There simply aren't enough films (not movie, FILM) like this around today. Much like this year's other great underdog, the Sixth Sense, the Iron Giant truly comes out of nowhere in a once commercialized or stupidized genre. And both have similar storylines, namely about a boy who has something very special about him. In the film, young Hogarth Hughes of Rockwell, Maine, finds a giant robot in the woods behind his house. With the robot apparently having lost his memory from a bump on his head, he befriends young Hogarth....actually, Hogarth befriends him. As most reviews have stated, there are no stupid Disney-used traits at all in this film. NO dumb sidekicks, no stupid songs, and excellent characters, including the Giant himself. Hogarth, his mother, and the rest, all feel and act like they should from their respective backgrounds. So no one here is exceptionally heroic, or sarcastic. I have endless praise for this film. It is bold and grand in every aspect. It is my favorite film of all time, tied with the Matrix and South Park: Bigger, Longer, And Uncut. And on one last note, it would be a tragedy if this fine film is overlooked by other underdogs from this year such as the Sixth Sense and....well, so far, these are the only 2 movies this year that I have seen (with the possible exceptions of south park and the matrix) that deserve to be nominated this year.
Review of The Iron Giant
