The Iron Giant

     From the director of The Incredibles, comes one of the greatest animated film of the 90s. From Warner Brothers Animation, The Iron Giant, directed by Brad Bird. Starring Eli Marienthal as nine year old Hogarth Hughes, our main hero. Also starring Jennifer Aniston from the show Friends as Hogarth's mom, singer Harry Connick Jr. as short tempered beatnik artist Dean McCoppin, Christopher McDonald from Thelma and Louise as Kent Mansley the crazed federal government agent, Frasier's John Mahoney as the General, and of course, Vin Diesel as our main focus, The Giant.
    Our story takes place in Rockwell, Maine in 1957 during The Cold War. One night, Hogarth Hughes was watching a late night movie on television when suddenly the TV antenna was mysteriously damaged. Thinking it was done by invaders from Mars, Hogarth goes out to investigate in the forest. There, he befriends a giant robot that had crashed into Earth from outer space. Meanwhile, the  government agent, Kent Mansley, is destined to find the giant and do what it takes to destroy it. With Hogarth's bond with the robot, he had to act fast to protect it. So, he hides the giant in a scrapyard owned by an artist named Dean. Will the friendship between the boy and the giant robot last forever? Find out while you watch this.
    So awesome! I freaking love this movie. It's one of my all time favorites. I love the fact that WB not only used traditional animation, but also computer animation to emphasize the movie. The animation, in one word, is breathtaking. What I love most about The Iron Giant is the story, because it makes you laugh, it gets you on the edge of your seat, and it'll also make you cry a little. I have pin badges based on the movie, and one of them has the quote: "You are who you choose to be". That's the message in the movie. Remember that.

             

                  PARENTS GUIDE: This movie is rated PG for language and some violence. There is a scene where the boy and the giant witness a shooting of a deer. And there's a scene where Mansley threatens to take Hogarth away from his mom by grabbing his face. There is a few uses of the word "damn" and the phrase "Oh my God!". The climax of the movie is really emotional, so get your tissues ready. 

      DID YOU KNOW?: The last name of Hogarth is named after the author of the original children's book, Ted Hughes. Sean Connery (the original 007) and James Earl Jones (Mufassa from The Lion King) were considered for the role of The Giant. Alec Baldwin and the late Burt Reynolds were considered for the role of Kent Mansley. Brad Bird and producer Alisson Abbate did not get along during production. 

"You are who you choose to be."