Over-hyped, yet still very, very good

Rating: Null/10 (9 August 1999)

We've seen more than once that a movie which is universally raved about can tremble under the weight of its own good press. IMHO, The Iron Giant is a movie that has been over-hyped. I would say, for instance, that The Prince of Egypt, from every conceivable angle, is a far better animated movie. A person could afford to miss IG; I don't think anyone should miss PoE.
Having said that, I still join the chorus in praising IG. It is really a very good cartoon. The animation and artwork are all you've heard, yet done in a 50-ish graphical style. The plot is interesting, and moves right along. While I don't appreciate the one-sided "guns-are-all-evil" (and so are hunters, depicted as the descendants of the men who killed Bambi's mom) message, I do enjoy the skepticism about arrogant government agents, and the more complex depiction of the Giant's personality. (The latter harkens to Karloff's Frankenstein, a monster not by his own choice.)
Go to the movie for a good time, not expecting the Second Coming of Christ, and you'll find your money well-spent.