Martin Scorsese’s Hugo follows fairly closely the book it’s based on: the Caldecott Award winning The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. The disappointing box office numbers for this movie are due to its subject matter (memory and loss) and its length (128 minutes, but it seems longer). This is not a kid movie to take some squirmy pre-teens to see. Adults will appreciate its message and the homage Scorsese makes to early French films. GRADE: B+
Judy and I liked this one a lot. We were sorry to see that the box-office numbers weren’t better.
Diane and I saw HUGO with three other people in the theater, Bill. The marketing of HUGO was lame, too.
I don’t think they ever figured out the right way to promote it. They wanted to get the kids in but… it didn’t work.
If the kids went to HUGO, they left after a few minutes, Jeff, and went to see SHERLOCK HOLMES or MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL.
We liked it a lot but it was between two audiences, I think. Perfect for the very literate and bookish child but probably there are not many of them. So it’s our movie-bookish and literate adults-also not many.
Excellent analysis, Patti! You’re right about there being a limited audience for a movie like HUGO. Even Marty’s name on it didn’t draw the crowds.
I still hope to see it, but going to the theater is problematic until my coughing is completely over with and the rib has healed some more. Our current plan is for Barbara to see Dragon Tattoo while I go to Tintin, but they aren’t playing at the same times at the same complex. Question: would not having read Dragon Tattoo be a handicap in watching the film?
Hope your cough gets better, Rick. No, not reading THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO won’t affect your appreciation of the film. Both the U.S. and Swedish versions follow the book faithfully.
Thought the film was great and was kicking myself afterwards for not seeing it in 3D, since I’ve heard nothing but raves about the 3D version.
Just a point of clarification, while I give Scorsese buckets of credit for creating such a beautiful film and faithful in spirit adaptation, I give the kudos for the homage to film to Brian Selznick who wrote the book. That book is a loving homage to Georges Melies and to the early history of film.
Brian Selznick’s book deserves its Caldecott award, Carl. Wonderful illustrations and a unique story! I loved the 3D effects in HUGO!
I know. I know. ARGH!!! If I had only glanced at Rotten Tomatoes before I went we would have seen Hugo in 3D. As I was predisposed to liking the film because of the book I just didn’t bother. Big Mistake. EVERYONE has said that other than Avatar it is the best use of 3D they’ve seen and it was such a magical film anyway that I bet it was amazing.
I think HUGO was Scorsese’s first 3D film, Carl. He sure mastered that technique!