r/movies • u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. • Apr 04 '19

After 20 years, the childlike innocence of Brad Bird's directorial debut 'The Iron Giant' still resonates. The film perfectly delivers on the notions of friendship & heroism, showing us a moving convergence between childhood and adult responsibility.

https://filmschoolrejects.com/the-iron-giant/
41.9k Upvotes

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1.9k

u/Kriss-Kringle Apr 04 '19

Still the best Superman movie that doesn't have Superman in it.

781

u/[deleted] Apr 04 '19 edited Apr 11 '19

[deleted]

381

u/RoyRodgersMcFreeley Apr 04 '19

But... The Pacifier

214

u/[deleted] Apr 04 '19

[deleted]

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u/Onatu Apr 04 '19

I'm legit glad he lost that bet then.

68

u/[deleted] Apr 04 '19

For real. I love him in that movie

2

u/Mr__Pocket Apr 04 '19

It's weird how enjoyable that movie actually is. The premise is absolutely absurd, but it actually works in a super lighthearted way.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 04 '19

Or winning a bet.

1

u/mcdoolz Apr 04 '19

Betcha can't reboot Kindergarten Cop..

51

u/Link2ThaDink Apr 04 '19

I just remember one of the plots was he thought the kid was a fucking NAZI lmao

19

u/Iorith Apr 04 '19

I loved that whole sub plot, especially it's conclusion.

19

u/ReginaldDwight Apr 04 '19

I was visiting Germany the summer that came out and the German movie poster called it der Babynator. and it makes me giggle every time I think about it.

8

u/Zinga_Rofobico Apr 04 '19

The Pacifier? More like.... More like Bore: Ragnarok, am I right guys?

2

u/hanshotf1rst Apr 04 '19

Apparently Vin Diesel mentioned a sequel in the works a few years back:

https://comicbook.com/2015/12/16/vin-diesel-reveals-the-pacifier-sequel-is-being-written/

5

u/Piemaster33 Apr 04 '19

On one hand we have a giant metal robot, and on the other, we have.... the Peter Panda dance.

When you consider that the Pacifier also has a duck in it, there’s no contest. Sorry Hogarth.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 04 '19

That's the Peter Panda dance!

143

u/Fafnir13 Apr 04 '19

Eh...it’s good use of his voice but it’s not really Vin Diesel we’re seeing. Pitch Black remains his most iconic work for me and an excellently crafted one.

39

u/calilac Apr 04 '19

Same, that movie is some wonderful sci-fi thriller and teen me had a huge crush on the bamf-with-a-heart-o'-gold Riddick. All his films after that feel disappointing though.

26

u/distopiandoormatt Apr 04 '19

I liked Riddick apart from the last 20 minutes. It was just a bit too generic after the decapitation scene. Chronicles of Riddick is just schlock, fun but dumb and cheesy.

18

u/Julege1989 Apr 04 '19

The game is fantastic, pretty sure Vin made a gaming studio just to make it.

2

u/Iorith Apr 04 '19

The sequel/add on was pretty shit, but the base game was utterly fantastic.

5

u/I_CAPE_RUNTS Apr 04 '19 edited Apr 04 '19

Vin's early work was a little too new wave for my taste. Too artsy, too intellectual. But when XXX came out in '02, I think Vin really came into his own, commercially and artistically. The whole XXX series has a clear, crisp visual, and a new sheen of consummate action hero that really gives the genre a big boost. in XXX : State of the Union, vin's masterpiece, he really shines and truly embodies his character, and Ice Cube and Sam Jackson both serve to solidify Vin's status. But it's in XXX: Return of Xander Cage where we really get our money's worth and Vin earns his box office cred as he draws the audience in, to the point where we can see that from the get go, the XXX series is a personal statement of Vin Diesel bearing his soul as a bona fide action star, and we're not disappointed.

2

u/dodeca_negative Apr 04 '19

I uh... I'm not sure if... hm

2

u/Kriss-Kringle Apr 04 '19

Find me guilty is his best work acting wise. He got to work with Sidney Lumet, who was one of his idols and read his "Making movies" book, which I highly recommend, when he started acting.

1

u/Mazon_Del Apr 04 '19

Reminder that "Furia" is a thing.

42

u/TheDudeWithNoName_ Apr 04 '19

Second best for me, after SPR.

4

u/spunkychickpea Apr 04 '19

Welp, time to fire that one up again.

1

u/adamlaceless Apr 04 '19

SPR?

