Escape to the Movies: Hugo
- Thread starter MovieBob
- Start date
It was another senseless "gritty realistic" reboot trying to capitalize on the success of Batman Begins. More than that, it had a shitty script. The Bond films have always been a young boy's adventure movie for the modern age and it wasn't until they tried pretending it was something more than that it began to really suck.moviedork said:
After a million or so Bond movies and parodies, James Bond needed a change in direction because it felt too stale, boring, an unoriginal. Casino Royale did just that, and for that I'm happy as it needed a new personality. Too bad they screwed that up with Quantum of Solace.RJ Dalton said:
I just managed to go see Hugo and I have to say that I disagree with the review. The movie was absolutely fantastic, and the "two halves" actually fit really neatly together. Sure, the ending sequence was a little "WHY DO IT THIS WAY?" but it didn't matter, Hugo is a child and it was expected.
The only problem I had with the movie was Sacha Baron Cohen. His role did not fit the style of the movie at all. He was completely out of place.
I'm sure his slapstick and ridiculously over the top caricature that was his character was meant to be part of the "children's film" that the movie pretended to be through the trailers and was perhaps a way to reach out and keep children interested but it wasn't part of the movie I wanted to see. It was the thing that broke the coherency and fucked around with the film.
What I would have liked to see is a character that was actually threatening, even scary. Someone to actually fear. Sacha has none of that. He's just get caught on stuff and run into cellos.
Perfect, except for that.
The only problem I had with the movie was Sacha Baron Cohen. His role did not fit the style of the movie at all. He was completely out of place.
I'm sure his slapstick and ridiculously over the top caricature that was his character was meant to be part of the "children's film" that the movie pretended to be through the trailers and was perhaps a way to reach out and keep children interested but it wasn't part of the movie I wanted to see. It was the thing that broke the coherency and fucked around with the film.
What I would have liked to see is a character that was actually threatening, even scary. Someone to actually fear. Sacha has none of that. He's just get caught on stuff and run into cellos.
Perfect, except for that.
So yeah, just saw this movie, it was really good. It WAS interesting to see the Inspector being mean to kids but kind of having his own character development, and I guess the second half of the movie is less about Hugo and more about Georges Méliès, but overally it IS an enjoyable movie.
Oscar-worthy? Well, I don't know... I'll have to see some of the other movies for comparison.
Oscar-worthy? Well, I don't know... I'll have to see some of the other movies for comparison.
I found out recently that the actor portraying the titular Hugo is also cast as Ender Wiggin in the long-overdue film adaptation of Ender's Game, probably my favorite contemporary sci-fi novel/series.
If it was possible for me to be more excited about this movie finally being made - coupled with the faint fear-mixed-with-hope that comes with every adaptation now, hoping it will be more like Scott Pilgrim and less like Transformers - it is the casting of Asa Butterfield. Seeing him in this role makes him the perfect template for Ender in my eyes, assuming they are able to get principal photography done before his voice drops. One of the reasons the movie has been delayed for so long is that the studios kept wanting to make Ender a teenager and give him a love interest - presumably Petra for some idiotic reason. Orson Scott Card held out for child actors because the lynchpin of his concept is the notion that children - some as young as 6 - are being sent to battle school and trained for an imminent war against an alien aggressor. Change the child-turned-soldier idea into a teen prodigy, and what do you have? Percy Jackson, Number Four, the Sorcerer's Apprentice.Anakin Skywalker as a Jumper, Eragon, the list goes on. White noise for a story that deserves much more than to be lost in the crowd.
Sidebar over: I liked Hugo. Good story, great visual design, the One Movie Worth Seeing in 3D for 2011 (following on from Tron and Avatar).
If it was possible for me to be more excited about this movie finally being made - coupled with the faint fear-mixed-with-hope that comes with every adaptation now, hoping it will be more like Scott Pilgrim and less like Transformers - it is the casting of Asa Butterfield. Seeing him in this role makes him the perfect template for Ender in my eyes, assuming they are able to get principal photography done before his voice drops. One of the reasons the movie has been delayed for so long is that the studios kept wanting to make Ender a teenager and give him a love interest - presumably Petra for some idiotic reason. Orson Scott Card held out for child actors because the lynchpin of his concept is the notion that children - some as young as 6 - are being sent to battle school and trained for an imminent war against an alien aggressor. Change the child-turned-soldier idea into a teen prodigy, and what do you have? Percy Jackson, Number Four, the Sorcerer's Apprentice.Anakin Skywalker as a Jumper, Eragon, the list goes on. White noise for a story that deserves much more than to be lost in the crowd.
Sidebar over: I liked Hugo. Good story, great visual design, the One Movie Worth Seeing in 3D for 2011 (following on from Tron and Avatar).