An outstanding film for lovers of film by a great lover of film. Scorsese succeeds in letting the audience see the origins of cinematic dream-making through the lens of hyper-contemporary cinematic technology. Kingsley is stellar, & Moretz demonstrates that she has a great future in film, should she want it. Butterfield is a bit wooden, but he is far from unwatchable. Sumptuous but somehow intimate, Hugo shows that technology when used properly can complement the story.

It's one of the best looking films I've ever seen. I saw it in 3-D and if "Hugo" is the typical example of the technology I say "more please". I also think it's great that Scorsese made this movie more of a tribute to film than a story about a sad little boy who finds happiness. That story has been told many, many times before. But Scorsese's love of the wonders of the movies dominates the waning moments. I had been hounded by my 12-year old daughter to read the book for months but still had not as I sat in my theater seat. Here's the sad thing. I thought the story was pedestrian. That's not the director's fault. The source material just doesn't interest me that much. The encouraging thing is that my 12 year-old was absolutely giddy as we watched. She loves the book and the film and even though it isn't my cup of tea, I am thrilled that she finds something so artfully done to be so exciting. You see this film demands attention. It's slow sometimes and there isn't much action. I think most kids will have a very hard time sitting still through "Hugo", but mine didn't and that makes me happy. Scorsese makes this appealing for film lovers but it's a story for children that is uncharacteristically reserved and steeped in wonder.

James Cameron on the 3D in Hugo - "It doesn't serve the film to talk about the 3D as if it's a separate thing. I mean, of course it's a lead story that a filmmaker of Marty's stature and pedigree is working in 3D. Because it's sort of breaking down this idea that 3D is for just hyper-commercial films. What you did was you integrated it with the color, with the composition, with the camera movement, with the acting. Everything. I would say it's like a 16-cylinder Bugatti firing perfectly on every cylinder. It's absolutely the best 3D photography that I've seen. It's constantly supportive of what you're doing artistically and never detractive."

A technically great movie-- cinematography, acting, and directing. But, I did not find it very entertaining and lost interest. If this is aimed at children, I would be surprised if they can sit through the whole thing. I appreciate this ode to the origins of film, but it's not likely something I would watch again outside of testing 3D at home (if that ever comes back).

A beautiful movie!