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The Iron Giant

The Iron Giant
Warner Brothers, Cert. U
Directed by Brad Bird, 80 mins.

Despite brave attempts by other studios to break into the blockbuster animation league, Disney still rules the roost. Having viewed (repeatedly) so many Disney cartoon features with my kids, I continue to be amazed at the quality of their production, and (slightly) annoyed by the cloying sentiments and formulaic morals.

So it was with hope and trepidation that I took my four-year old for a birthday treat-her first visit to a Cinema. The film did not disappoint.
Based on the book by Ted Hughes, the story is well-paced, even though the story line is well-worked ground. It's a mixture between Frankenstein, ET and The X-files but there is nothing objectionable about it at all.

Set in the late 1950s, a young boy, Hogarth, discovers an Iron Giant that has fallen from space. He saves the robot as it gets entangled in some high voltage wires.

The Iron Giant teaches lessons about friendship, tolerance, and sacrifice, all without turning preachy. Although Hogarth is initially frightened by his huge friend, he soon comes to realise that, despite the Giant's massive size, he's actually quite childlike and gentle. Hogarth becomes both his friend and his teacher, and occasionally discusses philosophical issues, like whether a robot can have a soul. The film also has a strong anti-gun message. He impresses upon his oversized companion that it's a bad thing to take a life-a lesson that is important late in the film when it becomes apparent that the Giant has the capacity to turn into a lethal weapon.

The film succeeds in working on both a child's level, and has plenty of meat for adults as well. It has good humour, and, (phew) no songs! Both Jenny and I loved it - although she found difficulty in managing to watch, stay on the seat, and juggle her drink and popcorn at the same time.

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