Fine Animation

Rating: 8/10 (21 August 1999)

The Iron Giant is the best surprise film of the summer. Intelligent writing, comedy that is actually funny, and a strong message all come together to create a good film experience. The film loses its way a bit at the end by going a little too over the top with the boy's relationship with the giant, but otherwise it is even-handed and emotionally restrained.
The best part of the film is that it is not afraid to state its political beliefs. The Cold War was a waste of people's lives and times. The boy is fatherless, in fact, because he was a pilot who died in Korea (we can assume). The methods that our government provided us for protection were all lies, such as the Duck and Cover film that must be seen to be believed. Best of all, the film is strongly anti-gun. The giant, like all of us in our insane country, can be a gun. He chooses not to be and chooses not to hurt others. It is a choice we can all make by saying no to guns and gun violence. The military and government officals suffer some well-deserved put-downs, and the hero's friend is a subversive beatnik artist. What could be better than that? The real reason that Warner is not promoting this film is that it fears that its strong political message could create a backlash against the company. Instead, they put their money into Wild Wild West and its humor based on race and disability. Better to reaffirm those who hate than encourage us to love.