Wow. To my dear friend, and occasional sparring partner, I offer point-counterpoint.
“If this is a kid's movie…”
At no time, throughout promotions, trailers or interviews did I have any sense I was going to see a children’s movie (as opposed to Tin-Tin, for example). A movie with a child protagonist does not a child’s movie make. True, this is a departure for Scorcese and one, as he says, he can take his daughter to (which I agree, compared to most of his work), but none of the pacing, tone, or theme would hold a child’s interest.
Mickey Mouse?! You really saw this film aimed at the same audience? Even Elmer Fudd was forever shooting off his shotgun and Roadrunner? Fugetaboutit.
O.k., even to a child audience, I take exception to your concerns. Children are smarter and more worldly than we think. All kids encounter grumpy old men. Welcome to life. It is how other children see them handle it that counts. Movies are lessons on life in action.
I saw no child abuse here. (and frankly, I suspect we have no more now than in years past; it’s just openly confronted, discussed, prosecuted, etc.) Also, seeing this set in a different time period provides a buffer, perhaps.
On to Sascha Baron Cohen – a welcome comic relief. I did not see dozens of truly mistreated, woeful children being beaten or starved (Fagan far worse in Oliver). Hugo’s containment was very brief, and Cohen’s redemption in the end moved me greatly.
Boy meets girl. I thought it was sweet, never vulgar or immodest. Holding hands? This bothered you? Boys and girls at their age do form lovely friendships sometimes; I saw nothing salacious in it, and again, we have numerous precedents in film.
“I can’t stand it when adult themes invade the pure world of kids” – I suggest they ALWAYS do. Here I saw themes of a father’s and boy’s love for each other, redemption on several characters’ parts, a child learning how to survive, an angry old man and a young, loving boy who share a passion for tinkering, imagination, and creativity.
I admit a prior interest in automatons. Used to teach about them in relation to Frankenstein, as they were one of many of Mary Shelley’s influences. I love them.
“meandering mess.” Haha Meandering, yes. Mess, oh contrare, very calculating. I did admit that the film is slow…for some time, leaving me to wonder, is this going anywhere. But then it did! Even down to the sub-plot of the two older people at the boulangerie who finally connect.
I am wondering if your entire experience might have been a bit different had you not been in attendance with your little granddaughters. I know when I take another, I am too distracted by “how do they like it?” wanting to please all. (Pam Baack hated Borat, merely because she was sitting there watching that outrageous naked scene, with her two sons!)
I loved that this was a different kind of story, especially a true one. I'm compelled to read the book.
“Mostly moments of dour feelings and negative views of life.” We had such different experiences. That’s what makes film so interesting, eh?
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