" Don't forget to smile. " " Which one? I've mastered three! "

Hugo

The legendary Martin Scorsese steps into a new genre with Hugo, displaying his versatility and skill as a filmmaker. The film chronicles a young orphan, Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) who lives in a train station in 1930s France. Hugo uses the skill and knowledge passed down to him by his father to wind the clocks in the station and patiently repair an automaton. The automaton proves to be an intriguing link between a toy shop owner in the station (Ben Kingsley) and the pioneering French filmmaker Georges Melies. Hugo risks everything to fix the intriguing automaton including evading the vigilant Station Inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen) and his ferocious dog Blackie.

Scorsese is one the best filmmakers going around today and one of the best filmmakers of all time. He is best known for his gritty gangster dramas but proves that he has much more to offer. From the breathtaking opening scene that transports the viewer through the station, the care and respect that has gone into every shot is evident. Scorsese hasn't made a halfhearted 'children's' movie he has created a movie rich with beauty and lasting imagery. The film has a Dickens feel to it as Hugo scurries through the walls of the station similarly to Oliver Twist. However the film offers no feeling of filth or poverty, instead the film adopts a magical presence as Hugo watches passengers flow through the station through clocks and windows from above.

I went into the film with high expectations due to its success at this years Oscars, however I was still unsure whether it was a children's movie or not. I think children would enjoy it for the most part but in essence this is a fairy tale for older viewers. Despite the beauty of the film the film does lack depth. I was left uninterested during the middle of the film as the pace slowed and the story dragging on just a bit too far. I think for this reason that many children will lose interest in the film as it stretches to nearly two hours long and is told in a classical approach.

The film acts as a homage to filmmakers with the groundbreaking filmmaker Georges Melies at the heart of the story. Many of his films are woven into the movie including Arrival of a Train at a Station and A Trip to the Moon. The history was very interesting to me but for children the references would be lost and the sequence be perceived as boring. A prominent theme emerges from the movie involving the power of film to capture your imagination, evoke powerful emotions, display beauty and transport you to another world. I am a lover of films and appreciate Scorsese's message but the admiration seemed to be taken too far, taking away from the story of Hugo.

Scorsese attracted an abundance of stars for the film from Hollywood royalty with Sir Ben Kingsley and Christopher Lee to highly sought after up-and-comers Asa Butterfield and Chloe Grace Moretz. Moretz has impressed with performances exceeding her age in films such as Kick Ass and Let Me In however I wasn't impressed with her performance. Maybe my expectations were too high for her because of the potential she showed in those films, but one thing is for certain she will definitely be a star.  Butterfield and Kingsley both provided strong performances that carried the film. Other notable actors who appear include; Ray Winstone as Hugo's drunk uncle Claude, Emily Mortimer as the beaming florist, Helen McCrory, Richard Griffiths and Jude Law as Hugo's father. But perhaps the best performance comes from Sacha Baron Cohen, who proves to be very charming and entertaining as the Station Inspector.

The film has a magical almost poetical feel to it, set to the beautiful backdrop of 1930s France. Hugo is deserving of its multiple Oscar wins as it is a beautiful film that has been created with care and restraint. The film will be greatly appreciated by lovers of early film but for many I feel it will be too slow. I appreciated the films visual charm however was left wanting more substance and depth.