Editorial Review
This gentle reworking of Ted Hughes's 1968 novella was the unseen gem of 1999. Hogarth, a young boy who lives in the Maine woods during the cold war, befriends a giant robot. As with E.T., the iron giant is a misunderstood outsider who becomes a child's best friend, and Hogarth does his best to hide the massive figure from his mom (voiced by Jennifer Aniston) and the local scrap-yard beatnik (Harry Connick Jr.). Soon the suspicions of neighbors and a government agent (Christopher McDonald) spell trouble.
With no songs, no sidekicks, and no cheap ending, The Iron Giant is a refreshing change-- like an off-Broadway production compared to the glitz of Disney's annual animated extravaganzas. Director Brad Bird may have Family Dog and The Simpsons to his credit, but this film doesn't have that brand of scatological humor. As with the best family entertainments, there are gags that adults will howl at while the kids are watching something else (see Bird's interpretation of cold war propaganda). And the star is one cool piece of animated magic. Voiced by Vin Diesel (Saving Private Ryan's hulking Private Caparzo) and filled with more gadgets than a Swiss army knife, the giant is a grand thing to behold. And like another famous cinema tin man, our hero--and the movie--has heart. Superb entertainment for ages 5 and up. --Doug Thomas
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Customer Reviews
Pure Magic 
2008-04-09
This is one of those films that comes along once in a great while. A film that captures the imagination no matter how old you are. This film is for everyone. If you do not like this movie, you have no soul.
Gets me every time 2008-03-29
"The Iron Giant", a Brad Bird film based on Ted Hughes' story "The Iron Man", appears at first glance to be the typical boy-and-his-robot heartwarmer. It does accomplish the requisite jerking of tears, but it's actually much more than an animated kid's movie. Bird has said in interviews that he regards animation as a medium, not a genre; that's true nowhere more than here. TIG functions as a parable on several levels: an object lesson on the evils of xenophobia, a Christ allegory on love and self-sacrifice, and a lesson in self-determination ("You are...what YOU choose to be. YOU choose. Choose."). Whether or not it was intended as all of the above, it works beautifully, and the emotional punch of the climactic scene never quite wears off, even after numerous viewings.
The movie isn't flawless--the size/scale of the Giant's hands, for instance, don't remain constant from scene to scene, and MacDonald's characterization of a government functionary is more of a caricature--but this still deserves consideration as a great movie.
The Golden Allegory 2008-03-24
If you love a well-told tale, this is it. Warner Brothers failure to employ the right marketing angle torpedoed this gem first-run, but thanks to DVD it's still flying just under the radar. Don't let the cruddy packaging fool you. The animation is as good (better!) as any classic Disney 2-D flick, and the Giant himself is a CGI 2-D/3-D wonder. This film has it all: smarts, heart, artistry, humor and a powerful ultimate message. Great for ages 8 to 80. If you aren't moved by this flick, especially in this day and age, well, I wouldn't want to know ya. Brad Bird (The Incredibles/Ratatouille) is his own brand of genius. Stop reading these reviews and order this puppy now!
My 6 yr old cried (it brought his parents to tears too)! 2008-02-24
This movie came out when my oldest son was not yet 4. He enjoyed it alot, as did his parents. Flash forward 8 1/2 yrs later, and now my bearly 6 yr old son watched it for the first time today on TV. He normally talks through movies asking all kinds of questions to understand what is going on in the story. He silently watched The Iron Giant, and toward the end when the IG sacrificed himself for Hogarth and the town, my son cried big huge silent tears. This caught us off guard, as he has never done that before. It made us both tearful that it affected him so. This is a really good powerful movie in its seeming simplicity. This is by far the best Non Disney movie I've seen. I don't have the DVD, but I am going to buy it today along with the original book so my sons and I can read it too.
Friendship. Love. Respect. 
