Nightmare Sequence in Hugo (Broadly)

In the film Hugo, the nightmare scene leaves a big question mark in trying to find out the role of technology. How does this nightmare sequence show the audience technology's role? This scene starts with Hugo locating the heart shaped key needed to start his broken automaton, as a train pulling into the station is about to run him over while on the track. To me the train symbolizes how technology can be of great use but can also destroy society and all around us. In the film we see that Hugo and George. M become broken people through the idea of technology. Hugo is lost without family and all the memory he has left of a passed father is a broken machine. Hugo also lives in the workings of a clock and the last memory he has of his drunken uncle is the teachings of how to work and fix them. George. M became broken through the idea that no one kept interest of his amazing film work after the war. Before technology had a negative affect on their lives, it was doing good and making people happy. Technology can do just as much bad as it can good. The nightmare opened up central concerns by Hugo having a dream within a dream,and him turning into the automaton. Why does this machine mean so much Hugo that he is dreaming about it? Why does he feel that his father left him something behind in relation to this machine that will be sure to answer all questions? What caused Hugo's father's death, and started that fire in the museum? Why doesn't the film go into his death at all? Does Hugo transform into the automaton because he feels that he functions as it does and only has one sole purpose in life? Why is Hugo then surrounded by clock tools in the dream, as if all he has ever known was clockwprk?    

Blog#3 Review of the movie

In the film Hugo I like the significance behind some of the tracking shots. In the beginning scene we see a tracking shot with Hugo's face behind the train stations clock. To me this shot can signify Hugo's relationship towards the idea of a functioning machine with a purpose or the representation of him being stuck in time. In the film I understand that Hugo lost his father to a museum fire, and the only thing he feels he has left in life is this automaton machine that he and his father were trying to fix together. Hugo's sole purpose in life in most of the film is to fix the machine and discover anything he can in relation to his father; this is how Hugo seems to be stuck in time. He doesn't try to communicate with anyone, or even try to discover the location of his missing drunk uncle. To me he is stuck in time because he is not moving forward with his life at all, all he wants to do is try and fix a broken machine. In relation to Hugo looking out through the clock, we see that he  has an interest in the same people and their relationship with the other train stations employees. To me this shows that Hugo wants to be have friendly relationships with others and is curious to how the outside life is.  
Another shot I liked was when we are first introduced to Papa George at his workshop. We see him looking around as the camera then takes a closeup shot of his eye, then we see a reflection of the clock that Hugo is peeking out of in Papa George's eye. This scene gave me the idea that Papa George understood that Hugo (known as a thief) was ready to try and make a move on his shop belongings again; almost as if he new that Hugo was watching him through the clock. Another reason I felt this way is because little after that shot we see Papa George pretending to sleep in order to catch Hugo's stealing attempt. I don't like how the movie never goes into the death of Hugo's father. It leaves us with a big question mark. What started the fire in the museum? Was his father the only one there during the incident?

Blog#2 Opening Piece

During the opening piece of the film Hugo, I noticed that the city of Paris turns into the formation of a clocks inner function ability.To me this particular shot is trying to say that the city has a purpose, even though a clock has many different pieces it still functions as one to do what it needs to do. This also can relate to the people, everyone is different but in a way we all work together to survive and fulfill our purpose. During its birds eye view of the city the scene quickly shifts from night to dusk. To me this shows me that the movie not only represents clocks as a type of machinery but represents how time plays a huge factor on our daily lifestyle. The opening begins with a high level view of the city, and then slowly zooms in on the train station. Then the camera passes through the station showing its daily routine; it then focuses on the station's clock where you see Hugo's face through the number four. This shot was telling me that Hugo has a strong relation towards the idea of clocks, both how it works and just the general idea of it having a purpose. The whole movie Hugo seems to ask himself, what is his purpose, and why does he function the way he does. This not only applies to Hugo but Papa George as well. George Mileasse quotes in the film "I am a broken wound up toy." This means to me that he believes he was set to do only one thing, and now that he has forgotten what he wants to do he feels lost and without purpose.

Blog#1 Hugo screening

I never heard of the film Hugo before class. I went into watching this film not knowing what to expect at all, I didn't the plot or any of the main characters.The start of the movie was slow for me, the beginning clearly gave a certain significance towards the idea of clocks but there was no dialogue for like the first 5 minutes. I instantly knew that one of the main characters would be the who they showed behind the face of the train stations clock; the reason being that he was the first person the film really focused on. The introduction wasn't bad, but I would have preferred it if they got into more of Hugo's background life and why his personality and lifestyle was the way it is before he first spoke with Papa George. For example, the first understanding we have of Hugo is a bit confusing; is he a criminal thief troubled child? or an innocent boy just  trying to make his way? At first we see him trying to steal machine pieces and then we see him stealing food, something that seems necessary for daily survival. As the film went on and I began to understand even more, it became much more interesting and started to draw my attention in. I began to ask myself questions and make connections. I truly enjoyed the film but my opinion of it would be a MEH. Reason being that it was a great movie academically related but I don't think I personally would pay to see it in theaters.