Steamboy

Name: Steamboy
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Animation
Released: March 18, 2005
Duration: 126 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Alfred Molina, Anna Paquin, Patrick Stewart

2005

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 130 Ratings

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 130 Ratings

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Steamboy

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Movie Details & Credits

Triumph Films | Release Date: March 18, 2005 | PG-13

Starring: Alfred Molina, Anna Paquin, Patrick Stewart

Summary: A retro science-fiction epic set in Victorian England, Steamboy features an inventor prodigy named Ray Steam who receives a mysterious metal ball containing a new form of energy capable of powering an entire nation. This young boy must use it to fight evil, redeem his family, and save London from destruction. (Sony)

Director: Katsuhiro Ôtomo

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Animation, Family

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 126 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

David Sterritt

Visually stunning animation. Read full review

Janet Maslin

The film turns into a preposterous but engrossing spectacle, fueled by a resource more enduring than steam or its successors: big ideas. Read full review

Tasha Robinson

Steamboy adds a touch of innocent wonder to the formula through Ray's eyes, resulting in Otomo's most human film to date, but humanity rarely seems to be among Otomo's priorities. His films seem far more concerned with the spectacle he manages like no one else in animation. Read full review

J.R. Jones

Visually commanding, conceptually beguiling, but dramatically inert. Read full review

Greg Bellavia

Perhaps the key to understanding where Steamboy goes wrong is in understanding why Otomo's previous animated feature "Akira" was such a success. Read full review

Empire Staff (Not credited)

Visually arresting, with an enjoyably wacky premise, but scuppered somewhat by its rusty, clunky storytelling. Read full review

Stephen Hunter

The movie never transcended its elaborate production work to achieve an independent reality. Read full review

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User Reviews

RClemo

Oct 23, 2005

Kind of like Laputa: Castle in the Sky.

2 of 2 users found this helpful

RayS.

Mar 11, 2006

Simply amazing in everything. The animation, score, the characters, and the story. This is the best film I saw in 2005 and in my opinion was better than Crash and King Kong. It's even better than Akira. The non - stop rush of action scenes and machinery absorbs you into the world of Steamboy.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

GerrickC.

Jun 16, 2007

Easily one of the best anime movies ever. If you liked Akira you will like this movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

mapizarro

Oct 8, 2013

Katsuhiro Otomo brings us a strange film. At beginning of alternate century, Ray Steam has main role in a film doesn't logical plot. It's true that "Steamboy" is science-fiction film but this is no excuse. "Akira" was powerful, philosophical and innovative. "Steamboy" begins cool, itKatsuhiro Otomo brings us a strange film. At beginning of alternate century, Ray Steam has main role in a film doesn't logical plot. It's true that "Steamboy" is science-fiction film but this is no excuse. "Akira" was powerful, philosophical and innovative. "Steamboy" begins cool, it promises an epic adventure but in the middle it jams. It rambles in story and the viewer no longer understands. "Steamboy" is movie interrumpted. Although, Otomo keeps on tension to end.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ReubenIsAGod

May 24, 2014

Basically Steamboy is a film FULL of stupid plot points, annoying characters but bumped up due to the fact that the film Looks and feels visually spectacular also the Dub is pretty great.

6/10, better then average

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CodyK.

Sep 11, 2005

The movie is

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Broyax

Feb 14, 2021

Comme son nom l’indique, on navigue dans les eaux troubles et troublées du steampunk à la toute puissance de la vapeur et des inventions (totalement délirantes ici) lors de cette première révolution industrielle en Angleterre… c’est naturellement l’occasion pour le film de dénoncer la «Comme son nom l’indique, on navigue dans les eaux troubles et troublées du steampunk à la toute puissance de la vapeur et des inventions (totalement délirantes ici) lors de cette première révolution industrielle en Angleterre… c’est naturellement l’occasion pour le film de dénoncer la « science sans conscience » comme le faisait déjà observer si justement Rabelais en son temps !

Les applications militaires de la vapeur magique sont évidemment en première ligne à Londres et au dessus de Londres et comme il s’agit d’un film du gars Otomo (cf Akira), ce Steamboy en l’occurrence ne se prive certainement pas… de tout faire péter et de tout faire exploser pendant un sacré bout de temps !

C’est la façon du réalisateur de montrer ainsi le chaos et le moins qu’on puisse dire, c’est qu’il n’y va pas avec le dos de la cuiller ! c’est d’ailleurs assez réussi techniquement parlant malgré les aléas de l’animation 2d typiquement japonaise. Spectaculaire à souhait en tout cas…

Le scénario ici reste cependant souvent malmené, trop souvent sous pression je crois (!) et sujet à moult incohérences et/ou rebondissements plus ou moins aberrants… et puis c’est encoe un gamin qui sauve le monde comme d’habitude, aidé à l’insu de son plein gré par la gamine blondinette rouspéteuse qui ajoute une étonnante et incongrue touche de bouffonnerie à la destruction ambiante.

Steamboy en fait donc des mégatonnes pour étayer sa démonstration un brin lourdingue. Heureusement, ça reste distrayant et on ne s’ennuie pas le moins du monde !… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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