The Iron Giant-1999

[RobertScorpio]

I was flipping through my DVD collection and came across THE IRON GIANT animated movie of 1999. I sat down and watched it with my son, and you know what? It is just as good as today as it was when I saw it at the theatre all those years ago. It's hard to believe its almost 10 years old!!!

Why is this movie hardly mentioned by scifi buffs? I thought it was well done but you never hear anyone talking about it anywhere. What are some of your opinions about this very underated animated movie, and why do you think it flopped so badly?

Rob
Scorpio

 

[T'Baio]

I see it mentioned all the time, it's almost universally loved, and everyone knows Brad Bird is a genius.

 

[JuanBolio]

I think its a great movie, too. I've never heard anyone say a bad thing about it. I would submit it might have been a commercial failure due to the fact that it wasn't as cutesie and intellectually sterile as most audiences that attend animated movies usually like. Or maybe lack of advertising. Sometimes, good movies flop. Sad, but it happens.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I see it mentioned all the time, it's almost universally loved, and everyone knows Brad Bird is a genius.

Mr Cha chi, has Bard ever thought about doing a follow-up. I would only before it if HE did it. But damn it all!!! I gotta know if the pieces came back together and he got back with the boy!!

Rob
Scorpio

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

It's a great film. The scene at the end - you know the one if you've seen it - was astounding.

It flopped because it was released in August - a lousy time to release an animated film anyway - on a weekend crowded with new releases. The Sixth Sense, The Thomas Crown Affair, Mystery Men, The Iron Giant, and Dick were all released on that weekend - the first weekend in August in 1999.

 

[RobertScorpio]

It's a great film. The scene at the end - you know the one if you've seen it - was astounding.

It flopped because it was released in August - a lousy time to release an animated film anyway - on a weekend crowded with new releases. The Sixth Sense, The Thomas Crown Affair, Mystery Men, The Iron Giant, and Dick were all released on that weekend - the first weekend in August in 1999.

I don't know if that can be the only reason. Looks like good counter-programing at work. Sixth Sense-Thomas Crown-Dick were not kid movies, and two of them were awful. Mystermen was a direct gene challenge, but it sucked too.

But, yes, Sixth Sense was a monster of a hit and was number one for like 6 weeks which, in these days, is incredible

Rob
Scorpio

 

[Amaris]

I love that movie.
I cried.
I really did. It is such a well done movie.

I saw it about the same time I saw "Titan A.E.", another favorite of mine.

J.

 

[Thespeckledkiwi]

Also I believe the Matrix and Star Wars was still out in theaters.

 

[GalaxyX]

Having read the book a long time ago, I can say the movie is loosely based on it (and I use the term "loosely" loosely lol).

It was an ok film, but it dissapointed me as I much preferred the storyline of the book.

 

[JuanBolio]

Didn't know there was a book. How do they differ?

 

[John Picard]

SUPERMAN

 

[S. Gomez]

I loved this movie. I've only seen it once, but it made a huge impression on me.

"...and all that implies."

 

[Kryton]

I think it was the first time I'd heard of Vin Diesel.

Great film. Should pull it out and watch it again.

We wouldn't have gotten "The Incredibles" without it.

 

[GalaxyX]

Didn't know there was a book. How do they differ?

Well I can't remember specific details about it now, but I remember that the beginning was pretty much the same, but at the end, there's this huge bat like creature (that covers most of australia) that comes down to earth, and the iron giant takes it upon himself to defend humanity against it, not by force, but by outwitting it. In the end the creature leaves defeated and the iron giant is accepted as a friend by humanity.

 

[gblews]

I see it mentioned all the time, it's almost universally loved, and everyone knows Brad Bird is a genius.

Absolutely. Its mentioned prominently in "The Pixar Story" which is currently running on HBO.

The Iron Giant is a wonderful movie, full of heart and great and realistic characters. It is proof positive that 2-D animated movies can still be great.

 

[davejames]

I think the reason it didn't do that well is A) it was aimed mostly at boys, and those animated movies never do that well, and B) it didn't have the Disney name on it. So everyone ignored it.

Personally I love the movie. Although looking at it now, while the story still holds up, the animation could use a little work. No it doesn't need to be in CGI, but it's done in the same generic WB style as every other non-Disney cartoon back then, and I wish it looked a little more unique. And a little less cutesy.

 

[thestrangequark]

I love this movie, and I do cry at the end.

Didn't know there was a book. How do they differ?

Well I can't remember specific details about it now, but I remember that the beginning was pretty much the same, but at the end, there's this huge bat like creature (that covers most of australia) that comes down to earth, and the iron giant takes it upon himself to defend humanity against it, not by force, but by outwitting it. In the end the creature leaves defeated and the iron giant is accepted as a friend by humanity.

Another notable and touching thing about the book (which is titled The Iron Man) is that Ted Hughes wrote it shortly after his ex-wife's (Sylvia Plath's) suicide, to comfort their two children. Knowing this makes reading the novel or watching the movie even more powerful.

 

[AlphaMan]

The Iron Giant was a great movie, but I agree that it was a bit underrated for reasons that escape me. It's on regular rotation in my home among the kids and every now and then, I sit and catch a scene or two with them.

 

[Christopher]

Personally I love the movie. Although looking at it now, while the story still holds up, the animation could use a little work. No it doesn't need to be in CGI, but it's done in the same generic WB style as every other non-Disney cartoon back then, and I wish it looked a little more unique. And a little less cutesy.

I'm surprised to hear that. I found the animation to be superb, loaded with the same brilliantly nuanced character expressiveness as Bird's The Incredibles.

 

[Brikar99]

"Iron Giant" is one of my favorite movies. Animated or otherwise.