Favorite Standalone Film

Rating: 9/10 (4 January 2012)

I saw Hugo a while ago; I just thought I'd sit down and review it now. Set in Paris during the 1930s, Hugo tells the story of a young boy who goes on a quest to solve the mystery of the automaton. It's an adventure, a mystery, and suspense-filled, all rolled into one.
This film is a masterpiece. The actors and actresses for the characters did a great job in their acting. When I read the book, I found that the characters in the film look the same as in the book. I also recognized some scenes from the book that were beautifully transposed into the film. However, there were some things that weren't in the book. Normally that isn't a bad thing, but the scene with the Station Inspector and the person attending the flowers - I found that to be a bit awkward. I don't think that has much to do with the actual plot; it seems like it was thrown in for a time filler.
I think that they did a great job with the back story sections. There was a part near the beginning where they explained how Hugo's father died and his uncle came to get him with the clocks. Then there was the scene where Etienne explains to Hugo and Isabelle about the building where Georges, Isabelle's godfather, works. The final section of back story is at the end, where we learn about the silent films from the early 1900s. I thought it was neat how they showed how people recorded films back then, and even just the recording sessions they had.
The soundtrack for this film was awesome, too. The accordion, which appeared in several of the tracks, for some reason made the song sound perfect for the film; I don't really know how to describe it. Of course, during the silent films, there was piano-parts playing in the background. There was also a small orchestra playing in the café where Hugo goes. It was a nice soundtrack that fit the mood of the movie well.
All in all, Hugo is definitely a movie I think everyone should see. It is over two hours long, and maybe it's a little too much for some people. If you haven't seen it yet, go and give Hugo a try. I can't wait for it to come out on DVD, and I'm sure, after watching this wonderful, memorable, inspiring film, you will, too.