Masterpiece Cinema - The Iron Giant
Login   Comment   Save article   Message   Print   TheCheers BUDDY   
Hmm... / Entertainment

By Steven Lochran, Journalist






The Cheers magazine is looking for creative people to join our forces. We are looking for

  • Writers
  • Special topic/genre writers
  • On-call theme writers
  • Editors
  • Project leaders

    Sounds interesting?
    Click here for more info.










  • More from author
    -  Masterpiece Mixtape - Let's Stay Together
    -  Masterpiece Mixtape - Midnight Radio
    -  Masterpiece Mixtape - Lover, You Should've Come Over
    -  Masterpiece Mixtape - (Looking for) The Heart of Saturday Night
    -  Masterpiece Mixtape - Thrown Away

    See news about
    There will be no page refresh, so check it out.
     
    Hi, everyone. After last weeks deviation into the world of comics, I'm happy to say that were back on target. This week, an often over-looked modern day animation classic:

    'The Iron Giant' Starring the voice talents of Eli Marienthal, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Conick Jr., Vin Diesel, and John Mahoney.

    Written by Brad Bird and Tim McCanlies (Based on the book The Iron Man by Ted Hughes)
    Directed by Brad Bird
    Genre: Animation / Family / Sci-Fi
    Released: 1999
    Running time: 86 mins.
    Rated: PG

    IMDb link: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0129167/

    Okay, so the other day I was on the bus, and for whatever reason I started thinking about the conclusion of The Iron Giant, don't ask me why, but I just did. And right there, on the bus, thinking about a kids movie, I started getting all teary. I know, I know, Im a girly boy.

    But seriously, have you seen this movie? I mean, come on! How could you not get all gooey?! When it was released in 1999, The Iron Giant pretty much flopped. Dont ask me why it probably had something to do with it not being a shiny CG Pixar movie that everyone seems to be going in for these days (well, okay, the title character is completely computer generated, but its so well integrated into the rest of the animation that you dont even really notice). The films box office failure is a real shame its a great movie, something that kids and parents can enjoy together.

    It can also be enjoyed by childless movie geeks, such as you know me. Based on the 1968 story The Iron Man by British poet laureate Ted Hughes, the movie revolves around the friendship that a boy forms with a giant robot after he finds it hiding in the forest one day. As the military does everything it can to track down what they consider to be a dangerous weapon, the robot struggles against doing what it was programmed to do: kill humans.

    You don't often find a mainstream American animated film that deals with such dark material as this, nor with as much maturity and ability as demonstrated here. Its incredibly involving, so much so that you may very well find yourself on the bus one day, two years after having first seen it, with tears in your eyes because of how much it managed to get to you. Its an under appreciated modern classic, and something that anyone with kidsor anyone who just appreciates a good storyshould definitely check out. Next week: We return to the land of the rising sun.



    AUTHOR: Steven Lochran

    TAGS: Entertainment                     

    BOOKMARK: Digg it  |  Add to Del.ICIO  |  Add to FARK  

    ACTIONS: Comment   Save   Print   Register free acount   



    mightypixel




    mightypixel says on 2004-07-18 20:19:55 about iron giant
    I agree, this was a tremendously underrated film! Brad Bird (director and co-writer) made a comment in Wired about how the animation division (at Warner I assume) was closing down as they were working on the film. Many I've encountered have had an earful to say about how poorly the film was promoted, including a layout artist who worked on the film. Its really a shame too, because this film was everything Disney wishes it could've been. The illustration quality was excellent, the story had a powerful message, and the integration of 2D and 3D elements was flawless. Luckily there seems to be a loyal cult following of animation fans for the film, prompting Warner to release a special edition on DVD.

    Another animated film you may want to include on your list is the original Secret of Nimh. Not as good as Iron Giant, but definately worth adding to a DVD collection.










    Post Comment

     
     Your nickname
     
     About what
     
     Your comment
     




    ADVERTISEMENTS
    Anxiety - Anxiety, Depression and ADHD related information.


    DUI Lawyers - find the right attorney nationwide | vasectomy reversal - Dr. Schow offers a monetary refund of the surgeon\\\'s fee for men who undergo a vasectomy reversal (either vasovasostomy or vasoepididymostomy) and fail to achieve achieve one million motile sperm in their ejaculate by one year from the vasectomy reversa | Super 8 Film to DVD | Comcast promotional offers - . | credit repair dispute | PEO Companies - | Steel Building | Frigidaire parts

    The Cheers magazine: About us | Contact us | The Cheers Story | Advertising
    Work with The Cheers: Writers guide | Write for us | Writer application | Reporter application | Affiliates
    The Cheers feeds: Free article feeds | Free news feeds
    The Cheers: Brand Lady (sister magazine) | Terms and conditions | Privacy policy | Sponsoring | Sitemap
    Watch: Watch movies online | Watch free tv online | Watch heroes online
    Trade: Virtual stock market | Fantasy investing competitions | Free day trading tips
    Learn: Business videos online | Business networking | Business strategies | Business ideas
      Write for us:  Become a writer    Become a reporter Latest news: New Book Published