Transformers meets Rocky
Dark of the Moon saw its embarrassing opening during June this year, and effectively brought an end to the oily, greasy and clichéd portrait that was the fighting-robot genre. So what is the case for Real Steel? Hugh Jackman and Dakota Goyo star in a tale of professional fighting robots controlled by power-hungry humans, hoping to take a new perspective on an idea now clunky and worn.
But even the Transformers and their ridiculous shape-shifting techniques have more personality and humanity than these sorts of scrap heaps, and ironically even more than the humans that populate this gravedigger.
Director Richard Levy based the film on a 1956 short story, and laughably attempts to weave a father-son bonding story into the context with Jackman and Goyo slowly blossoming along the way. Real attempt has gone into making the film as ‘human’ as possible, but even with heartfelt shots of Detroit cutting in between the action, everything deemed human is nothing more than forced emotive content and clichéd moments of Hollywood drama. No real depth, no real understanding. Instead it’s just bleary-eyed sentimentality that feigns its way through throughout the film.
That in mind, it was extremely disappointing to see Jackman – who has previously headed off some impressive titles including The Prestige and the X-Men series – has much of his development snubbed out and replaced. Listen closely and you can hear the slurred and fake American accent dripping off his tongue, as if he is trying to impersonate a faux business manager. Goyo is no better either, mirroring a dropout with a caffeine hit and darting around as fast as his little legs can carry him.
Watching a 25 tonne robot get hammered into the ground appeals to the child inside all of us, but much of the action is swapped out for blatant promotional advertising and marketization of commercial products. I can’t help but enquire how much Microsoft and HP paid Levy off to incorporate an ‘Xbox 720’ logo projected onto an HP widescreen. There are even Dr Pepper cans shamelessly strewn all over the van and Japanese video game references within the first hour. At its length it begins to feel like a pretty big commercial with product after product thrown here and there to catch the attention.
There’s so much cheek for a movie that attempts to take itself seriously that I found myself questioning whether Real Steel was a blockbuster or just a parody. Don’t come in with high expectations, because all it will come to is more mumbo-jumbo fighting-robot ‘drama’ that becomes nothing more than cold, unaffectionate rubbish.
When I went to see this movie, I loved it! I hope that my comments will not offend you, but I am afraid I disagree with most of your comments, except for when you explain that you feel this movie was a bit too commercialized. I noticed that too. However, I found the movie to be exciting, funny, and heartfelt, despite the fact that I am not usually a fan of robot movies.
The end of the movie, as Hugh Jackman steps up to the side of the ring to shadowbox with ATOM, gave me chills. Jackman is an amazing actor and upcomer, Dakota Goyo, was adorable and is talented for someone as young as he is. I was very impressed.
As for the effects, they were pretty good, but I am not someone who goes to see movies based on the special effects. I enjoy the story and the acting.
Another thing I do agree with you on is that no one should go into any movie with high expectations because if you do not like it, you will be more disappointed. With low expectations, you can laugh and enjoy it even more.