidelined to the Letters Department, where he writes wonderful letters back to children. On this particular Christmas Eeve, Steve has signed off on another successful mission and everyone has settled down after their Christmas dinner, when it comes to light that a gift has been left behind - a child has been forgotten. Steve is inclined to shrug his shoulders - the percentage error is minuscule. But Arthur, mindful of the fact that this misses the whole point of Christmas, determines to deliver the present, and sets off on an unauthorised delivery by old-fashioned sleigh power, accompanied by long-retired GrandSanta.

I watched the first five minutes of this in dismay.
The chaotic, frantic business of the Christmas Eve mission is portrayed equally chaotically and frantically, in long swooping camera shots with constant frenetic action and gags coming so thick and fast that you simply can't keep up with them. It is almost impossible to follow and, while it may reward re-watching when the DVD comes out, it is not a good way to start the film. Slowing the action down by half would have helped greatly. But then, once the madness is over and the film proper starts, I found myself in the middle of a movie which charmed me immediately and, ultimately, filled me with joy.

Happy Feet 2 review Happy Feet 2 Photo galery

This film will become a Christmas classic. It is full of outstanding visuals, entertaining characters, terrific voice work (especially Bill Nighy's GrandSanta), and lots of little unexpected gags and touches which are constant delights. There is suspense, family relationships, joy, disappointment, excitement, spectacle, lots of laughs, and a profound spirit of Christmasness. And the 3D is terrific. It isn't perfect - the overcooked start shows that, and James McAvoy's Arthur is sometimes just a bit too shrill. But in all other respects this is a wonderful, wonderful film, and I recommend it highly. Incidentally, 3 days after originally posting this, I cannot believe that this is still the only review posted.