Hugo review: The heart is the key to unlock the cabinet of wonders

[corvideye]

Last week I was totting up the movies I saw in 2011, and observing that while I saw several good ones, there was none that stood out as a really noteworthy best of the year.  But today I saw Hugo.  Had I seen it in 2011 when it came out, it certainly would have been the best movie I saw that year, and probably in several other years. Go see it,

Comments

[fjorlief]

whoa and wow... I shall definitely put this movie on my short list, it definitely sounds like my kind of film

[ariadne3]

This is one I hope to see while it is still in the theatre. I have no idea if it is still, but will find out later.

This movie is based on one of my recent favorite young adult/children's books, titled The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. I can HIGHLY recommend the book, Selznick is stretching the boundaries of picture book, novel, and graphic novel, and has come up with a style that I dearly hope becomes genre. There is a new one also written and illustrated by him titled Wonderstruck which I felt wasn't as powerful a story, but that the pictures did a better job of telling their part. Seriously, if you haven't read these yet, DO.

[snortinsnorrie]

I like your movie recommendations. It's not out on disc yet but soon enough that they have it listed so I put it on my list. I love Ben Kingsley in just about everything. Well, he chewed up the scenery in one or two dogs to pay bills, but you know those Royal Shakespeare actoids.

[elessa]

I saw this film the weekend it opened. LOVED IT!

What is fascinating is that I had not "read" the book either prior to seeing the movie. I found a copy. It isn't a storybook in the traditional sense. Pick it up. You will see what I mean. Another visual form of story telling.

Here is a link to an article and videos of the automaton that inspired Brian Selznick when he wrote the book. He appears on one of them while it is being demonstrated.

I can't wait to own this on DVD.

[corvideye]

If you have any chance to see it on a big screen, it will really be worth it. And yes, Ben Kingsley is awesome. Here he plays a magnificently crusty geezer.

[lady_anyanka]

Now I am looking forward to seeing it even more. Sounds like it wold be best seen large screen. Thanks.

[lady_anyanka]

The preview was intriguing and now I ahall make sure to see it. Sounds like it would be best seen large screen. Thanks.