Offers stunning background art but characters that are drab...with apologies to Jude Law, just call this 'Private Pipsqueak and the World of Yesterday.'
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.
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
Reviews for Steamboy
The movie's true genius lies in the exquisite animation, a blend of hand-drawn and state-of- the-art digital technology that suggests an old world being bullied into a new one.
As per usual in animated films from Japan, the backdrops are triumphs of imagination and architecture, but, as is not always the case, Steamboy has a dandy story.
With pipes groaning, gaskets warping, rivets failing. steam jetting and boilers overheating in every direction, it looks like a giant set of inverted bagpipes. One thing is for sure: If I were a plumber, Steamboy would be my favorite movie ever.
Though visually stunning, suffered from some jarring edits, bizarre character reversals and general lack of narrative cohesiveness.
By the 100th beautifully crafted plume of smoke and explosion of twisted metal, this gorgeous film has lost more than a little steam.
The good news: Unlike Akira, I could actually tell what was going on most of the time. The bad news: After a while I just didn't care.
Despite its investment (it is the most expensive animé ever produced) and tried production (which began in 1995), Steamboy is an uncommonly disappointing effort.
Has as many explosions as a Jerry Bruckheimer production. ... It's too long. Seventy-five minutes would have been plenty.
Younger viewers may start squirming with boredom during the heavier debates, but there's always another cool piston-powered machine on the way.
A mostly entertaining visual treat and while better than a lot of other films out there, pales in comparison to what might have been.
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 . . . ![]()
More...
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