|
The Iron Giant
Directed by: Brad Bird
Starring: Vin Diesel (Voice)
Genre:
Animated
Run Time: 86
min.
Release Date:
August 1999
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Friendship. Love. Respect.
Growing up. These are the themes that run throughout THE IRON GIANT,
an Oscar Award winning animated film from 1999. Kids films without
substance are very familiar to most parents, but The Iron Giant
harkens back to a time when family and friendship meant everything.
Although unusual in the sense that a boy named Hogarth (voiced by Eli
Marienthal) befriends an alien robot simply called The Iron Giant (voiced by Vin Diesel,
FIND ME GUILTY), this animated
feature still teaches kids the responsibilities of friendship and how
devastating it can be to lose one.
The set-up is common in that we see the military and government agents
as bumbling morons who misunderstand the intentions of something as
large and as powerful as a nearly indestructible robot. But
understanding eventually reaches them, too, through the actions of
Hogarth and his new alien buddy.
More interesting than previous animation films for kids, this one shows
not just the upside of this friendship, but the dangers ...as well as a
fatal ending (sort of). Parents should be prepared to comfort their kids
when The Iron Robot launches himself into space in preparation to save
his best friend (Hogarth). The words “Superman” are uttered as The Iron
Giant makes contact with the powerful and deadly rocket, and I’d be
willing to bet that there’s not an adult out there with any heart that
won’t swallow hard at those words.
But there are plenty of fun and funny scenes to counter the more stark
ones. Watching fellow humans complain to the local constabulary about
suddenly absent mouthfuls of trucks, towers, and other metal munchables
is pretty comical, as is a great scene where The Iron Giant does a
cannonball jump into a favorite swimming hole of Hogarth’s.
A fun and serious film with themes that most parents will find a
positive influence on the pliable minds of their young ones.
(back to top) |
Image from The Iron Giant
DVD cost: $9.99
Purchase:
BestPrices.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
The last name for Annie
and Hogarth, Hughes, is a homage to Ted Hughes, author of the original
children's book upon which the movie is based.
Movie Quote: "This
is the greatest discovery since ...television or something."
Other Actors/Actresses
from The Iron Giant
   |
