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Movies / On DVD / Steamboy
Steamboy

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Steamboy (2005)

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Reviews Counted:86

Fresh:50

Rotten:36

Average Rating:6/10

Consensus: The story isn't the greatest, but there's an abundance of sci-fi eye candy to compensate.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for action violence.

Runtime: 2 hrs 6 mins

Genre: Foreign Films

Theatrical Release:02-12-2005

Synopsis: Katsuhiro Otomo, the master Japanese anime director behind the international success AKIRA, scores again with STEAMBOY, the inventive story of a family of inventors from Manchester, England, that... Katsuhiro Otomo, the master Japanese anime director behind the international success AKIRA, scores again with STEAMBOY, the inventive story of a family of inventors from Manchester, England, that gets ripped apart by greed, pride, and power. Ray Steam (voice of Anne Suzuki) is a young boy following in the footsteps of his father, Eddy (Masane Tsukayama), and grandfather, Lloyd (Katsuo Nakamura), scientists dedicated to advancing technology through the use of steam. When Lloyd invents a steam ball that has unheard-of possibilities, everyone wants it--world leaders, wealthy industrialists, and even the government--but most of them want it for evil purposes. And so it is up to Ray to protect the fate of the earth while also choosing between his father and grandfather. The background paintings and 3-D CGI animation are gorgeous, creating a gray-and-white palette of gear-driven machines that melds perfectly with the story, which takes the main characters to a major science exhibition in Victorian-era London. In addition to the original subtitled Japanese version, there is an English-language edition featuring the voices of Anna Paquin, Alfred Molina, and Patrick Stewart. STEAMBOY is an animated gem both kids and adults can enjoy. [More]

Starring: Anne Suzuki, Manami Konishi, Katsuo Nakamura, Masane Tsukayama

Starring: Anne Suzuki, Manami Konishi, Katsuo Nakamura, Masane Tsukayama, Kiyoshi Kodama, Ikki Sawamura, Susuma Terajima, Satoru Saito, Anna Paquin, Alfred Molina, Patrick Stewart

Director: Katsuhiro Otomo

Director: Katsuhiro Otomo
Screenwriter: Katsuhiro Otomo, Sadayuki Murai
Producer: Shunji Komori, Hideyuki Tomioka
Composer: Steve Jablonsky
Studio: Columbia Tristar

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Steamboy

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1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

It may be one of the most expensive anime features ever, but there isn't a wealth of entertainment on offer in Steamboy.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
12/06/05
Matthew Leyland
Matthew Leyland
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
12/06/05
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Observer [UK]
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A highly entertaining ride, but the visuals are just about the only thing that's truly fresh about it.

Full Review Source: About.com | comment 1 Comment
03/18/05
Jurgen Fauth
Jurgen Fauth
About.com

frustrating, challenging the imagination with pure spectacle but failing to supply a clear road map to follow.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
03/17/05
Bill Muller
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic

While Steamboy lacks the emotional resonance and psychological complexity of Akira, it is state-of-the-art anime made by one of the masters.

Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | comment Comment
05/13/05
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

As ever, Otomo's attention to the most minute details of setting and character are beyond reproach.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/20/05
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
09/26/05
AV Club
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
12/27/07
Joe Lozito
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

Often immensely thrilling in the most elemental ways, even in a US-release cut that's 23 minutes shorter than the Japanese original.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
03/18/05
Ty Burr
Ty Burr
Boston Globe
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/02/05
Boston Phoenix
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

When the "steam castle" morphs into a Spielbergian mother ship, I knew that Otomo's overheated fantasy had, yes, run out of steam.

Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly | comment Comment
03/24/05
Thomas Delapa
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly

Though it falls short of the crossover standard set by Hayao Miyazaki's Oscar-winning Spirited Away, the attempt is far too accomplished and inventive to dismiss.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
03/27/05
Wade Major
Wade Major
Boxoffice Magazine

There may be possibilities here, but they're lost in the extraordinary boredom of a long third act devoted almost entirely to loud, pointless and repetitive action.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
03/18/05
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Though visually stunning, suffered from some jarring edits, bizarre character reversals and general lack of narrative cohesiveness.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
03/17/05
Robert K. Elder
Robert K. Elder
Chicago Tribune

Otomo outdoes his Akira with this cinematic feast.

Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | comment Comment
03/17/05
David Sterritt
David Sterritt
Christian Science Monitor

The end credits play over a series of still drawings of Ray and the steamball's further adventures and EVERY SINGLE ONE of them looks more interesting than the movie.

Full Review Source: CHUD | comment Comment
03/18/05
Devin Faraci
Devin Faraci
CHUD
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

No matter how big and impressive, all of this pales in comparison to the human soul, which this film simply does not have.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
04/08/05
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
all

Latest News for Steamboy

November 18, 2005: Ten Animated Movies to Compete for Oscar Consideration
ComingSoon.net shares a press release from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) regarding the Best Animated Feature hopefuls. Seems we have a solid ten movies... More...

March 07, 2005: Visually stunning . . . Opens in new window
More...

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