Every year, cinemas and production companies pin their hopes on a few choice films hitting the market. From the first concrete signs of production to their release, publicity for these films is plastered on every spare space available, splashed over the Internet, and championed over the radio. And film goers respond as expected, by getting worked up and abuzz about the upcoming cinematic experience. Even for people who start out unconcerned, by the time the release date rolls around, they are just as eager as the rest of the mob for the results, because then the build up can be over and audiences can relax in a coma of fulfillment knowing that those months of anticipation havent gone to waste. Inevitably, our expectations are often not met. In the last few years, there have been films that, although certainly good and enjoyable, have not quite delivered their promised and publicized paradise.
4. Hugo
Much like Ponyo on a Cliff by Hayao Miyazaki, Hugo is a heartfelt and visually stunning piece that doesnt provide a plot interesting enough to keep up with the effects. Despite being packed full of respected actors, introducing adorable and capable child actors, and paying homage to the movies that sired a booming industry, as well as providing intricate sets and costumes, Hugos story barely managed to make use of all the elements and people they threw into it. The secret of the automaton proved more confusing than delightfully enchanting, the villain was not quite humorous enough to forgive nor grave enough to fear, character story lines seemed more tangled than intersecting, and the ending felt more forced into a happy Dickens conclusion than anything else. It left me convinced that some elements that focused on old cinematic creations were too technical for young children who would enjoy the bright scenery to connect with, while the mild plot would leave many older viewers bored for long sections of the film. It just missed reaching the balance that films like The Lion King or The Princess Bride reach between childhood whimsy and adult wit.