HUGO NOW ON BLU RAY FROM PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO

Earlier this week we asked Beyond the Marquee readers to tell us what movies they thought fell within the same grouping of a “magical movie” as the recent 5 time Academy Award winning film Hugo has been called. We were flooded with entries, but in the end our randomly drawn winner was Melodie from Burbank, California. Melodie wins the Blu-ray set of Director Martin Scorsesse’s beautiful film brought to us by Paramount Home Video.

Melodie's Hugo inspired Clock Salad

We attempted to contact Melodie thru her Facebook page and discovered that she recently attended an Oscar party that featured a beautifully crafted Hugo inspired Nicoise Clock Salad and looks they were washing it down with some Hugo wine! Bon Appétit!!!

Here was her entry;

The things that make a film magical are not only elaborate and stunning visuals, but stories that briefly transport one beyond the confines of day-to-day realities.  The characters that populate these worlds tend to stand for something tangible, good, evil, etc…  In addition to “The Fall” and “The Adventures of Baron Munchausen”, I would add “Peau d’ane” (Donkey Skin) to my list of truly magical films.  The main character is thrust into an impossible situation and from that moment on we are completely committed to seeing her triumph over it all.  This desperate need to see a character through to the end in lands of total enchantment, we get our hearts broken along the way (such as the reveal in “Hugo” that Sacha Baron Cohen’s character was an orphan and tries to convince the boy as he had done with himself that families are not needed), but in the end, these characters emerge through for the better and our hearts soar with them. 

Sincerely, Mélodie S 

Thanks to Paramount Home Video for providing us a copy to giveaway here on Beyond the Marquee and check back often for more exciting contests and promotions to come!

And thanks to all those who e-mailed and entered, we’ve included some of the emailed responses below so we could share other’s opinions on their favorite “magical movies”

To me the most magical movies involve redemption. The story of someone lost finding their way again. Hugo is a perfect example of that. Other films that fall into that category for me would include: It’s A Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Carol.

-Michael R (Florida)

When people refer “Hugo” to a “Magic Movie,” they refer to it’s message which is “The Magic of Movies.” Which is a term that resembles the preservation of film. Martin Scorsese is known to be a big promoter of film preservation. He made Hugo to signify and underline his passion for classic films. Many films now are being destroyed due to age and accidents such as fires, heat, etc. My opinion on what films are “magic movies” would have to be any movie that was from the golden era of hollywood, such as the classics: Wuthering Heights (with Merle Oberon), Jane Eyre (with Joan Fontaine and Orson Welles), Rebecca (with Joan Fontaine), Since You Went Away (with Claudette Colbert and Joseph Cotten), These Three (with Miriam Hopkins)….The list goes on forever with thousands of classics that that time period. This entree is the ideal “Magic Movies.” I suspect most people who enter the contest will say actual “magic” films such as Harry Potter films. I do like the Harry Potter films but I know for a fact that Scorsese wanted it to represent the golden age of movies, not actual magical things. 

– Joe K (Massachusetts)

The Room.  Until you have seen men playing catch in tuxedos, literally only inches away from each other… until you hear a character admit to having breast cancer, and have that issue never be brought up again… until you have seen three horrible sex scenes in the first 10 minutes of a movie, two of them featuring the naked butt of Tommy Wiseau, aka the star/writer/director/producer of The Room, undulating like a pair of canned hams on a Stairmaster… until then, my friend,  you have truly never experienced movie magic. Truly. 

-Ryan T (Southern California)

I find The Neverending Story to be magical.  It just so much fun, and evokes strong memories from my childhood.  Thanks for the contest

-Justin B (South Dakota)

I would have to say I think that A.I. comes to mind when thinking of magical movies because of the great story, directing and performance by Osment.Hugo for some reason remended me of it. I guess the similar stories of a “boy” searching for his identity in the world. thanks

-John K 

thanks for the the giveaway. I would say my favorite other magical movie would be Willy Wonka because of the innocence of the main character and the whimsical story.

– Will M