Selected Customer Reviews
"The Iron Giant" Is My Favorite Animated Film of All Time
"The Iron Giant," an animated film from 1999, was directed by Brad Bird, who also directed 2004's "The Incredibles." In "The Iron Giant," a boy in 1958 Maine discovers a giant metal robot with who seems to be from outer space. The boy struggles to hide his discovery from a Cold War-obsessed government agent who is sure the giant was sent to spy on (and maybe even destroy) America. While there isn't as much action as there was in "The Incredibles" (though there is some), the film is both funny and moving, and the strong story, great voice performances (especially by Eli Marienthal, who plays the boy), and beautiful 2-D animation result in what is my favorite animated film of all time (a distinction which is impressive considering I'm a huge Disney fan and "The Iron Giant" was released by Warner Bros.).
The Best Animated Movie Of The Decade
I am not generally a fan of animated movies, and when I saw the ad campaign for "The Iron Giant" I had zero plans of seeing it. Fortunately for me it was given to me as a gift, and instead of a typical piece of animated feel-good flotsam, I was delighted to discover a brilliantly conceived and animated film with great subtlety and nuance.
The Iron Giant comes from space during a storm off the coast of Maine in the 1950s, during the height of cold war hysteria. He is befriended by the comically named Hogarth Hughes through a series of improbable events. The story metaphorically becomes a struggle between good and evil, yet never becomes jingoistic or propagandistic. If you have dry eyes at the end of the film you are not human, which speaks to the power of really good animation and filmmaking in general.
The voices (Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick, Jr., Vin Diesel, John Mahoney, etc.) are all perfect for their roles, and the animation is truly breathtaking. This is better than anything Disney has made in the last twenty years or so, and Warner Brothers should be proud of this film and use it as a model for what a truly good animated picture can be.
Finally, to dispel a rumor, although this film is suitable for kids, it is not a "kid's movie," as it raises many important issues and deals with them in a very adult fashion. Although children will enjoy the film, expect it to generate major questions from them. In that regard, it does most parents a service in introducing difficult concepts (such as love, friendship, and death) in a marvelous way. Some of the humor will slide right past younger children, but never fear, the adults will love it.
I highly recommend this film to children and adults alike. This is a truly brilliant production, and I enthusiastically give it five stars!
BETTER THAN ANY DISNEY ANIMATED FILM........
THE BEST NON DISNEY ANIMATED FILM THE ENTIRE FAMILY COULD ENJOY.
FINALLY, A MOVIE WITH NO CURSING,SEX,NUDITY,VIOLENCE,OR GORE.
IT EARNS RAVE REVIEWS FROM CRITICS, WINS NUMEROUS AWARDS, and MAKES OVER 275 MILLION DOLLARS AROUND THE WORLD! A CROSS BETWEEN E.T. AND THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. GOOD SCRIPT, GREAT STORY, DECENT ACTING. IT OPENS HERE IN AMERICA FOR THEATER RELEASE AND....... it flops.
just because DISNEY has nothing to do with this doesn't mean it's not a good children's film.
americans have been screaming for years now for family films to play at theaters, yet when one comes along, it flops because DISNEY had nothing to do with it? go figure.