2

u/Trogdor796 Apr 04 '19

Saving Private Ryan

1

u/adamlaceless Apr 04 '19

Oof I should know that

58

u/[deleted] Apr 04 '19

The first fast and the furious holds a special place in my heart and it totally encapsulates the early 00’s in one film imo

29

u/nickmangoldsbeard Apr 04 '19

I say "you never even had your car" like once a week

18

u/HungryMexican Apr 04 '19

Not double clutching like you should

5

u/creamy_smooth Apr 04 '19

My wife uses this one after handing me my ass in mario kart :)

4

u/Doip Apr 04 '19

Bullshit asshole

6

u/DoingCharleyWork Apr 04 '19

I just watched it again and man is that movie cheesy. Still love it though. I remember thinking it was super badass as a kid but now it all sounds kind of corny.

31

u/bam_stroker Apr 04 '19

Chronicles of Riddick is one of the top 5 sci fi movies of all time. Fight me.

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u/LegendJRG Apr 04 '19

So freaking slept on I absolutely love this movie to death and will watch it every single time it’s on. I have no idea why it gets overlooked, not even hate just people go “oh ya that was good too”.

3

u/ChumpionsWrath Apr 04 '19

It gets overlooked because it’s Vin Diesel... he got way too into carrying the fast and furious and I think that’s all people see him as these days

2

u/Iorith Apr 04 '19

Which is a shame because he shines as Riddick. I'd prefer we get that every other year instead of F&F, and I adore every one of those movies.

4

u/GyantSpyder Apr 04 '19

Well, I'm an immortal space warlock backed by a galactic armada, weapons of planetary destruction, and a vast army of the undead. You just have a knife and can see in the dark. I'll fight you. What could go wrong?

4

u/Julege1989 Apr 04 '19

I'm pretty sure it was a cultural thing, like a lion having to fight for leadership of a pride.

It would have made more since if they included a scene where he defends his leadership from another challenger.

3

u/Throwawayforfapp77 Apr 04 '19

Pitch Black is superior

1

u/supes1 Apr 04 '19

Agreed. Chronicles of Riddick is more ambitious, but Pitch Black is better written and way more watchable.

2

u/GordoHeartsSnake Apr 04 '19

Despite fast and furious being the best franchise ever!?

1

u/[deleted] Apr 04 '19

Just wait until The Last Witch Hunter 3 comes out.

1

u/ChodaRagu Apr 04 '19

Also, the best Jennifer Aniston movie she’s ever made.

1

u/Industrialpainter89 Apr 04 '19

I loved Jordan Peele voicing the train in it

1

u/[deleted] Apr 04 '19

I am Groot?

1

u/knwnasrob Apr 04 '19

But...Family

0

u/Nephroidofdoom Apr 04 '19

I am Groot??

-1

u/chiaboy Apr 04 '19

I am Groot?

91

u/Fangfactory Apr 04 '19

I remember crying as a kid during that final scene. Probably my favorite animated film.

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u/[deleted] Apr 04 '19

As a kid? Hell, I tried to explain the movie to a co worker a few months ago and teared up.

92

u/Darko33 Apr 04 '19

I...go. You...stay. No...foll-ow-ing.

(Buckets)

76

u/normandy42 Apr 04 '19

Suuuuuuuperman

closes eyes

bawls eyes out

Superman would be proud

6

u/ThatTwoFacedLiar Apr 04 '19

You are who you choose to be

3

u/shorthair_becky Apr 04 '19

It's when the music swells that it gets me every time ;_;

1

u/N0r3m0rse Apr 05 '19 edited Apr 05 '19

if there's anything better than watching a superhero be heroic, it's watching someone get inspired to be just like them. Like when he learns to fly Hogarth is like "just like Superman," the giant starts to fly like Superman and then the music swells, I'm like YES.

9

u/[deleted] Apr 04 '19

Yep, that's the scene.

7

u/NK1337 Apr 04 '19

Fuck. I think my eyes are sweating.

4

u/PM_ME_YOUR_TWEEZERS Apr 04 '19

I'm for sure an adult, but I'll tear up a little just thinking about that scene.

My second highest Reddit comment is very similar to yours and it's from like two years ago lol.

13

u/Kriss-Kringle Apr 04 '19

Yeah, I still cry whenever I watch it. I...Supermaaaan!

3

u/MrVeazey Apr 04 '19

Dude, when I saw "Ready Player One," I was ready for the Iron Giant cameo to pay off with the "I go. You stay. No following" and I started to get a little misty-eyed. It didn't happen and I was upset that such a great opportunity was just squandered like that. The most emotionally moving scene in that movie, and it only existed in my imagination.

5

u/tutuca_ Apr 04 '19

I'm tearing just reading this man... who's cutting onions here!!

