Cert PG
83 mins
BBFC advice: Contains mild fantasy action violence, infrequent mild bad language
On the way to Preston for a conference and this was perfect train journey viewing.
Ok, I haven't seen the signature edition of The Iron Giant but I did watch enough of the original movie to guarantee it as quality half-term entertainment for the kids (and mums and dads).
I am ashamed to admit that Brad Bird's animation had escaped me first time around and I cannot understand why, bearing in mind our children were the perfect age when it was released in 1999.
Clearly, my mind was off the ball at the time but I have now put that right and I am jolly glad I did.
Bird's film deserves its lofty reputation among critics. It has action, fun and pathos aplenty.
Based on Ted Hughes's novel, the film stars Eli Marienthal as the voice of Hogarth Hughes, a young boy who befriends a giant robot who has crashed to earth from outer space in the late 1950s.
His much-harassed mum (Jennifer Aniston) doesn't believe her son's tall tales about his new friend but, after a train is derailed, a government agent (Christopher McDonald) comes to town to track down the alien and make his name.
Meanwhile, Hogarth has joined forces with a local beatnick (Harry Connick Jr.) and they teach the Iron Giant (Vin Diesel) how to communicate,
The relationship between the boy and the giant is charming and also leads to some high action.
In fact, the movie runs at a dizzy pace throughout but its storyline remains perfectly pitched and easy to follow for young ones.
We had lunch today with our friends and their five-year-old. I bet he would love it.
Reasons to watch: very entertaining animation
Reasons to avoid: if you are too hard-hearted for fantasy
Laughs; none
Jumps; none
Vomit; none
Nudity; none
Overall rating: 8/10
Brad Bird There is the hype, the expectations, the critics and the movie. The only thing that lasts is the movie.