Martin Scorsese isn’t known for good natured, family friendly features, but for his first foray into the realm of 3D, Scorsese opted for a cinematic children’s adventure based on Brian Selznick’s novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret.
Hugo, set in 1930s Paris, is about a persistent orphan named Hugo (Asa Butterfield) who, after the loss of his father, makes it his mission to fix an automaton and unlock its magical secrets that his father left behind with it. With a villainous Station Inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen) eager to rid him from his home and a precocious young girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) eager for an adventure, Hugo takes us a on a miraculous ride that will warm your soul and remind you what it’s like to dream big and live for what you love.
From the first frame of the film you become immersed in the 1930s in a way you’ll likely never experience again. There isn’t one visually dull moment in the film as Scorsese’s extravagantly detailed sets and brightly lit scenes are brought forth in a film where the story matters just as much as the presentation surrounding it.
As some of you may know, the film was shot in 3D and this is Scorsese’s first time using that medium to create a work of art. To say it looks good would be an understatement. This is the best use of 3D since Avatar! There is very little in the way of 3D gimmicks as Scorsese uses the third dimension to simply add depth to his canvas, another layer of paint to help with his storytelling. You experience much of this depth with the very long and connected shots of Hugo running around the train station and when we experience flashbacks of Georges Méliès’ (Ben Kinglsey) past.
What is truly great about the film is that every character is actually the yang to Hugo’s yin. Hugo represents hope, while an annoyance to most characters throughout the film, he is the character 
that manages to fill the void and provide a way for the other characters to understand themselves and improve upon their lives and face their so called demons.
If you are a film lover then it is almost impossible not to like the movie as the film itself is a tribute to the old days when film was being revolutionized from a gimmick to an art form, much like the way it is being revolutionized today through the use of 3D. As a matter of fact, one could say that James Cameron and Martin Scorsese are today’s equivalent of Georges Méliès, a very important character to both the film and its underlying themes.
Finally, all the actors delivered top performances which helped elevate the picture. Chloë Grace Moretz was mature and acted well beyond her age, Asa Butterfield brought the hope and innocence the role required and the always stoic Ben Kingsley did a great job as a cranky old soul with a cracked shell that was ready reveal his true self. Even Sacha Baron Cohen had a chance to deliver his perfectly timed comedy as the villain with a romantic heart but also show his more dramatic side in a way he hasn’t been able to do with his hilarious mockumentaries.
Hugo is one of the those rare films that will probably stand the test of time due to its relevance, beauty and its ability to unite both the young and old in a way very films have been able to do in recent years. Seeing this film both in 3D and in theaters is a must if you want to truly feel what it’s like to enter another world and be immersed in a realm of magic, hope and childlike adventure. Hell, even the scrooges out there will find joy in Martin Scorsese family adventure. So go check it out, sit back, and enter the world of Hugo Cabaret!
Rating: The perfect family adventure (8/10)
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