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 Men have been replaced by massive 9-foot tall, 2,000-pound sophisticated robots of metal, bolts, and electronics.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
Back to Top