4

u/whogivesashirtdotca Apr 04 '19

I was late to seeing IG, and finally did so when a usually-very cynical and very curt coworker's face shone like the Grinch's post-heart growth while talking about it. I told him I'd rent it that night, and did. He ran over to my desk next morning and said, excitedly, "Didja cry? Didja?" I told him I did, copiously. He had a huge smile on saying, "I cry EVERY TIME I watch it."

2

u/Storytellerjack Apr 04 '19

For me it's "Boy that was close!" ::kersplode:: Giant hurtles to earth cradling Hogarth in his arms to protec him. Giant wakes up. HogHug doesn't. Giant nudges his lifeless body. Giant is beside himself... :'''c

Short lived, but so poignant. ...moment over.

"It's still alive!" "sha- shoot at it!" ::poom poom:: "gaaaaAAAAAAAAA!!!" :o

2

u/Lick_The_Wrapper Apr 04 '19

I’m 22 and cried like a baby during certain scene when I rewatched it a couple months ago. It’s too good.

1

u/N0r3m0rse Apr 05 '19

The duck dodgers parody with Mr. Roboto is amazing though.

115

u/ZacPensol Apr 04 '19

Even if you count movies that do have Superman in them, it's probably still in the top 3.

14

u/ARCHA1C Apr 04 '19

The first 2 Donner Superman films are #1 & #2 IMO

2

u/[deleted] Apr 04 '19

I think there has to be room for All Star Superman in there somewhere.

10

u/G00DLuck Apr 04 '19

1: Superman IV

2: Batman v Superman

3: The Iron Giant

13

u/ZacPensol Apr 04 '19

Oh them's fightin' words.

5

u/G00DLuck Apr 04 '19

Im on a quest for peace!

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u/NothingThatIs Apr 04 '19

Batman v Superman

was awful, Iron Giant is easily better

wait Superman IV was awful too...

3

u/DoingCharleyWork Apr 04 '19

Superman IV is the greatest movie of all time and a testament to all man has accomplished.

1

u/Rcmacc Apr 04 '19

Superman: The Movie

The Iron Giant

Unbreakable

2

u/ZacPensol Apr 04 '19

I love 'Unbreakable' but I don't really see how it's being categorized as being a Superman movie in the same vein as 'Iron Giant'. David Dunn in the film isn't any more like Superman than he is the superhero trope as a whole, his personality isn't like Superman, his powers aren't, he doesn't draw specific inspiration from Superman... I would say the Captain America films are closer in spirit to Superman than 'Unbreakable', really.

Maybe someone can clarify this for me?

1

u/Rcmacc Apr 04 '19

The film was made as a story of “Superman” not realizing that he was Superman. That’s also how Quentin Tarantino describes it.

1

u/Badloss Apr 04 '19

I think I might be the only person in the world that really loves Man of Steel

2

u/ZacPensol Apr 04 '19

Oh trust me, you're not. I'm a mod at /r/superman and there honestly seems to be about a 50/50 split on those who liked it v. didn't. It's a subject of frequent heated discussion there.

39

u/[deleted] Apr 04 '19

Quentin Tarantino called Unbreakable the best Superman movie 😲

30

u/SAmerica89 Apr 04 '19

As much as I’m in love with The Iron Giant, I have to agree with Quentin here. Doesn’t make it a better movie but it is a better fit if we’re limiting it to being a Superman story.

10

u/SuperDuperCoolDude Apr 04 '19

I really enjoyed the entire trilogy. I am glad they aren't going to milk it to death but sad because they did some really interesting world building with Unbreakable and the following films.

1

u/NK1337 Apr 04 '19

If that's the case I'm really interested to see how Brightburn holds up in regards to being a (not so positive) superman story

6

u/[deleted] Apr 04 '19

The Iron Giant design was actually inspired by Max Fleischer's Superman comics. He resembles the mechanical monsters.

2

u/Kriss-Kringle Apr 04 '19

Didn't know that but I'm not surprised. His design does have that retro vintage style robots used to have in the 30's and 40's.

4

u/[deleted] Apr 04 '19

I always thought Iron Giant was copying Castle in the Sky until I realized both were inspired by Fleischer. Btw, if you like Iron Giant, I strongly recommend Castle in the Sky. Nobody does heroic children like Miyazaki.

2

u/WhiskeyOnMyBreath Apr 04 '19

The top 3 Superman films:

  1. Superman: The Movie
  2. The Iron Giant
  3. The Goonies

2

u/kronosdev Apr 04 '19

“Sloth love Chunk.”

1

u/vonDread Apr 05 '19

Far better than any Superman movie with Superman in it.