Hugo [2011] [DVD] [2017]

A very good nostalgic film

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!

Works as should

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!

Bought this as it is one which for so.e reaso. Very rarely co.es onto the TV network. This is a fantastic film. With great acting from the young and more experienced actors who star in it. Would recommend

I had not expected very much of this film, thinking it might be more child's play but was surprised that it mostly concentrated on the early pioneering filmmaker Georges Meleis, and as played by Ben Kingsley, was far the most interesting and well acted part in the film, but then isn't that to be expected from this most versatile and distinguished actor?Asa Butterfield as young Hugo I thought gave an honest performance, neither under or overplayed and thus was also engaging enough for me to see the film to its conclusion.However, the most annoying for me was Sacha Baron Cohen as the station master who despite seemingly to imply a humorous part, relied more on an out of place sloppy London accent and one dimensional character for which might have been more bearable had he used a pseudo French speaking voice.Having said that, the effects, scenic designs and music were perfection, but the pace of many of its scenes {surprisingly for its director Martin Scorsese) sadly slowed any potential of my being taken in more completely, by what seemed a unique way of presenting its subject as well as a tribute to the origins of the filmmakers art.

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.

Really enjoyed this film - had not read the book before seeing it (but have since done so because it so inspired me!), but was totally gripped after the first few scenes. This film is set in Paris and has a very French depth to it (although it is directed by Martin Scorsese), with two main threads running through the story line. The central boy character, Hugo, is like a more up to date Oliver Twist and his efforts to fix a broken clockwork 'robot' draw the viewer in. The other main plot traces the origins of film making itself and is very interesting. This film is a clever mix of the two stories with added humour in the tyrannical station master (Sacha Baron Cohen) and many thrilling scenes to keep the interest. I can thoroughly recommend it as well as the book on which it is based