Hugo - a movie review

Winner of 5 Oscars, this tale is set in 1930s Paris, an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.

Director: Martin Scorsese; Writers: John Logan (screenplay), Brian Selznick (book)

Stars:  Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz and Christopher Lee

 

Asa Butterfield has been billed as  the answer to Daniel Radcliffe and “The next Harry Potter” and the whole movie was marketed as “… A spectacular adventure for film lovers of all ages.” (Rolling Stone).

 

Asa Butterfield

Asa Butterfield has the potential to be the next child 'heart throb' but he needs to work harder at it.

I found the plot protracted and predictable and I was waiting for each part of the movie to evolve into the next scene in the hope that it would improve. It didn’t!

 

 

The movie has a semblance of animation about it and the background scenery was stunningly done. One was easily distracted as Hugo ran through the mechanics of the giant railway station clock that were concealed behind huge cavity walls. Sacha Baron Cohen as the Station Master reminded me of Arthur Bostrom, A British spy posing as a French police officer ‘Allo ‘Allo! (The Policeman Cometh!)

 

I must confess, towards the end I dozed off. My wife tells me it “Got better!” I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and watch it again, perhaps when I am not so prone to snoozing off.

 

My Rating: 5/10