'Hugo' Trailer: Martin Scorsese's 3D Children's Film From Brian Selznick's Novel (VIDEO)

Even with the all-time jackpot that "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2," is experiencing is already experiencing, just hours into its theatrical run, film studio executives have had major reason to be nervous this summer: 3D movies, the ticket price cash cow of the past few years, have largely been failing.

Indeed, while putting up solid-to-strong numbers overall at the box office, 3D-ready films such as "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" and "The Green Lantern" have underperformed in the glasses-extra ticket sales department, with more traditional 2D renderings doing just as well, if not better with viewers. More than a few critics have blasted the offering as a sort of spectacle money grab, especially for films converted post-shoot to capture more turnstile cash.

To the studios' great relief, in comes Martin Scorsese to settle the controversy.

The legendary Oscar-winning director, whose subject matter generally involves guns, blood and language not suitable for the ears of babes, has cast his lot with the 3D movement, unveiling the first trailer for "Hugo," his epic big screen adaptation of Brian Selznick's hit novel. Starring Asa Butterfield, the film is a whimsical trip about an orphaned boy, named Hugo Cabaret, living in the secret bowels of a 1940s Parisian train station, who navigates the secret and often magical passageways of the underground with his new, adventurous friend, played by Chloe Moretz.

Centering on a heart-shaped key used to bring life to a clue-bearing, sketch-drawing robot, the 3D epic has shades of "Harry Potter," as well as more classic stories, with Moretz's character even pointedly giving the film's marketing campaign to viewers: "It's Neverland and Oz and Treasure Island all wrapped into one."

Co-starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Jude Law, the film hits theaters November 23rd.

WATCH:

Comments

[Hawker1]

02:59 AM on 07/17/2011

I love how the French have British accents... it's so Continental.

[theuniversalcollective]

11:23 PM on 07/16/2011

My wish is to be amazed

[andee26]

03:35 PM on 07/16/2011

if its anything like the book, it will be a feast. The art in the book entranced my Nintendo addicted 11 year old for days, and then he read it to the 9 year old. Awesome. Just awesome.

[littlebrowngirl]

10:57 AM on 07/16/2011

Dear film studios- 3d movies are too expensive and do not bring that much more value to the film. If your film is bad, 3d makes it even worse. 3d glasses are annoying to place over glasses. 3d images are blurry and out of focus if your head is not angled a certain way to the screen. Many of the 3d films are too dark with the glasses. Oh, and I have to say again that the films are too expensive. Take the hint that the 2d showings sale out before the 3d showings. Instead of 3d, why don't you focus on IMAX. I would gladly pay extra to see a film in IMAX not 3d.

[littlebrowngirl]

10:47 AM on 07/16/2011

I refuse to see any more films in 3d.

They need to do more films in IMAX not 3d.

[FCBarca]

03:04 AM on 07/16/2011

Looks dreadfully contrived

[Twrexx]

01:58 AM on 07/16/2011

His decision makes me sad. Once again, 3D is proving to be just a fad. There's nothing that a 3D movie can give me that I can't get from a 2D movie--except a headache.

[clearpepsi]

01:34 AM on 07/16/2011

3D? ugh... this movie looks unwatchable, MS hasn't made a good movie in decades ....

[3dtrix]

11:51 PM on 07/15/2011

Nowhere in the discussions of 3D films is the real reason for the sudden impetus for their making ever mentioned - to fight piracy.

The studios have hemmoraged literally billions as pirated copies of abysmal to excellent quality of new releases flood the marketplace immediately - not to mention illegal downloads.

Being that one can't sit in a theater and tape a crappy 2D copy of a 3D movie - and being that there are few 3D players in people's homes - 3D is one of the only ways the studios have to fight back.

My best friend is a legendary writer/director/producer of special effects films - his latest effort was a world-wide hit. It was filmed in 3D at the studio's insistence, even though he feels it adds little to the entertainment value.

This little nugget is a great illustration of how little in the news is the REAL news - and how often the REAL story isn't even mentioned in the "news"...

[coalman987]

11:46 PM on 07/15/2011

I was thinking as the trailer was rolling that if anyone was going to really legitimize 3D it'd be Scorsese. I was really actually impressed by the use of 3D just within the trailer. I'm looking out for this one.

[HBHB]

10:22 PM on 07/15/2011

As much as I love Scorsese I can't handle movies that take place in other countries where everyone speaks english with an accent.

[Lateef Murdock]

10:04 PM on 07/15/2011

I have no interest in seeing this film. However, Scorsese is one of the few directors who's never ceased to entertain me. He can film paint dry and make it look epic. For that reason, I will be there on opening day.

[Aesthete]

04:51 PM on 07/15/2011

...sounds interesting---a nice departure from menacing gangters and mean streets.

[tyrant510]

04:30 PM on 07/15/2011

Correction: It's Hugo Cabret, not 'Cabaret'. LOL.

I guess it's no surprise they shortened the title from 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret' to simply, 'Hugo'.

[3fingerbrown]

02:17 PM on 07/15/2011

Second draft:
"It's Neverland and Oz and Treasure Island all wrapped into one. Now go home and get your f*#*ing shine box!"

[EricBishop]

11:17 PM on 07/15/2011

Winning...