Review of The Iron Giant (1999) by Matthew D — 28 Jun 2018

A Childhood Classic!

Brad Bird directed an absolutely delightful children's movie. It has charm and character thanks to the clever writing and lovingly crafted. Even though The Iron Giant is from 1999, it holds up thanks to its hand drawn animation. Bird pays tribute to Richard Donner's Superman and Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial with The Iron Giant. It remains a wonderful watch for families everywhere. I recommend The Theatrical Version instead of The Signature Edition that only adds one unnecessary scene.

The casting is incredibly spot on for the voice actors. Eli Marienthal is believable as the thoughtful child hero Hogarth Hughes. Jennifer Aniston is so sweet and real as the mother. Vin Diesel is so likable as The Iron Giant. Harry Connick Jr. plays the kindly Dean with a sincere care rare in voice acting. Finally, Christopher McDonald is perfectly hateful as the government agent Kent. I really think this vocal ensemble is some of the most apt voice casting ever.

This is a fast paced, short movie that will captivate you. It has a lot of laughs and sweet character moments. It builds a realistic world that you can believe as Maine in 1957. The themes of compassion and understanding are universally relatable. The moral parables of using empathy and choosing goodness are important to learn for any child. It even teaches children about death and mortality in a thoughtful and gentle manner. I implore parents to show The Iron Giant to their kids.

I urge audiences to watch The Iron Giant. It is an animated classic.