Chix Chat on Film review: Lives collide in a French train station.

Rating: 8/10 (29 November 2011)

Since I was not familiar with the book, I can't say that I was excited about Hugo, nor was I anxiously awaiting its release, what I was feeling was curiosity about the story's plot and how would the story be handled by Martin Scorsese given that I knew it was nothing like the films he had previously directed. I sat through the first half hour of this film with absolutely no idea where it was going, I soon saw some familiar faces playing in some key roles George Melies (Ben Kingsley), the Station Inspector (Sasha Baron Cohen), Hugo's Father (Jude Law) and amazingly Monsier Labisse (Christopher Lee). I simply applaud Mr. Lee's career, he is truly a marvel to behold, I remember as a child being scared witless by him as Dracula which was filmed before I was born, later for him to be a part of the Star Wars prequels and as the White Wizard Saruman in the Lord of the Rings trilogy it just boggles my mind that he is still delivering great performances in great films and now for my own children to see and appreciate him in these roles. Not to take anything away for the two young actors who basically carry this film, Hugo (Asa Butterfield) and Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz). Their on screen interaction was very enthralling. I truly hope that they both see long and fruitful careers as has Mr. Lee. So now that I have done exactly as this film did, and have taken forever to get to the point. I will say that this was a really good story about how the lives of a famed French film maker and a young boy intersect. I did find it amusing that the young protagonists were reading a French book in perfect English, but I'm sure that bit of movie magic was for the benefit of the American audience. I was totally on edge during the scene from the movie poster with Hugo hanging from the clock hand. That scene and many others throughout this story were interesting, provocative and actually did elicit the excitement that I initially lacked in relation to this movie. This film was a visual gem, the opening scene was a cinematic treat. Even with the lengthy start to develop the story, which took more time than I thought was necessary to get to the meat of the story, this is a lovely film for adults who can appreciate the art of film making as do I. It gets a well deserved green light.