I thought it was about time for this movie to have its own thread! I just got done seeing it for the first time earlier today, and I can see the appeal, but overall I did not enjoy the film. But I think that’s mainly due to the expectations I had because of Brad Bird’s involvement. Plus, I saw Bird’s two Pixar films before I saw IG, so I think that had a lot to do with it. Plus, the Kent Mansley character was unbelievable (and I mean that in a bad way). I understand that villains are supposed to be over-the-top, but I also expect them to feel and act like real people. Kent Mansley has got to be one of the worst villains in an animated movie. But I’m sure this movie has its fans, and that’s who I want to hear from!
I think The Iron Giant is a good film. Comparing it too much to The Incredibles or Ratatouille may be a bit unfair because it was only Brad’s first animated film before he even came to Pixar, but I do appreciate what he added to that studio at the time and I certainly think it’s a better film than the other stuff they were making like Quest for Camelot and Space Jam. It’s too bad Warner Bros. didn’t have much faith in the film and under-promoted it, because otherwise the film would have done better when it was released. Call it a hunch, but I really believe that it was because of the hyped-up promotion Pokemon: The First Movie had that same year. I mean, it was the top rated show on Kids’ WB! and the biggest Nintendo franchise at that time, so naturally all the kids watching the show and playing the games (myself included) were going to flock to the theaters to see a movie showcasing legendary Pokemon, get the free trading cards being handed out, and then go to Burger King where they had a whole collection of toys and gold plated cards in Pokeballs (never mind questioning the overall quality of a dubbed anime film in comparison to the original Japanese version). Now I did watch The Iron Giant when it came out on video as a kid, but unfortunately I was much more focused on the hype of Pokemon when it was in theaters, which I should feel a bit guilty of looking back since nowadays there’s no doubt as to what the superior animated film really was. Then again, it didn’t stop me from still seeing Toy Story 2 in theaters, another animated film that year of arguably better quality than Pokemon.
As for Mansley, all I can say is I always found this bit of him funny as a kid (I can see why you think he’s over-the-top): [url]BUCKAROO - YouTube
I think it’s a good film. my parent’s think’s it’s good. Don’t see why some critics hated it.
Kind of creepy…I just finished watching this movie two minutes ago and this thread appeared. xD So yeah. Definitely my favorite Brad Bird movie, and probably my favorite movie ever. If you haven’t seen it, then stop whatever you’re doing right now and buy the DVD.
Does anyone know of any plans for a Bluray release yet?
The Iron Giant is easily one of my favourite animated films, I’d also say that it is Brad Bird’s best animated film, far surpassing (in my view) The Incredibles and Ratatouille (I found The Iron Giant’s story to be better than those two, plus it had far more passion and heart).
I just wish that Warners would release it on Blu-ray.
Brilliant film, but not as perfect as The Incredibles or Ratatouille, however many of you won’t agree with me, but the reason that I didn’t like HTTYD that much, was because of this one, similar story and themes accompanied with an uncommon charming friendship between the main characters
Funny you say that, cause I’ve always kind of noticed similar themes between Iron Giant and Chris Sanders’ other film Lilo & Stitch. And both kind of share a theme with E.T.
Really? To my knowledge, everyone loves that film.
In fact, it only has 3 bad reviews in Rotten Tomatoes.
It has received lots of praise, and very well deserved. A strong film, as everything Brad Bird has done until now.
Um, I LOVE The Iron Giant. I just got the DVD a couple of months ago. 
After seeing it on TV 5 times and renting twice. 
Anyway, I found Kent Mansley funny. And I fail to see how you can say that The Incredibles and Ratatouille were so much better. Now, obviously I prefer The Incredibles, but I’m an obsessive Autistic fool, so I’ll try not to go into that too much. And Ratatouille, well, maybe it is better. But so what? Movies are good because they’re entertaining and have a lot of heart and quality, not because some other movie is better or worse than said film. I’m sorry, but The Iron Giant is a beautiful, well meaning, heart felt movie that is too often over looked and ignored. I can not watch this movie without being covered in tears in the end(ironically, the only Bird film that makes me cry). This movie is fantastic, and that isn’t my opinion. It’s widely held by critics and movie buffs alike to be the most under rated piece of animation of the last 20 years. Why, you ask? Because it is.
And again on the Mansley thing, I think maybe you read into it a bit. Syndrome is much more over the top and melodramatic and cheesy, and he’s still very entertaining and possibly the 2nd most popular character from his respective film. I don’t see how Kent is unbelievable or over the top compared to Syndrome.
P.S. I am just arguing with your point, and I’m sorry if that came off as a rant. I respect your opinion, and hope you respect mine. But I just watched the film as that, a film. Not a film from my hero, the mighty Bird, or from that guy who made the movie that changed my life, but a movie with characters and events. And I came out in love. I cried, and I think the film is beautiful. Anyway, sorry if that sounded like a rant, I’m out of here before I rant more. See ya!
I don’t see why Mansley seems so unbelievable to the OP. I know real people that are just like him in my country.
PS: This is not a political comment. I know I’m not supposed to make them.
I’m afraid that there are far too many people like Mansley in this world.
Me too. They just keep pushing, and want to kill weird people/animals. It’s a pretty real scenario.
Ah, Brad Bird’s own Iron Giant. OOne of the films that I saw on a daily basis at one point in my life. It’s a great movie. But then again, anything from Brad Bird is awesome.
TRUE, but Lilo & Stitch came after, however the 2 directed films from Chris (L&S, HTTYD) touch same themes and I think that even American Dog (Bolt) at one point would have been the same,
IncredigirlVirginia: It’s all good! I created this thread knowing that the film had loyal fans, and as I said in the OP, the fans were the people I wanted to hear from. This was meant to be a tribute thread, but at the same time I wanted to share my opinion of it (which happened to be a negative one).
Spirit of Adventure: I just don’t like villains that have no motivation. Mansley had no motivation for acting like he did and as such was a villain just for the sake of being a villain (in terms of animated films, the only other villain like this that I can think of is Shan-Yu from MULAN). And the way he treated Hogarth (particularly in Flik-E’s link) made me very uncomfortable. I know it was meant to be comic, but even if you’re a villain, you don’t treat a child like that. Which takes me back to why he is not a realistic character. You can be a grown man and dislike children, but that doesn’t mean you don’t treat them with respect.
I don’t think he’s just supposed to be funny, but also disturbing. An the way he treats the protagonist is disturbing. A lot of people are abusive towards children, so that isn’t unrealistic.
And about his motivations, I don’t think he has none. He’s the classic archetype of the paranoid government agent (which makes total sense, as the movie is set on the 50’s nuclear/UFO crisis, when everyone was paranoid). I also think he’s ambitious, and that’s always a motivation.
Maybe it’s just because I know people who are very much like him, but I think he’s very realistic.
Lots of people don’t treat children with respect. They should, as everyone deserves to be treated properly, but I know plenty of individuals who are not decent with kids-even small ones.
I think that scene was meant to be some humorous, yet somewhat creepy form of interrogation (getting real close to Hogarth and trying to make him spill the beans on the giant). I remember in the scenes right afterwards he starts getting more dark about it when he chloroforms him.
Exactly, it was a balance between humor and darkness.
I personally like the result, specially since the film was paying homage to certain archetypes of cinema, but I understand it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
I think the part in Iron Giant that got me the most was near the end when Giant thought Hogarth was dead and then became a super weapon, and Hogarth came back and reminded Giant that he can choose to be a good person… like Super Man.