The Iron Giant

Name: The Iron Giant
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama, Comedy
Released: August 6, 1999
Duration: 86 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Eli Marienthal, Harry Connick Jr.

1999

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 404 Ratings

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8.7

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8.7	User Score Universal acclaim based on 404 Ratings

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The Iron Giant

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: August 6, 1999 | PG

Starring: Eli Marienthal, Harry Connick Jr.

Summary: A giant metal machine falls to Earth in 1950s Maine, frightening townspeople. However, the robot befriends a nine-year-old boy named Hogarth who must save it from the predjudices of the townspeople and from a government agent intent on destroying the robot.

Director: Brad Bird

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

Rating: PG

Runtime: 86 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

F. X. Feeney

One of the best films of the year thus far. Read full review

Mr. Showbiz Cody Clark

Bird's movie neither panders to children nor sneers at them, and it beautifully, lucidly captures the giddy adventurousness of childhood. Read full review

Mary Elizabeth Williams

Surprising as it sounds, as far as examinations of trust, loyalty and identity go, the big metal dude's story winds up far more satisfying than the plodding Kubrick opus any day of the week. Read full review

J. Hoberman

Remarkably unassuming, genuinely playful, and superbly executed, The Iron Giant towers over the cartoon landscape. Read full review

Stephen Hunter

Still, the movie -- as beautifully drawn, as sleek and engaging as it is -- has the annoyance of incredible smugness. Read full review

Richard Schickel

A smart live-and-let-live parable. Read full review

Rod Dreher

In most respects, The Iron Giant is one of the better animated children's films in recent memory, which makes its strident political correctness all the more frustrating. Read full review

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User Reviews

ryancarroll88

Sep 28, 2010

"The Iron Giant" is a soft-hearted and whimsical take on period movies (I've rarely seen a better take on Communist-era America) that is an absolute joy to behold. The combination of great animation and satirical dialogue makes every character memorable and fun and the finale is as gripping"The Iron Giant" is a soft-hearted and whimsical take on period movies (I've rarely seen a better take on Communist-era America) that is an absolute joy to behold. The combination of great animation and satirical dialogue makes every character memorable and fun and the finale is as gripping as animated films come.… Expand

14 of 15 users found this helpful141

MovieLonely94

Oct 28, 2010

any kid who likes animation should like this. it has heart, comedy, and adventure. the right family movie for kids and adults.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

emlugo123

Feb 25, 2015

One of the best movies I have ever seen. A tear-jerking movie until the very end. It is a must see if you haven't seen it. No matter what your age is you will love this movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SirKirbyThe4th

Sep 23, 2015

There are 2 types of people when it comes to this movie. People who love it, & people who've never seen it before. There is no 3rd option, It's one of the the most praised movie out of everyone I know. & if people DO hate it, they just love to troll, they love it, & they know it.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

kev_i_n

Mar 21, 2014

Overview
+Great story that is surprising, entertaining and slightly unpredictable
+Excellent voice acting giving depth to the characters +The sound effect fit right into the film, no sound seems particularly out of place. +The chemistry between all the characters feels right -Are a fewOverview
+Great story that is surprising, entertaining and slightly unpredictable
+Excellent voice acting giving depth to the characters
+The sound effect fit right into the film, no sound seems particularly out of place.
+The chemistry between all the characters feels right
-Are a few plot holes here and there, but won’t mention any cause doing so may reveal the ending
-Compared to recent offerings from Pixar, this film does look a little dated, but them again that is to be expected on a film that was released for 1999
-Some of the characters feel a little under-developed

Therefore I would highly reckon this film, as it is a great watch. It is such a shame though how the film as a whole was a finical failure, but don’t let that put you off.

Full Review
The main features about the Iron Giant that makes it stand above the crowd are the story and characters. At first it seems a very stereotypical children’s film, with the main character (Hogarth) being the unfortunate, bullied, kid at school who them befriends an iron giant. Furthermore the similarity to E.T is unavoidable, and it could be argued the iron giant is a less emotional version of E.T, as the story for the most part is basically about the relationship between a boy and an unknown creature, while the government try to find the creature. However when the film introduces the villain (Kent) who is sent to investigate certain incidents within the town, the story picks up as Kent becomes more determined to find the giant, and Hogarth must hide him, leading to a game of cat and mouse occurring. Furthermore unlike typical children’s films, where the villain is so obviously evil and a bit dull, here Kent’s position is sort of understandable, as his determination to gain recognition, and his fear of the unknown drive him on, while he is restricted by governmental powers. The combination of believing motivates and restricts on his power, make Kent an excellent villain. Likewise while Hogarth can be boring and stereotypical at first, this changes when he begins his interaction with the Iron Giant, because the relationship between the two is excellently portrayed, as Hogarth tries to restrain the Giant’s power, while at the same time trying to have fun with his own Iron Giant. For me this makes the relationship between the two far more plausible than the relationship between Eliot and E.T, in E.T. Likewise Hogarth nature of being a little bit rebellious while not being a really annoying character, as his maturity further help to place the film higher than its competition.

The story and characters are made less stereotypical, with the introduction of difficult issues, such as fear of the unknown, teaching something wrong from right in a contemporary setting etc. However these questions are balanced with elements of heart-warming comedy, whether it is the childish nature of the Giant, the creative imagination of Hogarth etc. help to soften out the moral elements of the film. It certainly makes a nice change from the countless children films that focus only on love/romance. Such features help to make the Iron Giant a breath of fresh air.

The excellent story and character portrayal are all enhanced by the excellent voice acting. In particular credit has to go to Christopher McDonald voicing Kent who really provides a nice balance of normality, crazy levels of determination, frustration, and a consistent level of evil. Likewise Vin Diesel voicing the Iron Giant works fantastically well, because his deep voice combined with the lack of spoken dialogue gives the Giant lots of depth. For me the overall sound of the movie was great as there was a minimalist sound track with hardly any songs, but everything, from the water effects, to the explosions, fit right in to the overall effect and feel of this outstanding movie.

The only major drawback to the film, decides the things you would expect (dated looks, and plot holes); is the lack of the development of the sub-characters. While lack of development does not affect Dean I particular, the characters that feel under-developed are the General and Hogarth’s mum Annie. Now while the general is not in the film for a long period of time, so his under-development is understandable, the fact that within the film he holds the power of Kent means that by him being barely featured, when he does exercise his power it is not as impactful as it should be. The same sense of under-development affects Annie, who despite being a key character seems a bit unaware of what is going on, and like the General, despite playing a key role as Hogarth’s mum, is not featured enough.

However, I would still recommend this film to anyone because it is charming and a lot of fun, despite its short comings. A must see.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

BKM

Aug 22, 2013

Brad Bird's delightful directorial debut is an exhilarating and emotionally resonant story about the friendship between a boy and a giant metal man from outer space that will appeal to viewers of all ages. It also manages to raise questions about patriotism, violence, fear and intoleranceBrad Bird's delightful directorial debut is an exhilarating and emotionally resonant story about the friendship between a boy and a giant metal man from outer space that will appeal to viewers of all ages. It also manages to raise questions about patriotism, violence, fear and intolerance and they ways that they so often seem to be intertwined. Both qualities combine to give it a timeless quality.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

donmcdonough

Aug 27, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's the worst. I don't reccommend it. I mean, COME ON! WHY THE HELL WOULD THIS BE A GREAT MOVIE?… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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10	#10 Best Movie of 1999
11	#11 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
25	#25 Most Shared Movie of 1999