The Iron Giant (1999) Review
May 26th 2010 23:52
I've spoken about it time and time again, a movie can be brilliant, amazing, trend setting, and have more movie starts in it than a Los Angeles rehab clinic and people still won't see it if it's animated. Many of the most brilliant and amazing films ever made were animated and fell into
semi-obscurity as a direct result. Many of us have heard of the Iron Giant, either the film or the child's book it's based on, but how many have really seen it outside the dusty young adult shelf at your local Video Safari? To those who have missed it, you've missed possibly one of the best animated films ever made. As well, as the first mainstream movie roll of Vin Diesel, though oddly enough most of his lines are the grunts and growls of a gigantic alien robot.
Brad Bird is an excellent writer, and animator and possibly one of the most unappreciated second bananas in Hollywood. Before he did “The Incredible” and “Ratatouille” with Pixar, making his mark on animation history, he did this conventionally animated film, based on the Ted Hughs book of the same name. Hogarth Hughs is a young boy who lost his father (we're not sure how, but it's hinted his father was a pilot in the Korean War) he lives in an old farmhouse with his mother, and whatever boarders come by. Hogarth is a bit of a pre-geek geek being that the story takes place in the 1950's, he likes monster movies and comic books (you can see why I relate to this guy) and doesn't have any real friends his own age since he was moved ahead a year in school. One night, while on an expedition in the woods, he finds a enormous crash-landed robot, with a case of robot Amnesia. The child-like robot eats metal, and Hogarth befriends him and helps him find metal that's safe to eat and avoid government agents out to track him down. One of the more memorable characters is dean, the beatnik scrapyard owner who finds himself the unwilling roommate of the massive giant who survives on the abundant metal of the scrapyard.
The animation is silky smooth, perhaps some of the most impressive hand-drawn animation I've ever seen. While it has a whimsical feel to it, it also has realistic and slightly dark feel. The movie is firmly in it's t1950's setting, everything form the costumes, to how people talk, to the trusting innocence of the people of the time. The movie's a near perfect period piece, and you can feel the innocence of the past slipping away, replaced by the cynicism and paranoia of the cold war. The voice cast is as impressive as the production, with Jennifer Anniston lending her voice to Hogarth's hard working mother, as Harry Connick Jr. Speaking for the amazingly cool Dean . . . and as the Giant himself, action superstar Vin Diesel. Of course, at this time Diesel was more known for his work in independent film and hadn't yet had his big break and was mostly known for his independent film work and music. Through heavy vocal special effects Diesel belched out scant dialogue like “Rock” and “Superman” being that the iron giant himself had few real lines. Of course what the big lug did say was memorable, in fact the giant himself gave what I believe to be the most memorable line of the film.
“The Iron Giant” was a living anachronism, a horse and buggy in a race with sports cares. Pixar had taught us no one needs to draw Animation anymore, and even though some computer generated effects were used it was still a tried and true hand-drawn animated feature and did mediocre at the box office and quickly passed out of the public mind. While this movie's failure at the box office is a bit sad, it did launch the career of both Brad bird, who went on to write and direct “The Incredibles” and
“Ratatouille” two of the most successful and acclaimed animated pictures of all time. Also, we learned about Vin Diesel, who despite his tough-guy attitude, didn't mind taking a voice acting role that was a bit less than glamorous and doing an incredible job with it. Because of this, he gets noticed and becomes an action superstar. Still, I think that this movie deserves to be among the ranks of the classics of animation, and I hope I've encouraged you to check it out.
This guy is an action figure waiting to happen
“The Iron Giant” was a living anachronism, a horse and buggy in a race with sports cares. Pixar had taught us no one needs to draw Animation anymore, and even though some computer generated effects were used it was still a tried and true hand-drawn animated feature and did mediocre at the box office and quickly passed out of the public mind. While this movie's failure at the box office is a bit sad, it did launch the career of both Brad bird, who went on to write and direct “The Incredibles” and
What kid would't want a giant robot as a best friend?
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Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I'm a massive fan of this too (it makes my top 10 animated films of all time list.)
From my own review:
Colourful with a Beatniks eye for cool, there is an undeniable charm to the visual palette on display. The dialogue is crisp and the screenplay is balanced and will keep your spawn rivetted while you admire the skilful handling of the material.
The film resonates and you will find that it sneaks into your emotional ooze and invests you in the characters. "
If your interested you can read my Iron Giant full review HERE