We Saw a Movie called 'Hugo'

Actually we saw the movie Hugo last weekend on our TV. I would not have been interested in the movie except that my boss, who has specific tastes in movies which do not include kids shows, remarked, "You gotta' see this movie. It is really good." That wasn't enough to convince me because I had seen an advertisement for the movie and it seemed to be about a robot that vaguely resembled R2D2 and it just didn't interest me that much.

Then the next day a coworker stopped by my office and said, "Oh, by the way, watch Hugo. It will knock you out."

The Automaton, who is not Hugo

I mumbled that I wasn't too thrilled about seeing a kid's movie about a robot.

He smiled. "It isn't."

Later I mentioned the movie to Marilyn and she didn't seem too interested. She even sighed when I said it was directed by Martin Scorsese who had made a lot of famous movies that I didn't know the names of. I continued with what someone told me. "Scorsese's granddaughter had read this kids book and told his grandfather to read the book because he should make a movie about it. He ignored her and kept ignoring her until she badgered him into reading it. When he finished, he said 'This would make a great movie'" I don't know if that is true, but it is what I was told.

Marilyn caved when I found the movie on the AT&T thing and all we had to do was click on the button which would require us to spend $6.00, and it would be right there. Actually Marilyn sighed as if to indicate, 'Okay, you get your way this time'.

I can only describe it as a kids movie for adults, with the kids being twelve years old or older. So this means there is no sex or blood, but has intrigue, chase scenes, suspense, delightful young actors, and true history and....did I mention it won a bunch of Academy Awards? This was a very good movie and I can prove it. Marilyn didn't nod off once!

Georges Melies played by Ben Kingsley

In the last half of the movie you find out that it involves a real-life historical person. That person is Georges Melies who is credited with inventing movie special effects -- and actually did work with automatons, which are essentially programmed (wound up with cogs and wheels and gears and stuff) robots. Hugo, who is not an automaton, is a young orphaned lad who inadvertently discovers the old, grumpy and dispirited Melies who now works as a toy and watch repairman in Paris in 1931.

The Inspector and his fine actor dog

Hugo Cabret lives by his wits in the walls of a train station where he makes sure that all of the huge station clocks are kept wound. He steals his food and is always dodging the Train Station Inspector and his trusty dog who I think did a fine acting job.

Hugo meets a lovely lass named Isabelle who is the daughter of Georges Melies. Hugo and Isabelle are completely different personalities. She is the bolder one while he is a bit reserved. Together they join on a venture of discovery and resolve to do the right thing, which ultimately leads to the heart warming climax of the movie.

Hugo and Isabelle

I understand the movie came out in 3-D and I can see how it would truly be dynamic in this medium. We watched it in plain old 2-D eating pizza in our den, and we were blown away. The colors in the movie seemed especially vivid, the set design and cinematography was stunning. Did I mention that one of the producers is Johnny Depp? I don't know if that means anything, but I thought you should know.

I usually take a dim view of the Academy Award stuff, but they hit it in the mark this time. It is nice to see a good, clean movie without all the cursing and deep, tortuous messages, and nudity and violence be celebrated.

My boss asked, the following Monday, "Did you see it?"

"Yeah. It was really good."

"See. I told you."

I recommend the movie. Marilyn recommends it too.

Hugo Cabaret