Certainly being Martin Scorsese's most unusual film, this is an innocent and optimistic adventure movie without any signs of cynicism or violence. Although it is mostly aimed at a younger audience (at least the part with an attention span longer than 15 minutes) it should also please adults still young heart, even if the storytelling and dialogs are rather simplistic.

Starting out as a harmless adolescence riddle hunt, the second half of the movie is mostly a love declaration to the pioneers of film making. The young actors are lovable and talented and of course we already know Ben Kingsley is able to control a movie screen. Sacha "Borat" Chohen is a pleasant surprise as station inspector, especially once the character shows it is far from one-dimensional.

Visually the film, especially the wide shots, look rather like an animated movie, maybe even a little fake. That's not meant in a bad way, it just creates an artificial but charming 1920s Paris and makes great use of the 3D technology for a couple of gorgeous shots and quite some depth. But the characters, their story and the ultimate praise of cinema as an ground-breaking, imaginative invention and possibility for escapism is much more important than the visual effects of the film.

Being maybe a tad harmless, this is certainly nothing spectacular or exciting by any means, but very lovable, rewarding and heart-warming.
And now everyone knows why the Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight, tonight" video looks the way it does.

7 out of 10 rockets into the moon's eye.