The Iron Giant Returns

If you are a man, who used to be a little boy, then you have probably seen and loved the movie “The Iron Giant”. I personally have seen this movie more then a dozen times. It’s by far one of my favourite movies of all time. If you are one of the unfortunate people who have not had the pleasure of watching it I would describe it as a heartwarming, beautifully animated story about a young boy’s relationship with a robot from outer space. Here is how wiki describes it:

"The Iron Giant is a 1999 American animated science fiction film using both traditional animation and computer animation, produced by Warner Bros. Feature Animation and based on the 1968 novel The Iron Man by Ted Hughes. The film was directed by Brad Bird, scripted by Tim McCanlies, and stars Eli Marienthal, Christopher McDonald, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick, Jr., John Mahoney, and Vin Diesel. Set during the Cold War in 1957, the film is about a young boy named Hogarth Hughes who discovers a giant metallic robot who fell from space. With the help of a beatnik artist named Dean McCoppin, they have to stop the U.S. military and a federal agent named Kent Mansley from finding and destroying the Giant." -wiki

There are many great things about this movie. First off the animation is just amazing. It’s one of the earlier movies to combine CGI (for the robot and other metal objects) and traditional animation. Both the CGI and the animation are beautifully done, especially considering it was released in 1999. The second thing that stands out is the heart in this movie. It’s a journey of Hogarth showing the Iron Giant what it means to be a human and all that goes with it. One of the famous lines from the movie is “you are who you choose to be”. The relationship between Hogarth and the Iron Giant is so good. The other thing about the movie is the humour, some great comedy moments as well as heart.

Hogarth is a great character on his own, he is a boy’s boy. He is the boy all boys want to be. He is strong willed, brave, loving and independent. He is also a boy who knows the difference between right and wrong. Someone who knows the meaning of good friendship. Someone I think all boys/men could learn from. The Iron Giant also demonstrates being willing to sacrifice all for those we love.

The reason I am bringing this movie up now other than the fact I think all fathers should watch it with their sons. Also because WB has re-mastered the movie and added two previously deleted scenes, they are calling it the Signature Edition. They are re-releasing it to theatres on Sept. 30th and Oct 4th, 2015. I’m calling all geek dads to take their sons to go see it in theatres if they can. See the link below to find a theatre near you.