Hugo

Hugo is Martin Scorsese's tribute to film and filmmaking. It is ostensibily a children's movie, but I seriously think children and especially teenagers should be banned from this film. They just don't get it. My teenaged son, who went with me, thought it was a lovely looking film, and moderately interesting, but he got lost and didn't understand Hugo's motivation.

I, on the other hand, who has seen three period pieces in a row, saw from the opening frame that this was a craftsman's film. Paris in the 1920s is so detailed and beautiful that your eyes just eat up the scenery. Sometimes it is hard to focus on what is going on on screen for what is happening and just is, in the background.

Hugo (Asa Butterfield heartbreaking in the Boy In The Striped Pyjamas) has these beautiful, wonderous, innocent big eyes that are so expressive. He loses his father (Jude Law) and is taken into "care" by his uncle Claude (Ray Winstone) who mends clocks. Claude disappears, but Hugo continues to live in a Paris train station and mend the clocks. He has a book of his father's which details the automaton he is working on.

Hugo runs into Mr. Melies (Ben Kingsley) who sees the book and takes it away from him and proceeds to taunt Hugo with when he can have it back. Mr. Melies has a granddaughter Isabelle (Chloe Moretz - Hit Girl in Kick Ass - best role EVER) who helps Hugo.

It transpires that Mr. Melies used to direct films before WWI, but finds that he is left behind when soldiers who have seen the horrors of the world are not interested in his movies anymore. He gives up filmmaking and burns most of his sets, film stock, etc. It is heartbreaking.

What then follows is a loving journey tracing the birth of film.

Martin Scorsese has an interesting cast of characters including Sacha Baron Cohen as the Stationmaster with a mean Doberman, Emily Mortimer as the flower seller he is in love with. Madame Emily and Monsieur Frick also have a lovely subplot.

You know that it will all end happily, but the film doesn't half lead you on a merry dance to get there.

Take your children if you must, but better to leave them at home and go and see Hugo at an evening show in 2D - no need for 3D.

P.S. I've just listened to Kermode and Mayo's film reviews, and I may go and see Hugo again in 3D as it appears this is an integral part of the story.