The idea of a Robot Boxing movie wasn't terribly appealing to me going in, however I figured I'd see it for the battles anyway. Real Steel, however, won me over before the half way mark, and emerged as one of the best films I've seen this year.
The story at the centre, between the father and son leads, really - and honestly - works. It's totally cliche, you know exactly where it's going, and can spot all the lead ins, but it wins you over by just being really, really well executed. This gives the film a real emotional core - something lacking of late in movies - that elevates what is essentially a story we've heard a hundred times above it's material. Not that it's poorly written - it's not - we've just seen this tale quite a few times already.
The other surprise is just how damn well the action scenes are put together. This is Robot Boxing - Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots: The movie. Yet, it's utterly thrilling. The effects aren't flashy like you'd expect, they're more subtle - and more believable as a result. This gives the whole affair a real tangibility that Transformers can never hope to have. The boxing matches - particularly the underground stuff in the first two thirds - is the kind of hard hitting robot v robot battles we've always wanted. Now we have them. And it was worth the wait.
The film builds towards the inevitable climax, and yet the pay-off is entirely satisfying despite the fact that you'll see it coming as the film opens and lays down the threads. Instead of the over-the-top action spectacular you might expect, we're treated to was is essentially "Robot Rocky". And I mean that in an entirely good way. This is pretty gripping stuff, and tugs at the heart strings in all the right ways.
A few people in the cinema were even sitting forward in their chairs, eyes fixed to the screen, clearly cheering for the little robot that could. I haven't seen that happen in any movie in a long, long time.
It's a great kid friendly movie - though it is still pretty hart hitting, so the real younger ones might wanna sit this one out - that's got something for everyone.
I'll give this a 4/5 Stars.
Go and see it; you won't regret it.
The story at the centre, between the father and son leads, really - and honestly - works. It's totally cliche, you know exactly where it's going, and can spot all the lead ins, but it wins you over by just being really, really well executed. This gives the film a real emotional core - something lacking of late in movies - that elevates what is essentially a story we've heard a hundred times above it's material. Not that it's poorly written - it's not - we've just seen this tale quite a few times already.
The other surprise is just how damn well the action scenes are put together. This is Robot Boxing - Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots: The movie. Yet, it's utterly thrilling. The effects aren't flashy like you'd expect, they're more subtle - and more believable as a result. This gives the whole affair a real tangibility that Transformers can never hope to have. The boxing matches - particularly the underground stuff in the first two thirds - is the kind of hard hitting robot v robot battles we've always wanted. Now we have them. And it was worth the wait.
The film builds towards the inevitable climax, and yet the pay-off is entirely satisfying despite the fact that you'll see it coming as the film opens and lays down the threads. Instead of the over-the-top action spectacular you might expect, we're treated to was is essentially "Robot Rocky". And I mean that in an entirely good way. This is pretty gripping stuff, and tugs at the heart strings in all the right ways.
A few people in the cinema were even sitting forward in their chairs, eyes fixed to the screen, clearly cheering for the little robot that could. I haven't seen that happen in any movie in a long, long time.
It's a great kid friendly movie - though it is still pretty hart hitting, so the real younger ones might wanna sit this one out - that's got something for everyone.
I'll give this a 4/5 Stars.
Go and see it; you won't regret it.