The Iron Giant
"You stay. I go. No following."
Hogarth befriends a metal-eating war robot, teaching him language, purpose, goodness. Father’s lessons manifested. Government fights for the “greater good;” paranoid weapons race. One power-crazed agent investigates the wrong angle.
BOOM.
Iceland calls…
Disney’s clueless. This masterpiece: half budget, half time. Nuanced, honest storytelling. Nobody wants that anymore.
About the Creator
Mackenzie Davis
“When you are describing a shape, or sound, or tint, don’t state the matter plainly, but put it in a hint. And learn to look at all things with a sort of mental squint.” Lewis Carroll
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Copyright Mackenzie Davis.
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Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
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Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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More stories from Mackenzie Davis and writers in Critique and other communities.
Rip This To Shreds (Please?)
L.C. Shaëfer and Paul Stewart inspired me to finally participate in the #IronMaiden critique challenge. (Go check out their articles, linked previously.) I have made a list of stories I feel could use more insights, whether from lack of engagement here, or because they were rejected elsewhere, or simply because I've come to cringe at them and would like to like them again.
By Mackenzie Davis2 years ago in Critique
Standing While Falling
Quotation from Friedrich Nietzsche "He who wrestles long with monsters should beware lest he himself become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you. Man is not destroyed by suffering, but by the meaning he makes of it."
By LUCCIAN LAYTH6 days ago in Critique
Fear of a Black Hat
Fear of a Black Hat, a Rusty Cundieff film, is one of my all-time favorite movies for when I need to laugh. We’re talking Kentucky-Fried Movie territory. You want the uncut version, otherwise you don’t get the Ice Froggy Frog video (below) at the beginning, and the discussion about artistic integrity in Cleveland. I own the cut version (😥)—couldn’t find the uncut version at that time, no extra money for it right now, but you aren’t me, so buy the uncut version.
By Harper Lewisabout 2 hours ago in Critique
Comments (9)
Iron giant is one of my favorite “kid” movies & you summed this movie up nicely. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
This is brilliant, Mackenzie. Not that I expected any less when clicking on this. Well done!
"Superman" 😭 My favourite animated film ever.
I love that you reviewed this movie, just a timeless classic that doesn't get any recognition at all! Your last two lines hit me so hard "Nuanced, honest storytelling. Nobody wants that anymore.".... The truth sure does sting!
Thank you for bringing attention to one of my absolute favourite films. Iron Giant is undeniably Vin Diesel's greatest performance ever!! I was 7 when I first saw this and a single year hasn't gone by when I didn't rewatch it. As you aptly called it, nuanced and honest in it's storytelling. That ending just breaks me a little every time I watch it in the best way possible. "Hogarth befriends a metal-eating war robot, teaching him language, purpose, & goodness. Father’s lessons manifested." You pack so much in these two sentences. Nicely done. I am aware of the director's open remarks about how this was done with a budget, third of that of a Disney film at the time and half the production schedule and it's so important to highlight that! Brad Bird also mentioned that the question which prompted 'The Iron Giant' was “What if a gun had a soul?” And I believe the movie went on to answer that for us - it wouldn’t be a gun anymore.
Not "nobody". It'll probably always be in my library.
Ahhh, the 'greater good'! I have no idea why I've not watched this yet. I have to watch this!
Excellent critique- especially the ‘boom’
Excellent. One of the few animated films to make me cry 😢