An intelligently-realized and provocative movie for children and adults.

Rating: Null/10 (15 August 1999)

This is a wonderful rendering of Ted Hughes's 1968 story, "The Iron Giant."
A meteorite falls to earth. But it is no mere meteorite; it is a 100 ft. tall metal-eating giant robot, sentient and sensitive. It is discovered by Hogarth Hughes, a young boy who lives with his mother. His father, possibly a jet pilot (photo in frame), is either dead or has divorced his mother. After the initial shock and fear, Hogarth befriends the iron giant, and slowly, almost without realizing it, teaches the giant about ethics and morality (that we all have souls, that souls live on forever, that it is wrong to kill). Trouble comes in the form of a government man who, displaying the paranoia of 1950's America, sees the giant as a potential threat.
The animation is reminiscent of Don Bluth's work, without the insipid, treacly and gratuitous musical numbers. It portrays children, in particula r Hogarth, realistically, and reminded me of the innocent sweetness of the children in Miyazaki's films, "My Neighbor, Totoro" and "Kiki's Delivery Service."
The blending of computer-generated and traditional animation is virtually seamless and artfully-done.
The scripting is at once funny, intelligent and bittersweet without being maudlin. I loved the wonderful attention paid to details: The "Duck and Cover cartoons" were accurate and hilarious; Detailing, even down to the F-86's, period jet fighters, was amazing; The subtle homages paid to other sci-fi genre TV and films such as "Johnny Sako and His Giant Robot," or the cobra-like martian death rays from "War of the Worlds."
Inevitably, some will compare this film to the book by Ted Hughes. While director/screenwriter Brad Bird may have taken liberties with the original storyline, I think the movie carries the gentleness and intelligent spirit of Hughes's book. The film didn't talk down to children, nor was it heavy-handed in its message, like "E.T."
High praise for this film and for Warner Bros.!! Let's hope it raises the bar for mainstream American animation.