It wouldn't seem technically advanced if you saw it now, but George Melies' movie A Trip to the Moon was revolutionary, a classic in every sense of the word. Apart from being the first sci-fi film created, it was also one of the earliest to incorporate animation and special effects.
That was 1902. Of course we've progressed in leaps and bounds, but Melies' work laid the foundation for many Hollywood films and directors. One is Martin Scorsese; and his gratitude is evident in his ode to the great filmmaker in his first 3D offering, Hugo.
Orphan boy Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) lives in a Paris train station. He spends his time fixing and finding (stealing, mostly) parts for his robot, which he started building with his father (Jude Law) before he died. One day, toy store owner Georges (Ben Kingsley) catches Hugo stealing. This leads to Hugo befriending Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz), Georges' goddaughter, and discovering Georges' magical past.
The cinematography is stunning. The opening shot sweeping across Paris to the inside of the train station shows how 3D brings a picture to life. The set is spectacular: metal cogs, grease, smoke and the whirr and rattle of machinery evoke thoughts of Dickens' London. And the clips of A Trip to the Moon in 3D stir an incredible mixed bag of emotions.