'Hugo' spins its magic on DVD
“Hugo”
Master filmmaker Martin Scorsese's terrific film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won five — for art direction, cinematography, sound editing, sound mixing and visual effects. Scorsese not only tells a great story with “Hugo,” but he presents it beautifully with state-of-the-art technology.
His wonder-filled family adventure takes place in Paris during the 1930s. Hugo (Asa Butterfield) is orphaned when his father (Jude Law) dies in a museum fire. The boy goes to live with his alcoholic uncle (Ray Winstone), whose job is to wind the clocks at the Paris train station. When his uncle disappears, Hugo takes over his job at the station. He steals food from shops to survive and is pursued by the station inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen). Hugo's father had been working on an automaton robot when he perished and Hugo wants to finish the job. He steals parts and gets caught by Papa Georges (Ben Kingsley), who has him working in his store to make up for the theft. George introduces Hugo to his goddaughter Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz), and they become fast friends. He introduces her to a movie, which she has never seen. The world of cinema is opened up to them and to us.
“Hugo” reminds us what the magical world of film is all about.
“II Volo Takes Flight: Live From Detroit Opera House”
The three Italian tenors are Piero Barone, Ignazio Boshetto and Gianluca Ginoble, and their voices blend beautifully together. This concert includes the songs “'O Sole Mio,” “Granada,” “Smile,” “Pente,” “Un Amore Cosi Grande” and more.
“Celtic Thunder: Voyage”
The group's latest PBS special mixes classic Irish songs with modern ones, revealing the wide range of Irish music. Celtic Thunder, named by Billboard magazine as the “Top World Music Artist,” sings “Dulaman,” “Galaway Girl,” “My Irish Molly-O,” “Cat's in the Cradle,” “All Day Long” and many other songs.
Jerry Lewis triple threat
There are three Jerry Lewis films that are being released on DVD for the first time:
“Rock-A-Bye Baby” — Lewis shows off the slapstick comedy that made him famous. Marilyn Maxwell and Connie Stevens co-star.
“The Geisha Boy” — Lewis portrays a magician suffering through hard times who befriends an orphan boy and his aunt in Japan. Suzanne Pleshette and Marie McDonald co-star.
"Boeing Boeing” — This French farce is a lot of fun, and co-stars Tony Curtis and Thelma Ritter.
Available next week
• “Footloose: 2012”
• “Game of Thrones: Season One”
• “Human Nature Sings Motown”
• “Immortals”
• “Jack and Jill”
• “John Wayne: 3 Film Adventures”
• “John Wayne: 3 Film Westerns”
• “The Skin I Live In”
• “Tony Bennett: Duets Two”