Review of The Iron Giant (1999) by Krishnendu S — 06 Aug 2011

The animation quality of this movie is a little disappointing. It was 1999, so there wasnt much of an excuse. I feel like it looks maybe a tick better than TV cartoons... but not significantly. I also think I'm not really a big fan of the "person befriends something that's dangerous/alien/etc.

" That sorta story doesnt really do much for me... I think its because i've seen too much of it now. But thats where the complaints end. Although a simple movie, it's also completely frickin' heartfelt.

It also deals with a couple of themes masterfully, from the idea of free-will, friendship, peace, and the paranoia of the Cold War. The Giant has some completely touching lines: "I no gun." "Superman.

" (good job, Vin Diesel!) Where How To Train Your Dragon failed to touch me with its central Hiccup/Toothless relationship, The Iron Giant succeeded.A simple movie, but you really feel like you're in the hands of a master storyteller here.

Sometimes, all that extra other fluff just ain't needed, when you can tell a story as well as it's told here. Brad Bird just got my attention as one of the most underrated directors today.