As we're sitting through previews beforehand, I'm told that the movie is directed by Martin Scorsese (and co-directed by Johnny Depp). So I readjust my expectations slightly, although still remaining nonplussed. Then, the movie starts.
From the outset, it is evident how Scorsese does such a great job of telling this incredible story, which is adapted from a short story originally written by Brian Selznick. It is fascinating to watch as the main character, Hugo Cabret, crawls, slides, and climbs around the walls of the Paris train station that doubles as his home.
I notice that, all in all, there is not much dialogue throughout the movie. Therefore, the non-verbal communication between characters is magnified. The orphan Hugo wades through a myriad of difficult emotions, and as is understandable, he conveys his emotions through body language and facial expressions more often than words. The old man (George Melies, played by Ben Kingsley), kind of steals the show theatrically as he runs the gamut of emotions throughout the movie.
The (real-life, apparently) character of George Melies is absolutely captivating. After Hugo and his friend (Melies' god-daughter) unearth the truth behind the shopkeeper's secret past (Spoiler Alert!), the next 15 minutes of the movie is a montage of Melies' actual turn-0f-the-century films, restored and brought to life in wonderful 3-D. The prominent film used in the movie, "A Trip to the Moon", can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JDaOOw0MEE
The main component of the movie that made it so enjoyable was the 3-D. Props to the movie industry, as they've improved 3-D glasses so they are no longer cumbersome and annoying to wear. It just makes it easier to focus on what I came to see, instead of paying extra for a ticket just to fiddle with the glasses the whole time and miss key parts of the movie.
As with many of the newer 3-D movies coming out nowadays, "Hugo" made excellent use of the technology featured in this medium. Some movies, like "Toy Story 3", are made more enjoyable by the presence of the 3-D capabilities. However, the truly transcendent 3-D movies, like "Avatar", make the technology seem truly necessary for it to be enjoyed correctly. "Hugo" definitely asserted itself as a transcendent 3-D movie, and the usage was perfect: it propelled the story further, gave life to scenes which would have otherwise been difficult to visualize, and wasn't ever cheesy.
The emotional themes shown throughout "Hugo" made the movie worthwhile: Hugo's search for love and acceptance and purpose following the loss of his father (played by Jude Law, an added bonus); Melies' revitalization as a success, not forgotten although time has not been kind to his art; and the heartwarming forgiveness and mercy that the station patrolman (played by Sacha Baron Cohen, another surprise!) learns through his encounters with the station's florist.
Needless to say, I was amazed by the movie. The combination of the interesting plot, the character development (verbal and non), the historical aspect of George Melies' lifework, and the tasteful, vital use of 3-D technology made "Hugo" one of my favorite movies of the year. Go see it before it's reduced to a 2-dimensional screen!
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