Steel (1997)

Director:

Kenneth Johnson

Writers (WGA):

Louise Simonson (comic book series) &
Jon Bogdanove (comic book series) ...

Release Date:

15 August 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy

Tagline:

Heroes don't come any bigger.

Plot:

John Henry Irons designs weapons for the military. When his project to create weapons that harmlessly neutralize soldiers is sabotaged...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Comic Book | Paraplegic | Anvil | Switchblade | DC Comics

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Shaquille O'Neal	...	John Henry Irons / Steel
Annabeth Gish	...	Susan Sparks
Judd Nelson	...	Nathaniel Burke
Richard Roundtree	...	Uncle Joe
Irma P. Hall	...	Grandma Odessa
Ray J	...	Martin (as Ray J.)
Harvey Silver	...	Lamont
Charles Napier	...	Col. David
Kerrie Keane	...	Sen. Nolan
Eric Pierpoint	...	Major
Tembi Locke	...	Norma
Thom Barry	...	Sgt. Marcus
Gary Graham	...	Detective
Eric Saiet	...	Young Cop
Hill Harper	...	Slats

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some superhero action violence.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Iceland:12 | Canada:PG | UK:PG (video premiere) | USA:PG-13

Company:

Quincy Jones-David Salzman Entertainment

Trivia:

During the scene at the railroad where John Henry Irons chases after a thug, a broken down fence has graffiti that resembles the written alien language from Alien Nation (1989) (TV). Kenneth Johnson, who directed this movie, also directed several Alien Nation TV movies.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Steel's armor is supposed to be made from steel which he's forged himself. Despite this the armor and helmet flexes as if made from painted rubber throughout the movie.

Quotes:

Uncle Joe: Look-it here, boy! You ain't Superman! And you damn sure ain't gettin' paid!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)

Soundtrack:

Bust That Rhythm

I don't know whether to laugh or cry

Oh man, I don't believe this. Perhaps with the exception of "Barb Wire", I don't think I have watched anything that comes anywhere near this. When I come to think of it, "Barb Wire" is actually better than this, because I could laugh while watching it. This film is so bad it reaches a certain quality of lousiness only reserved for the very worst of bad ideas. I mean - Shaquille O'Niell in a steel suit with a super weapon made from the contents of a lost-and-found at the scrap yard? Please!