REAL STEEL
A review by Eva Dunn
It has been awhile since I enjoyed a
really good, action film that elicited audience participation in
thunderous cheering for one of the stars in a movie, not to mention
a robot star. Real Steel, directed by Shawn Levy (Night at the
Museum fame) and produced by Steven Spielberg’s Dreamworks, is an
exciting, heart-warming story set in the future centering on, of
all things, boxing. I say that because I am not a boxing fan; it's
way too violent! Ironic because this is the precept of this
futuristic movie plot, boxing; but here boxing has gone hi-tech.
Men have been replaced by massive 9-foot tall, 2,000-pound
sophisticated robots of metal, bolts, and electronics.
Photo: Hugh Jackman spars with
the robot in Real Steel. Courtesy photo
The
fighting hunks of metal are operated by a control center ringside
and the 'fight' although between two robots, is actually a 'fight'
between two human promoters for big bucks. Charlie, an ex-fighter,
struggles along promoting two-bit fights with low-end robots until
two things shake up his life; his estranged 13-year old son Max
(Dakota Goyo) is dropped in his lap, and his son's discovery of a
discarded robot. The movie is also a tale of a man re-connecting
with his son and how their bond grows as their robot fights its way
to the top, a touching and believable parallel. Home base for
Charlie is the old boxing gym where his late trainer's daughter (Lost's
Evangeline Lilly), a beauty who expertly refurbishes Charlie's
trashed robots, is the love interest. These are actually real
robots, but the fight scenes use CGI. Being that the actors had to
actually interact with a huge mass of steel made the scenes very
believable, adding to the integrity of their performances.
Photo: One of Charlie's robots
gets ringside instruction. Courtesy photo
Hugh Jackman worked with boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard to create
the magic of the fighting scenes. This is a lively, exciting story;
the boxing scenes bloodless yet interestingly, you are just as
pulled in as though they were human; just as emotionally affected
when pummeled as if they were real flesh and blood fighters. The
transformations of a neglected, angry young son and his emotionally
distant father are expertly handled in this moving story. This
movie was excellent, highly charged robot fight scenes alternating
with tender scenes of a precocious kid and the charming Hugh
Jackman to deliver an action movie that captures the spirit and
emotion of beating impossible odds, of discovering champions in
people.
Hugh Jackman has always been a highly sought-after actor because of
how he so intimately connects with his character. He doesn't
disappoint in this terrific movie. Young Dakota Goyo is one to
watch; he is a very talented young man. The cast also includes
Kevin Durand, and Anthony Mackie. This is one of those movies made
gigantic by the big screen and at IMAX; it's like you are literally
ringside. Which for me meant I was so happy this was not a human
boxing movie! See Real Steel at the Esquire IMAX Theatre, 1211 K
Street, Sacramento, CA. For ticket info, 916.446.2333x203 or visit
www.IMAX.com for a complete
schedule or to pre-order tickets.
REAL STEEL now playing at the Esquire IMAX Theatre,
1211 K Street, downtown Sacramento, CA. Check the online link for
scheduled show dates/times. Tickets at
http://archive.imax.com/sacramento/nowplaying/index.htm
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