Old-School kids' movie

Rating: 8/10 (10 January 2013)

I saw this in theaters about a year ago. I was able to make complaints about pacing, a certain lack of character shading, and some technical issues with sound and sfx visuals. Since then, I recently woke up thinking about the intro of this movie for some reason and how well it placed you in this Parisian setting. I loved watching it in 3-D due to the TASTEFUL use of the effect that Scorsese placed in it -- particles of dust, a foreground object here or there, with only 2 or 3 major set piece 3-D scenes. I watched it again and felt comforted by the simple story, the straightforward emotions of the characters...it kind of reminded me of when we watched "Little Lord Fauntleroy" or "Oliver" in elementary school. These movies were set in a period far removed from ours yet struck a chord by teaching you something or giving you a bit of perspective on the lives of kids from previous generations. Even if the sets were blatantly artificial. Like any good Scorsese film, though, the movie is ultimately about redemption. The sadness of the toy shop owner and his redemption through the children who are still able to be inspired by his dreams. Even if it's still got some flaws, "Hugo" is a pretty solid movie, and if your kids are ADHD-rattled punks who will watch colorful, crass kid's stuff (which, I will admit, are still likable), it ought to give them a movie to feel comforted by, especially on a cold winter's day, warm under a blanket. A movie experience like "cuddling up with a good book".