Real Steel: A Movie Review

When I first read my invite for the movie and came across the word "action", I was not really thrilled about it, as action movies bring to my mind images of helicopter scenes, helicopter sounds, soldiers milling back and forth restlessly --thereby perenially boring me to tears, and causing me to 1)poke my seatmate every 5 seconds 2)offer him or her candy 3)yawn profusely, etc.


Good thing Real Steel was not that kind of action. I actually ended up enjoying the movie. Real Steel was a feel-good movie about robot boxing, and watching it made me feel like I am watching a Transformers or Iron Man movie. Same exhilarating rush of pride you get from watching boxing/wrestling matches and rooting for a certain fighter the way you cheer for a close relative. And each winning punch Atom [the underdog robot boxer] throws and each match he wins sends a jolt of enthusiastic adrenaline to me [& the other viewers].


The boy in the story, Max Kenton played by Dakota Goyo is a boy who has really expressive face. You can see how his eyes, lips, dimples, and whole face curve and light up slowly into surprise, delight and happiness --emotions he best portrays. Sadness & anger were not his best expressions, though, as he just narrows his eyes a bit and looks kinda sleepy. The kid could also be a younger version of Kyle XY.



The hiphop dancing scenes of the boy with his robot were also good. They executed some pretty neat dance moves, and not just some little kid sway-to-the-music kinda stuff.

Evangeline Lilly casted as the leading lady in the movie is just about right for Hugh Jackman as the leading man. Hugh is somehow old, and so is Evangeline who is a cross between Vonda Shepard and Alanis Morisette. Less perfect cast = more realistic characters. And casting a bombshell chick into the landlady/mechanic-of-the-leading-man role of the leading lady just won't cut it, as it would seem unrealistic for a totally gorgeous chick to stick it out with a penniless leading man who wouldn't pay her the rent.


Finally, Atom has similarities to Tin Man of Wizard of Oz.