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MOVIES / ON DVD / THE IRON GIANT
The Iron Giant

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The Iron Giant (1999)

97%
100%
89%
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97 %
Reviews Counted: 109 Fresh: 106  Rotten:3 Average Rating: 8/10
 
Consensus: Touching, intelligent, timeless, and brilliant: these are a few of the adjectives that are often used to describe Brad Bird's masterpiece of animation. While this movie may be set in what seems like a 1950s cold war setting, complete with the paranoia, the message applies forever. The charactors are brought to life by the well written script, and in the end you truly care about The Iron Giant. And all without a single musical number.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 87 mins

Synopsis: In October of 1957, America had plenty to be worried about. Rock ’n’ roll. Television. The bomb. And on the fourth day of that month, the Soviets successfully launched the first manmade satellite, Sputnik, into orbit. The space race had officially begun. The Cold War just got colder. People... In October of 1957, America had plenty to be worried about. Rock ’n’ roll. Television. The bomb. And on the fourth day of that month, the Soviets successfully launched the first manmade satellite, Sputnik, into orbit. The space race had officially begun. The Cold War just got colder. People were unsure about their neighbors, even questioning their friends. In the small town of Rockwell, Maine, Annie Hughes (voice of JENNIFER ANISTON) is just worried about putting supper on the table for herself and her nine-year-old son, Hogarth (voice of ELI MARIENTHAL). A single mother holding down a job at the local diner, Annie has her hands full with Hogarth—headstrong and imaginative, always on the lookout for the latest attempted takeover by mutant aliens or subversive invaders.

So when a local fisherman comes into the diner with a tall tale about a huge metal man falling into the sea, the only one to pay him much attention is Hogarth, who sets out exploring to find the enormous robot. What he does find is a 50-foot giant with an insatiable appetite for metal and a childlike curiosity about its new world.

Rumors of everything from an alien invasion to a Russian secret weapon bent on destroying Rockwell soon spread through the small town, prompting the arrival of government agent Kent Mansley (voiced by CHRISTOPHER McDONALD). Keeping one step ahead of Mansley, Hogarth convinces his beatnik friend Dean (voiced by HARRY CONNICK, JR.) to hide the Iron Giant (voiced by VIN DIESEL) in Dean’s junkyard.

But it isn’t long before the rumors turn into paranoia—the situation escalates and the possible destruction of Rockwell looms. Hogarth turns to his friend, the Iron Giant, who ultimately finds its humanity by unselfishly saving the town’s residents from their own fears and prejudices.

In times like these, you really find out what your friends are made of…sometimes, it’s even metal. [More]

Genre: Childrens

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Eli Marienthal, Vin Diesel, Christopher McDonald, Harry Connick

Director: Brad Bird
Screenwriter: Brad Bird, Tim McCanlies
Producer: Allison Abbate
Composer: Michael Kamen

DVD Info

Release:

Feb 8, 2005

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Snap Case
  • Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35
  • Single Side - Dual Layer

Audio:

  • Dolby Surround 5.1 - English, French

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
Arrange By: Name | Fresh | Rotten | Date | Source
 
 
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Gentle, poignant and affecting animation that succeeds through understatement and showcases some highly impressive visual sequences.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/10/08
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

As entertaining as it's intelligent.

Full Review | comment Comment
06/24/06
Wally Hammond
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
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N/A

Not only is The Iron Giant one of the more emotionally satisfying films of the year, but it also affords a cheering opportunity for all those who'd like someone other than Disney to have a cartoon hit.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/02/02
Leslie Felperin
Sight and Sound
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N/A

In short, storytelling of the richest order.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/01/00
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
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N/A

For a cartoon, it boasts a very sophisticated depiction of the 50s.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/01/00
Kim Newman
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
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N/A

This is enjoyable in part because of its flavorsome period ambience and its lively and satiric characters.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/10/08
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
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3.5/4

A cool, unique-looking animated feature (the Ike-era design elements make for great eye candy), director Brad Bird's tale of a small-town boy and his outer-space robot is hip and entertaining without pandering, or condescending, to the kiddie set.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/11/07
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer
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3.5/4

Outstanding.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/26/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
Ratings Image
7/10

Un film qui présenta Brad Bird comme l'un des cinéastes de films d'animation pour enfants les plus talentueux et prometteurs des dernières années.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/28/06
Jean-François Vandeuren
Panorama
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4.5/5

GO SEE THIS FILM, NOW.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/05
Ron Wells
Film Threat
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A-

Truly for kids of all ages.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/09/05
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews
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4/4

Has never failed to bring a tear to my secretly-patriotic eye.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/07/05
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central
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A+

It's the most solidly built, funny, and entertaining movie for kids of all ages that I've seen in a decade.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/15/05
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
Ratings Image
3/4

This touching parable derives much of its strength from a striking visual design and a welcome pacifist stance that would leave NRA nuts foaming at the mouth.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/19/04
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing
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5/5

Combinando elementos de E.T., King Kong e das ficções B dos anos 50, este filme ganha vida própria graças ao charme de sua animação e à sensibilidade da trama.

comment Comment
09/20/04
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena
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N/A

For parents tired of taking their kids to slick, superficial animated features, Warner Bros. has got a giant of a cartoon for you.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/06/04
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly
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B+

Eschewing song-and-dance numbers and cute animal sidekicks, the film's appeal comes from its winsome characters, its resonant story, and its evocative depiction of New England in the days of Sputnik and “duck and cover” drills.

Full Review | comment Comment
07/18/03
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films Guide
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N/A

a first-rate adventure, with plenty of humor and suspense...

Full Review | comment Comment
07/15/03
James Sanford
Kalamazoo Gazette
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3/4

The kids will love it.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/20/03
Jim Shelby
Palo Alto Weekly
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5/5

A great blend of animation, sci-fi, and 1950's cold war paranoia. Enjoyable characters with voice acting equal to the task.

comment Comment
03/21/03
Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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