Visually stunning, with a poetic and enchanting story

Rating: 10/10 (22 June 2015)

I read reviews for this movie before turning it on and I was concerned by the number of reviews that said that the story was thin. After having watched it, I now realize that these people simply did not understand, or were not able to fully appreciate the meaning of the film. This film was not made by Martin Scorsese as a filmmaker, but as a film enthusiast. Scorsese has a reputation as one of the most vocal film lovers in Hollywood, and he showcased it in this beautiful movie. His love letter to the origins of cinema, it payed homage to a number of silent films. Though it was based on the life of the influential silent film director Georges Melies, it referenced the original silent film stars such as Chaplin, Keaton, and many others. It also payed homage to some later films that influenced Scorsese including (and most directly) Francois Truffaut's The 400 Blows.
I won't beat this to death to much, as it has been said in every review about this movie, but it was also visually incredible. Half life action and half 3D animation, the movie was a work of art just to look at. This was perhaps its most significant tribute to Melies' work as he was so influential in the earliest special effects utilized in film. Overall, I can't say enough great things about this film. It is not typical of Scorsese, but it is amongst his most honest work, and showcases this great director's admiration for his predecessors.