Vin Diesel

Eli Marienthal

Jennifer Aniston

Harry Connick Jr.

James Gammon

Cloris Leachman

Christopher McDonald

John Mahoney

M. Emmet Walsh

Jack Angel

Bob Bergen

Mary Kay Bergman

Michael Bird

Devon Cole Borisoff

Rodger Bumpass

Robert Clotworthy

Jennifer Darling

Zack Eginton

Paul Eiding

Bill Farmer

Charles Howerton

Ollie Johnston

Sherry Lynn

Mickie McGowan

Ryan O'Donohue

Phil Proctor

Frank Thomas

Patti Tippo

Brian Tochi

Carole Jeghers

Brad Bird

Pete Townshend

Michael Kamen

Steven Wilzbach

Darren T. Holmes

Tim McCanlies

Laura Leganza Reynolds

Dao Le

Viki Anderson

Piet Kroon

Steve Lumley

Steve Markowski

Fergal Reilly

Dean Wellins

Amy Richards

Jeannine Berger

Scott T. Petersen

Bill Perkins

Tanya Calderon

Craig R. Maras

John Williamson

Phil Langone

Adam Henry

Shane Prigmore

David Parker

Allison Abbate

Des McAnuff

John Walker

Marci Liroff

Aaron Parry

Mark Dinicola

Will Eisner

Christopher Brooks

Terry Claborn

Stephen Schaffer

Lou Romano

Tony Fucile

Peter Sohn

Steve Garcia

Jackie Blaisdell

Stephan Franck

Sheri Galloway

John Currin

Greg Snyder

Andrew L. Schmidt

Louis Gonzales

Kevin O'Brien

Mark Whiting

Alan Bodner

Joan Peter

Mark Andrews

Ron Hughart

Scott F. Johnston

Brian Kindregan

Moroni Taylor

Teddy Newton

Harry Sabin

Christine Beck

Shaunda G. Jones

Mo Henry

Ted Hughes

E. Tavares Black

Jennisen Svendsen

Jode Craig

Keith Brennan

Leslie Barker

Louis Moulinet

Monte A. Gagnier

Sam Mendlestein

William H. Frake III

Zeba Fahid

André Bivins

Anthony Lauro

Cirilo R. Gonzales Jr.

Corrine Salgado

Dustin Ellis

Helen Vuong

Henri Hovhanesyan

Jean M. Klanecky

Justin Balch

Kathy Tajbakhsh

Michael Leach

Sunny Ye

Jessica Dalton

Jeffrey Lynch

Robert Elhai

John 'Juke' Logan

Stephen McLaughlin

Blake Neely

Preston Oliver

Dennie Thorpe

Family

Animation

Science Fiction

Adventure

The Iron Giant

Warner Bros. Feature Animation

United States of America

English

friendship

small town

based on novel or book

self sacrifice

cold war

alien

meteorite

giant robot

autumn

fear of unknown

1950s

mother son relationship

hopeful

You are who you choose to be.

It's the 1950s and young Hogarth Hughes happens upon a visitor from space ..... in the form of a giant iron man.

Delightful animation adaptation of Ted Hughes' much beloved 1968 novel "The Iron Man". Set during the period of time when Cold War and sci-fi paranoia was prevalent, The Iron Giant embraces these themes and stokes them with lessons of friendship, hatred, death and pertinent reminders of pacifism. Directed by Brad Bird and scripted by Tim McCanilies and Andy Brent Forrester, The Iron Giant is one of those rare animation animals that delights the kids as much as it does the watching adults. Though the actual giant himself, with all his dazzling weaponry, is the star attraction on show, it's the iron colossus' inner conflict that gives the film its heart. Aided by his friend, young Hogarth, good old iron decides he doesn't want to be a big weapon, but the authorities, as is nearly always the way, just can't let it be. The unflinching attitude that ran through many of the 50s sci-fi schlockers was one of being "because we don't understand it, lets destroy it" is something that Ted Hughes and the film makers here capture perfectly. Sophisticated and intelligent in its approach and delivery, this is definitely one of the better animated film's from the modern age. 9/10

Voice work comes from Jennifer Anniston, Harry Connick Jr, Vin Diesel, James Gammon, Christopher McDonald, M. Emmet Walsh and Eli Marienthal.

CinemaSerf

When a ship is caught up in a storm, it's captain finds the most unlikely of saviours - but nobody back in the town of "Rockwell" believes him! Hardly surprising as he claimed to have been rescued by an hundred foot robot with bright yellow eyes. "Hogarth" is an enthusiastic young lad who wants to keep a pet. His mother ("Annie") is having nothing to do with this, especially after one of his candidates manages to just about wreck the diner where she works and turn scrap man "Dean" into "Deana" in the process. Dejected at home alone, he hears some strange noises and armed with his pop gun and a torch, sets off into the forest to find the source. When he discovers that the fisherman's tale wasn't so long after all, the pair begin to bond and the story takes on a familiar look. It does have shades of "The Day The Earth Stood Still" as it shows clearly the typical reaction to something strange, new and big - the government and the army are soon in hot pursuit with little intent on diplomacy but with plenty of tanks, missiles and ultimately the "bomb" - just as destructive to them as to the "monster". It's really the characterisations that help this stand out. The style of animation is simple yet potent, the creature positively emanates a degree of decency and charisma and the relationship with the young boy that manifests itself to us is one that amiably resonates whether that be with a real friend, an imaginary one - or one from outer space who doesn't much like guns and has an almost infantile approach to life. Proof that when you have a solid story and tell it well, the gadgets, gismos (and there are a few, here) and visual effects don't matter so much as the soul of the thing.

The Iron Giant( 1999)

It came from outer space!

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A review by John Chard

Written by John Chard on Mon Apr 13 2020

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