The most surprising thing about Martin Scorsese’s new film Hugo (out Wednesday) is how much more there is to it than has been indicated in the ad campaign, which presents the picture — probably wisely, from a mass-market standpoint — as a standard children’s adventure with a dose of magic and a dash of slapstick, all in 3D (of course). To be clear: it is all of that, though done with a skill and intelligence that puts most “family movies” to shame.

But Scorsese also uses the film as something of an Introduction to Cinema course for its young audiences — and, frankly, for older moviegoers who may not be as well-versed in the form as the encyclopedic director. There’s nothing dry or educational about it, but within the confines of the big-budget studio 3D holiday movie, he is also presenting the story of film’s earliest days — specifically of Georges Méliès, the artist behind hundreds of early silent fantasies, including the immortal 1902 film A Trip to the Moon. … Read More