The Iron Giant Movie Review

The Iron Giant (1999)

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Written by: Tim McCanlies (screenplay by), Brad Bird (screen story by), Ted Hughes (based on the book "The Iron Man" by), 
Brad Bird, Brent Forrester (screenplay by, uncredited)
Directed by: Brad Bird
Starring: Eli Marienthal, Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Aniston, Vin Diesel
Rated: PG
Watch the trailer

Plot
A young boy befriends a giant robot from outer space that a paranoid government agent wants to destroy.

Verdict
It's such a sweet and touching story about a boy and his robot. The child is the only one to see through the fear, realizing the robot needs help and in turn makes a friend. The adults recoil and their next move is to attack. While animated, it doesn't aim to simplify any aspect or the movie or substitute cute and silly for a gripping story. This possesses surprising depth for the format. It's a movie that's a must see where a boy and robot both triumph.
Watch It.

Review
The well meaning Hogarth (Eli Marienthal) has an active imagination and an affinity for pets. When he hears a tale of an alien from Mars in the wood, he sets out to investigate. What he finds is a giant robot. While scared, he realizes the robot is ensnared, and he frees it as the robot disappears into the night. Soon the government comes in to clean things up while wanting to locate this robot.

Hogarth and The Iron Giant

Hogarth finds the robot again. Despite the wave of panic in the community, Hogarth isn't afraid. The robot in turn realizes Hogarth saved him. They quickly strike up a friendship. For Hogarth it's not just a pet, it's the companion he's never had. At the same time, the government threatens their safety. The government sees the robot as a threat, an enemy. They attack which exacerbates the situation. When provoked the robot goes into attack mode. We saw that with Hogarth. But Hogarth knows he can calm the giant. He rushes into the city to help the robot as the government starts an evacuation.

The Iron Giant

This robot is the ultimate weapon, striking fear in everyone that sees it. Only this kid sees something more, teaching it empathy. As the kid tells the robot, he can choose how to react and thus who he is. In a moment of crisis the robot chooses to be superman and save everyone else. This boy saw truth when adults were blinded by ambition and fear, trying to mask that by attacking.