The Iron Giant

Now Showing

On Sky Movies Family 09/12/09 07:45

Director: Brad Bird

Stars: Vin Diesel, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr, Eli Marienthal, M Emmet Walsh

Year: 1999 Running Time: 86 mins Rating:

First-class animated adventure from Pixar bigwig Brad Bird (director of The Incredibles and Ratatouille) telling the story of a lonely nine-year-old boy in 1950s New England who befriends a 50-foot robot that has fallen from the sky. Works on every level thanks to Bird's eye for atmosphere, a smart and unpatronising script (based on a story by poet Ted Hughes), and engaging voice work from Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr and Vin Diesel as the formidable yet scarily-human colossus.

Review

A lonely nine-year-old boy befriends a giant alien robot in this charming animated fable, based on a tale by British poet Ted Hughes.

But this is Fifties New England, the era of Cold War paranoia, and the youngster has to protect his new friend from a suspicious federal agent and the US Army.

Successfully combining traditional 2D animation with computer-generated imagery, The Iron Giant is a warm-hearted and exciting children's film with a strong moral message.

With Friends' Jennifer Aniston among the voice cast and a director (Brad Bird) who's a veteran of The Simpsons, the film also boasts a good measure of wit.