February 2000

The Iron Giant
Reviewed by Ian White
DVD Format

Overall Enjoyment:
Picture Quality:
Sound Quality:
Packaged Extras:

Starring the voices of Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr., Eli Marienthal, Vin Diesel, and Christopher McDonald

Directed by Brad Bird

Theatrical Release: 1999
DVD Release: 1999
Dolby Digital 5.1
Full Screen/Widescreen (Anamorphic)

The '90s have been a banner decade for animated films. Based on the enormous box-office success of films like Toy Story, The Lion King, Antz, and A Bug’s Life, it is probably safe to assume that their current popularity is not a fad. As someone with younger siblings, I applaud the studios for putting out so many family-oriented films that exude quality (even if the politically correct nature of films like Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt made me ill). Other than South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (which gets an A+ for making fun of those evil Canadians), only one other animated film really caught my eye in 1999 and it was without question, The Iron Giant.

Fans of The Simpsons and King of the Hill (unless you are one of those people who feel the need to see what is on the WB during the closing credits) are probably familiar with the name Brad Bird. If you have been paying attention over the years, you would know that Brad Bird has been an executive consultant to The Simpsons since 1989, and to King of the Hill since 1997. His animation style, influenced by the years that he spent under his mentor, the legendary Disney animator, Milt Kahl, is very impressive to say the least. His screenplay is a clever take on the "Red Scare" that gripped America during the '50s and '60s and a fun eighty-seven minutes of satire that will appeal to children and adults alike.

The year is 1957 and a scared American public gazes nervously into space as the Soviet "Sputnik" satellite orbits the earth. Little do they know that the residents of Rockwell, Maine are about to have a visitor. After a close encounter with a "giant" at sea, one of the local fishermen tries to convince the people in town that he did see something. Undeterred by their sarcasm and mockery, he decides to report his sighting to the government.

At this point, a little bit of '90s political correctness creeps into the movie. We are introduced to Annie Hughes (Jennifer Aniston), the single mom struggling to make ends meet for herself and her son, Hogarth. Bird provides no explanation as to why there is no Mr. Hughes (who could have died in Korea or run off to play for the Red Sox for all we know), and I can’t understand why he chose not to cover the topic at all. All we know is that Hogarth desperately needs a father figure and that he doesn’t have a lot of friends.

After saving the Iron Giant (Vin Diesel, Saving Pvt. Ryan) from being electrocuted, Hogarth befriends the mysterious visitor from outer space and their relationship begins to grow. The only problem for Hogarth is that he needs to hide his incredible discovery before anyone finds out. With the over-zealous government Agent Kent Mansley (in a great performance by Christopher McDonald, Happy Gilmore, Leave it to Beaver) in hot pursuit, Hogarth’s luck finally runs out (after the Iron Giant saves two children from certain death and earns the admiration of the town) and all hell breaks loose. The ensuing battle between the once defensive giant and the military spirals out of control as Mansley tries to save America from the foreign invader by convincing the trigger-happy military that nuclear weapons should be used. For an animated film, The Iron Giant gets intense near the end and I found myself really drawn into the drama. The ending, however, might not appeal to some children, as it does not follow the traditional Disney formula (where Snow White lives, and The Lion King's Simba becomes a prince).

The quality of the animation is extremely impressive and it really does set the film apart from some of the more recent releases. No, it doesn’t look as cool as Toy Story, but the animation is a major improvement on the classic Disney style and I found the colors to be incredibly vivid and the scenery to be rather breathtaking. The DVD is a superb transfer and I’m not exaggerating when I say that this film is a "reference-quality" DVD. The sharpness of the picture and the amount of detail make this film a real treat for the eyes.

The 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack is one of the best that I have heard with some rather solid bass and surround effects. One scene in particular, where three jet fighters pass over the Iron Giant as he attempts to dodge their cannon fire, is extremely noteworthy. The effect of the planes flying across the front of my room and over my shoulder into the distance really does make watching the film a lot of fun. Between the planes, tanks, bazookas, bullets, and nuclear missiles, there is enough surround information here for a few movies. The dialogue is crystal clear and very easy to understand even with the volume set at a low level.

The additional features include the making of the film, a music video, and information about the cast and crew. While fun to have, nothing here will really hold your attention for more than a few minutes. The music video, in particular, makes no sense and could have been left off the DVD.

Overall, the entire package is very well put together and well worth the asking price. The Iron Giant never really took off at the box office, but don’t let that fool you. This film is one of the best of its kind and a real alternative to the typical "PC" Disney fare.

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