THE IRON GIANT
A Warner Bros. release

review by Joe Mauceri

A new Classic!

A mysterious giant robot falls to earth in Maine, circa 1957. 12-year-old Hogarth Hughes befriends the giant and teaches him that he is more then just a machine.

Brad Bird has been at the cutting-edge of animation. His credits include shows like "The Simpsons," "King of the Hill," and "The Critic." Brad was the creator behind the critically acclaimed "The Family Dog" episode of "Amazing Stories." Now, Brad makes his feature length directing debut with THE IRON GIANT. The film taps into that magical experience that allows audiences to look at the world with a child's sense of wonder. You almost feel compelled to sit through the credits to make sure they do not list Spielberg's name somewhere. The filmmakers have taken a few liberties with Ted Hughes' novel, while seamlessly adapting it to a new set of parameters. One of the enjoyable nuances is the homage to the "B" movies of the late 50's and early 60's. The screenplay addresses the potential for violence and freedom of choice. The story unfolds against the height of America's paranoia that the Russian launch of Sputnik created. The film is special in that it does not play down to the younger audience. Yes, children look on the world with a sense of wonder and innocence, but children are often smarter then we give them credit. Bird taps into that, and at times shows Hogarth to be wiser then his years. He reaches the adults through Dean, the hippie artist. He can see what Hogarth can and show it to his peers. Also, Hogarth may live in a perfect suburban town, but his life is far from that. He is the only child in a single parent household. His mother struggles to create a "normal" environment for him, while often being overprotecting. Bird gives the audience realistic characters and places the Iron Giant in their midst. In an age of C.G.I. wonders, the director might have done this story live action. However, I don't believe it would be as effective. Further, audiences often get caught up with "stars." When watching animated characters, audiences quickly forget the face behind the voice and get caught up in the magic of the tale. Further, Bird chooses not to sugarcoat the tale with musical numbers. The film integrates three different animation styles. There is Hogarth's 1957 world, the Iron Giant, and a traditional cartoon style used for television and public service films. The director uses the different styles to emphasize points that he addresses later in the story. The style of the Giant is reminiscent of the classic animated "Gigantor," but when provoked looks more like his more modern counterparts like "Voltron" or "The Power Rangers." They employ the C.G.I. animation to create a 3-dimensional look to the film's environments, like the sea and Forrest. I first previewed the film at a small screening room and was impressed by the look and feel of the film. I had the opportunity to see the film a second time on a big screen and was blown away. Other then Disney's most recent success, such as "Tarzan" and "The Hunchback of Norte Dame," I have never seen such a rich animated feature with an ability to completely fill a big screen. THE IRON GIANT offers audiences those rare magical moments that make going to the movies so much fun. THE IRON GIANT is a rare cinematic event to share repeatedly with friends and family.

OFFICIAL WEB SITE:
www.irongiant.com

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