The award-winning bestseller, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, hits the big screen with a magical story about a young orphan and an early film maker. Kidzworld reviews Hugo, which was released in theatres on November 23, 2011.
The Orphan
After his father died in a fire, Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) was taken in by his alcoholic uncle who lives and works inside the walls of the Paris train station. But when his uncle disappears, Hugo is forced to take over his job, winding the clocks and oiling their gears. He has to stay hidden from the station guard, who makes a point of tracking down parentless kids and sending them to the orphanage.
The Automaton
Hugo has only one artefact to remind him of his father - an automaton (a mechanical imitation of a human being) that his father found while working at the museum. Before he died, he and Hugo began rebuilding the broken device. Determined to finish what his father started, Hugo steals parts from the local toy shop, which is run by a miserable old man.
The Hidden Message
Hugo befriends the old man’s goddaughter (Chloë Grace Moretz), and with her help, they finally restore the automaton. Through the automaton’s message, they discover that their lives were meant to intertwine. And there is much more to the miserable toy shop owner than meets the eye.
The Bottom Line
It’s rare when a movie lives up to its book counterpart, especially with a book as brilliant as The Invention of Hugo Cabret. But director Martin Scorsese pulled out all the stops. Hugo 3D is a magnificent film for all ages. Our only criticism: for a book with so few words, the film was a little too long. Twenty minutes shorter would have been perfect!
Have Your Say
What did you think of Hugo 3D? Do you like the book better? Tell us in our comment section below!
Hugo Movie Rating:
