You won’t see gangsters or much bloodletting in the latest film from acclaimed director Martin Scorsese. “Hugo” is a family-friendly adventure about an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station in 1930s Paris. Of course, with a legend like Scorsese at the helm, that’s only a tiny bit of what the film is actually about.

In another surprise move, Scorsese embraces 3D in a way that makes it worth the premium price. There are glorious tracking shots in three dimensions that rival Scorsese’s own iconic “Goodfellas” sequence.

Based on the book “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick, the film begins as a standard children’s fantasy tale. Asa Butterfield plays Hugo, a boy who spends his days secretly winding the train station clocks and avoiding an overzealous guard (Sacha Baron Cohen). He also tinkers away at an automation left to him by his late father (played in flashbacks by Jude Law).

Hugo’s quest to get the machine working leads him to a young girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) and her godfather (Ben Kingsley) who owns a toy shop at the station. Their connection shouldn’t be spoiled, as the reveal of this central mystery is where “Hugo” goes from average kid tale into something special.

Once the story gets going, it’s easy to understand why Scorsese would make a film like “Hugo.” The director has shown great passion for the movies and themes of the time period, and “Hugo” demonstrates that in every sequence.

Aside from its spectacular 3D cinematography, the charms of “Hugo” come with patience. The opening act of the film establishes some annoyingly insignificant side-characters, and the somber performance of Butterfield early on leaves something to be desired. But as Kingsley’s character becomes more involved, and the movie steers away from familiar story beats, “Hugo” proves worth the time commitment.

And seriously, spring for those 3D glasses.

Grade: A-

For the sake of the children, it’s probably better that “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas” was released in early November. Any closer to the actual holiday and unsuspecting families might end up seeing a Christmas movie that could scar them for life.

The very R-rated comedy, the third in the cult-stoner series, contains aggressive drug use, child endangerment, Claymation nudity, countless f-words and Santa Claus getting shot in the head.

The point of “Harold & Kumar” is to be excessive, especially in its use of 3D. I can’t even mention some of the things that go flying out at the audience. Nestled deep within the filth, though, is a loving tribute to those feel-good Christmas movies you watch every year. Did I mention the toddler that inadvertently ingests a mound of cocaine? (more…)

Shrek, Donkey and Princess Fiona are hardly missed in “Puss in Boots,” the “Shrek” spin-off featuring Antonio Banderas as the cunning feline hero. It doesn’t match the wit of the first two “Shrek” movies, but there’s enough fresh humor and colorful action for it to overtake “Shrek the Third” and “Shrek Forever After” in the franchise.

Taking place before his appearance in the “Shrek” movies, Puss in Boots (Banderas) is a suave kitty with a criminal past. Flashbacks of the adorable kitten show him getting into trouble with classmate Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis). The rotten egg has dreams of uncovering magic beans that lead to a castle in the clouds and a goose that lays golden eggs. Puss would probably settle for a glass of warm milk. (more…)