2008-02-17
***CONTAINS SPOILERS***
Friendship. Love. Respect. Growing up. These are the themes that run throughout THE IRON GIANT, an Oscar Award winning animated film from 1999. Kids films without substance are very familiar to most parents, but The Iron Giant harkens back to a time when family and friendship meant everything.
Although unusual in the sense that a boy named Hogarth (voiced by Eli Marienthal) befriends an alien robot simply called The Iron Giant (voiced by Vin Diesel, Find Me Guilty), this animated feature still teaches kids the responsibilities of friendship and how devastating it can be to lose one.
The set-up is common in that we see the military and government agents as bumbling morons who misunderstand the intentions of something as large and as powerful as a nearly indestructible robot. But understanding eventually reaches them, too, through the actions of Hogarth and his new alien buddy.
More interesting than previous animation films for kids, this one shows not just the upside of this friendship, but the dangers ...as well as a fatal ending (sort of). Parents should be prepared to comfort their kids when The Iron Robot launches himself into space in preparation to save his best friend (Hogarth). The words "Superman" are uttered as The Iron Giant makes contact with the powerful and deadly rocket, and I'd be willing to bet that there's not an adult out there with any heart that won't swallow hard at those words.
But there are plenty of fun and funny scenes to counter the more stark ones. Watching fellow humans complain to the local constabulary about suddenly absent mouthfuls of trucks, towers, and other metal munchables is pretty comical, as is a great scene where The Iron Giant does a cannonball jump into a favorite swimming hole of Hogarth's.
A fun and serious film with themes that most parents will find a positive influence on the pliable minds of their young ones.
One of the greatest animated stories 2008-07-17
After spending a month watching Studio Ghibli films I had to write a review on one of the most overlooked animated movies. 'The Iron Giant' is a story of a young boy named Hogarth growing up during the Cold War who comes acorss a giant robot. Like most young boys when they come across a giant robot is to make friends with it. Now he has to keep him hidden from a worrysome mother and paranoid government agent. This is one of the most heartfelt movies I have ever seen and it's not even a Disney movie. The characters are so well made and voices chosen really allow them to connect with the viewers. I loved how the movie really depicted the time of the innocent 1950's with all the pop culture references as well. Still the bond between Hogarth and the Iron Giant is heartwarming and real you will want to watch this movie again and again.
The real Iron Man 2008-06-09
The animated take on Ted Hughes' book Iron Man is a well done, entertaining version. Brought to the big screen format by Pete Townshend (The Who) and Des McAnuf (Broadway musical Tommy). While the movie story line differs considerably in spots from the original story, it still does a great job of conveying the message. My son has watched it a dozen times, and that has curbed his appetite for the current version of Marvel's Iron Man, in the movies now.
Maybe the finest animated film ever... 2008-06-02
I came here tonight to buy the DVD because I've rented it so many times from Blockbuster I decided it was time we owned it. My husband and I both adore this film, and our 7 year old just loves it. That so many people have never even HEARD of it stuns us! Someone did a pathetic job marketing it, because I can't think of a single other animated film that has touched my heart the way this one does. In my opinion, one of the finest animated films of all time. The plot, the direction, the characters, the actors, and most of all, the message - everything about it is perfect, purely perfect. Not just for children at all - I cry every single time. When I hear "Superman..." I picture The Iron Giant - not Christopher Reeve.
This is a film that everyone should own, and everyone should watch, whether they have children or not. You'll fall in love with it, because this film is perfect - in every way.
More People Should See This Movie 2008-05-20
It's a shame that this movie didn't get more recognition. It's so well made and the story is beautiful; this film should be considered a classic.
My favorite thing about The Iron Giant is the way the relationship between the boy and Giant are portrayed. They're not the typical "Laugh-out-Loud at our crazy gimmicks" duo; you can see that they genuinley learn from each other as their friendship grows.
The Iron Giant 2008-04-21
The movie has a great message for kids. Heartwarming and sensitive towards things that are different. Kids loved it right away and wanted to watch it again and again.
