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The Iron Giant

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85
Metascore
 29 reviews
8.7
User Score
 387 ratings

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Director: Brad Bird
Writer: Brad Bird Ted Hughes Tim McCanlies
Production: Warner Bros. Pictures
Movie Details: A giant metal machine falls to Earth in 1950s Maine, frightening townspeople. However, the robot
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.
Genre(s): Action Adventure Sci-Fi Drama Comedy Animation Family
MPAA Rating: PG
Production: Warner Bros. Pictures
Runtime: 86 min
Home Release Date: Nov 23, 1999
Country: USA
Language: English
Director: Brad Bird
Writer: Brad Bird Ted Hughes Tim McCanlies
Starring:
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  • The Iron Giant

    The Iron Giant

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  • Iron Giant, The (Trailer 1)

    Iron Giant, The (Trailer 1)

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Critic Reviews
(29)
85
Metascore Universal acclaim
29 Positive Ratings 100%
0 Mixed Ratings 0%
0 Negative Ratings 0%
Based on 29 Critic Reviews View All
100
L.A. Weekly
F. X. Feeney
"One of the best films of the year thus far." ... Read full review
93
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
90
Salon
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
80
Village Voice
J. Hoberman
"Remarkably unassuming, genuinely playful, and superbly executed, The Iron Giant towers over the cartoon landscape." ... Read full review
80
Washington Post
Stephen Hunter
"Still, the movie -- as beautifully drawn, as sleek and engaging as it is -- has the annoyance of incredible smugness." ... Read full review
80
Time
Richard Schickel
"A smart live-and-let-live parable." ... Read full review
63
New York Post
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
Critic Reviews
User Reviews
(68)
8.7
User Score Universal acclaim
355 Positive Ratings 91%
14 Mixed Ratings 3%
18 Negative Ratings 4%
Based on 387 Ratings and 68 Reviews View All
10
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"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
10
JAM123
Aug 30, 2011
This was an amazing movie. Touching and masterful. I remember watching it when it first came out and thinking it was great but after seeing itThis was an amazing movie. Touching and masterful. I remember watching it when it first came out and thinking it was great but after seeing it again, it's still that way. Instant classic for all ages this is. Brad bird really did a spectacular job with this one. This movie not only had an awesome story line but had a great message. It was that anyone can be a hero, but also anyone can be a villain it's your choice. It wasn't about a kid who finds a giant robot, it was about friendship and what you'd do for a friend. It's an amazing tear jerker and I highly recommend it.… Expand
10
MystiC
Sep 12, 2009
I watched this near the time of it's release, when I was eleven. I loved it then, as any science fiction-reading child would. But, what I watched this near the time of it's release, when I was eleven. I loved it then, as any science fiction-reading child would. But, what I did not expect was to come across it at twenty one, and cry like a baby throughout the last half.… Expand
10
annbd
Dec 23, 2017
I haven't watched a lot of animations, but The Iron Giant seems like a perfect one, suitable for every age. The story was compelling and itsI haven't watched a lot of animations, but The Iron Giant seems like a perfect one, suitable for every age. The story was compelling and its spreads a beautiful message. Love it!… Expand
9
kev_i_n
Mar 21, 2014
Overview
+Great story that is surprising, entertaining and slightly unpredictable
+Excellent voice acting giving depth to the charactersOverview
+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
8
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 giantBrad 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
0
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
User Reviews