The Iron Giant Review
by Frankie Paiva (swpstke AT aol DOT com)August 21st, 1999
The Iron Giant (PG) *** 1/2
Featuring the voices of Jennifer Aniston, Eli Marienthal
Directed by Brad Bird
A Review by Frankie Paiva
Being released on the same weekend as five other new movies The Iron Giant is and will become one of the best films you are not likely to see. It's a shame that such a critically acclaimed movie can't do well at the box office, but the public likes it's mainstream trash.
Hogarth Hughes is an adventurous young boy living in Rockwell, a cozy seaside town in Maine. It's 1957 and Sputnik has just been sent into orbit by the Russians, so when a crazed drunk is out on his boat and sees what he calls a metal monster the townspeople joke around with him at first. When cars start getting eaten, and power lines destroyed, the people begin to wonder.
When Kent Mansley (a government agent) comes to investigate he discovers Hogarth's fake gun near the power plant and questions him about it, he says he doesn't know anything but Mansley figures he knows more than he's letting on. The truth is, Hogarth is hiding the robot at the local scrapyard where Dean McCoppin, the owner, is keeping him hidden in a shed. He's beginning to form a bond with the metal man and doesn't want to see him hurt. When Kent discovers that there is a robot, he is scared it's from another country and is going to annihilate us all, and he sends for reinforcements.
While bearing the strong resemblance to E.T., the film is still in a class of it's own. Finally, an animated film with no songs, no fake love stories, and no stupid sidekicks. Instead this is a wonderful film with a good message, (putting in the fact that guns actually kill people is a great message for a children's film) plus the film is filled with lots of gags and jokes aimed directly at adults too.
The film has received horrible box office earnings, and is likely to be put with other critically loved comedies such as Rushmore, Election, Go, and Dick. This is a magical film that can be viewed again and again. So what are you waiting for? Go out and see this film now! Don't delay, call MoviePhone and get tickets for The Iron Giant, which gets *** 1/2 stars.
A Review by Frankie Paiva
The 12 Year-Old Movie Reviewer
E-Mail me at [email protected]
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
