Visually intoxicating, but still a Kid's movie at heart

Rating: Null/10 (15 August 2013)

Martin Scorsese has my respect for leaving his comfort zone of Boston or period pieces in his directing turn of Hugo, a family fantasy-epic. His direction is quite good, but Hugo's real delight is the technical work behind the scenes. When I started watching Hugo, the idea passed through my head that maybe this was animated film because of the elaborate way the film looked and was dressed. It has a rich costume design, jaw-dropping sets, and cinematography with color that bounces of the screen. Scorsese takes family movie clichés and fills them with blood, making them alive again in a fresh manner. I didn't find much special about the film's writing and its performances are adequate at best. Hugo, while visually intoxicating, is still a kid's movie at heart.
Rating: 6/10
Grade: B-