The Iron Giant-
Special Edition
(Warner Region 2 PAL DVD)
(1999)
review by Suspiriorum

During a huge storm, a strange meteorite crashes into the sea off the coast of Maine. Visiting his mum who works in the local diner, young Hogarth Hughes overhears a fisherman telling how he encountered a spaceship from Mars the previous night. She has to work late that night, so Hogarth stays up watching scary movies & eating Twinkies. The picture gets interference, so he checks the antenna only to find it missing & a strange trail leading into the nearby woods. Arming himself with a popgun & flashlight, he sets off to investigate & finds a lost and confused giant space robot. But keeping his new friend secret is not going to be easy, particularly with crazed Government man Kent Mansley snooping around.

I have to say, I was rather sceptical when I first heard of an animated adaptation of Ted Hughes’ classic novel The Iron Man. I had been a big fan of the book as a child, although I haven’t read it in many years (my copy seems to have gone AWOL), but was rather concerned about changes to the story. I can’t remember precisely how the book goes, but suffice to say that major liberties have been taken in the adaptation, notably with the complete absence of the terrifying space-bat-angel-dragon-thing the size of Australia. However, this is definitely one of those instances where the changes work extremely well – this film is not the book, but the two co-exist together as different spins on the same concept.

I remember when this film came out & it got universally glowing reviews, yet no one really saw it. Even now talking around, most people in the general public seem to have never heard of it – but everyone I know who has seen it, loves it. Perhaps the enormous success of director Brad Bird’s Pixar-fuelled follow-up The Incredibles will go some way to helping people rediscover this film, but I suspect that it will forever be in its shadow. Which is a real shame, as for my money this is easily as fine a film. It gains from repeated viewing, & I keep getting caught off guard by just how much I love this film.

Like The Incredibles, Bird shows a great talent for encompassing complex themes & ideas within the film, yet never seeming forced or preachy. Amongst the issues addressed are those of freewill (nature/nurture), xenophobia, & a strong antiwar message. Added to this are gloriously geeky references to 50s sci-fi & comic book conventions, plus a brilliant “duck & cover” atomic bomb safety film pastiche. As you’d expect from Bird, there’s plenty in here for adults to enjoy as well as the kids, & it’s gloriously funny throughout. Even so, it’s the well-drawn characters that shine through & the film builds a genuine emotional involvement that makes the climax genuinely moving. Vocal performances throughout are excellent, & if I were to pick anyone out for special praise it would be to diminish the contributions of the other actors – so suffice to say top-drawer stuff from everyone. In addition there is an utterly wonderful orchestral score by the late, great Michael Kamen that ranks very highly in that composers body of work.

Overall, this is a film that really ought to have received more attention than it has done. In my book, this is the best American animated (not fully CG) movie since – well, God only knows when to be frank. If you haven’t seen it, I really can’t recommend it enough. If you have, chances are you already own it.

Whilst the first DVD release of the film was not too bad, it’s burgeoning reputation & the huge success of The Incredibles has tempted Warner Home Video to revisit the title to give it the kind of package it deserves. The UK R2/PAL disc contains a great looking anamorphic 2.35:1 transfer, & excellent Dolby 5.1 English audio – French, Italian & Dutch dubs are also available.

The packed-out single disc kicks off with a highly listenable commentary track by Brad Bird, head of animation Tony Fucile, story department head Jeff Lynch, & Giant animation supervisor Steven Markowski. Next, there’s a selection of 8 additional scenes (including alternate opening & Giant dream sequence), which are introduced by Bird & Fucile. Obviously the animation is pretty rough in these sequences but it’s interesting stuff nonetheless. Teddy Newton “The X-Factor” is a short piece about the input of the films’ creative consultant, & he talks us through some unused storyboard ideas. Newton crops up again in a look at the “Duck & Cover” sequence, whilst “Voice of the Giant” is obviously about Vin Diesel’s contribution, & the disc is rounded off with a list of key cast & crew. Wait no – there is more yet, the “additional special features” contains “Behind the Armour”, a collection of 13 mini documentaries, each of which focuses on one particular aspect of a given scene; for example the music during the “deer” scene, or the specially designed WB logo at the start. Beyond even that, there’s a motion gallery of artwork & rough animations, trailers (including a rough one by Brad Bird), DVD-Rom content including the original theatrical website, & at least 3 Easter Eggs I’ve found so far. A terrific selection of goodies I think you’ll agree, & well worth delving into.