^B

Hugo is a visually splendid whimsical love letter to the art of cinema. Exceptional 3D cinematography, costumes, art direction, and visual effects help carry off an Amelie-esque tale to great proportions and make this film a must-see for cinephiles. However, the first half of the film drags with a somewhat tedious mystery that ultimately takes a back seat to the second half's more interesting and purposeful storyline. Howard Shore's score ebbs and flows with traditional sleepy Parisian accordions supporting the film's whimsical tone and setting, but tends to become repetitious and dull after a while.

For such a technically well made film, Hugo has average and forgettable acting and scripting. Despite all the heart that went into this film, I felt little excitement or warmth.