Wonderful, complex, subtle tale from Scorsese/Schoonmaker

Rating: 8/10 (24 December 2011)

The negative reviews you see here should not dissuade you from seeing this gem. I think a lot of people were expecting something other than they got, and did not accept the film on its own terms.
First, this is not for little kids. It's a story that centers on a child's experience, but it is about deeper themes and the history of cinema. Georges Melies was a genius of the early days of film, and a tragic figure whose career was destroyed by WWI and the thievery of many, including Thomas Edison. Hugo is a story about the redemption of a broken man, told though the eyes of a child who is trying to find his place in the world as a fixer of broken things.
It is a visual masterpiece (in 2D or 3D; I differ with those who say the 3D "matters" in this film. It's fine, but not needed) and introduces us to a wonderful young actor in Asa Butterfield. Look for him in the upcoming "Ender's Game". The entire cast is superb, with Ben Kingsley at his best, Chloe Grace Moretz shining brightly, and a remarkably controlled performance by Sacha Baron Cohen.
See Hugo! But go in with an open mind, and you won't be disappointed.