Review of The Iron Giant (1999) by Kirk P — 25 Feb 2012
To some, the Iron Giant is a movie with a message. Guns kill.
The fact that is made apparent during the movie is that the giant IS a gun, a walking weapon, just like any human. But as he begins to realize the capabilities within himself, his makeshift parent 'Hogarth' guides him with a simple idea... you are who you choose to be.
During the scene where they are looking at comic books, and the giant recognizes his own similarity to Atom-o on the cover of one of the books, Hogarth sees this fixation and replaces Atom-o with Superman; a force that is just as capable of death and destruction, but chooses to use his strength for good.
This idea of choice, and the influence of upbringing on a mind is where the true message of the movie starts to shine.
The giant is a gun, a walking weapon. But it is the mind behind the metal that determines whether it's good or evil, Atom-o or Superman. How that mind is raised, the values it's taught, and the guidance it receives determines its destiny.
A good mind, with the capacity to do great harm, is still a good thing. Superman, if you will.
The army represent the faulty idea that only the destructive potential of the body, and not the mind controlling should be taken into account. They insist that the giant IS a gun (which is entirely true, despite the giant's own resistance to the reality of it), and since he is a gun, he must be destroyed. It is this blind approach that ends up placing the town in the path of doom. But, in the end, it is the power of the giant, and his determination to use this power for good, that prevents the destruction.
If you take a step back, you'll realize that this movie is actually pro-gun... and also, that Brad Bird is a absolute genius.
This review of The Iron Giant (1999) was written by Kirk P on 25 Feb 2012.
The Iron Giant has generally received very positive reviews.
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