What a strange film - basically it's a sci-fi sports underdog parental drama kids summer movie, but one that's basically too sentimental and lightweight for teenagers to enjoy, and too predictable and poorly written for adults to enjoy. The whole concept was interesting, although increasingly silly, and more than a little flawed. The robot fights are done well but are never exciting and I couldn't stand the precocious kid - all that pre-bout prancing around was horrid - I was secretly hoping for some 11th hour tragedy... Zeus falls over and crushes him or something... but nothing that happens in this film, from the first frame to the last, is designed to surprise. Nice to see Evangeline Lilly in something again though.
TOTALY predictable from a to z with a very corny sappy story and at least 30minutes too long........but entertaining, great effects and Jackman is good!
Sure, I'm in for the robot fighting, but Real Steel's set-up is frustrating to say the least. The formula is painfully obvious from the off, but they set Hugh Jackman's character so far back at every level that he can't possibly "arc" with any measure of believably. He's so bad at fighting robots AND at the business side of things, you can't believe he's in this racket at all (he's played more like a gambling addict, but there's no real commitment to that idea). He's such a terrible father, his parental turn isn't credible (to stay with the gambling addict parallels, he STILL only acts appropriately when things are going well). And while I can suspend disbelief to the point where these robot matches make sense in the world as presented, it definitely bugs me that they keep teasing the underdog robot's independence, but never pay it off. It's like they different writers had different ideas about "Atom" - is his special thing that he's a Robot Rocky, that he can shadow box, or that he's sentient? Depends on the moment. Do we ever understand why the cartoon villains want to buy it away from them, for that matter? The premise is dumb fun in a kids' movie way, but think about any of its moving parts and you'll find the script's a real mess.
I didn't expect much of it but watched it nonetheless because of Hugh Jackman. I ended up really enjoying this. Funny, action-packed and sweet. That kid is adorable and Jackman is fantastic as always.
Holy crap what a turd.
It starts out great, with a very nice premise and good establishment of the characters, flaws and all. Then it goes downhill throughout, to finally end up in a nasty, cliche-ridden sap-fest. Inconsistencies galore as the movie tries to make us cheer the robot on, like it's alive(!)... the whole robot-Rocky theme was ham-handed and over the top.
You got all the makings for a kick ass robot fighting movie and decide to not capitalize on it and instead make it a annoying story about how a scumbag loser decides he isn't a scumbag loser anymore simply because a kid turns up that he abandoned at birth 9 years ago, a kid that has somehow magically aged to 11 in those last 9 years.
I absolutely understand why kids and Americans would love the underdog story. Anyone else should be able to see through this insanely predictable travesty.
It even ends with slow motion fade-to-white scene that's as close to a freeze frame finish you can come without doing the actual freeze frame!
Well done A-Hole-wood. You managed to pull the family crowds and make a buck. I assume there will be a sequel. I also assume it will suck like nobody's business. Please prove me wrong!
Add your comment
Comments 1 - 15 of 45
dombrewer
What a strange film - basically it's a sci-fi sports underdog parental drama kids summer movie, but one that's basically too sentimental and lightweight for teenagers to enjoy, and too predictable and poorly written for adults to enjoy. The whole concept was interesting, although increasingly silly, and more than a little flawed. The robot fights are done well but are never exciting and I couldn't stand the precocious kid - all that pre-bout prancing around was horrid - I was secretly hoping for some 11th hour tragedy... Zeus falls over and crushes him or something... but nothing that happens in this film, from the first frame to the last, is designed to surprise. Nice to see Evangeline Lilly in something again though.KaramAkerfeldt
The kid butchered it.CSSCHNEIDER
There's not enough Robot Boxing in my Robot Boxing film. Still, it was really entertaining and fun. The Shadow Boxing concept was great.Earring72
TOTALY predictable from a to z with a very corny sappy story and at least 30minutes too long........but entertaining, great effects and Jackman is good!hakonlo
My god, the dialogue was horrible.Siskoid
Sure, I'm in for the robot fighting, but Real Steel's set-up is frustrating to say the least. The formula is painfully obvious from the off, but they set Hugh Jackman's character so far back at every level that he can't possibly "arc" with any measure of believably. He's so bad at fighting robots AND at the business side of things, you can't believe he's in this racket at all (he's played more like a gambling addict, but there's no real commitment to that idea). He's such a terrible father, his parental turn isn't credible (to stay with the gambling addict parallels, he STILL only acts appropriately when things are going well). And while I can suspend disbelief to the point where these robot matches make sense in the world as presented, it definitely bugs me that they keep teasing the underdog robot's independence, but never pay it off. It's like they different writers had different ideas about "Atom" - is his special thing that he's a Robot Rocky, that he can shadow box, or that he's sentient? Depends on the moment. Do we ever understand why the cartoon villains want to buy it away from them, for that matter? The premise is dumb fun in a kids' movie way, but think about any of its moving parts and you'll find the script's a real mess.demagogo
fuck a point fighterAeroRafa
Liked it, but expected some robot dance in the credits :(Pxicosis
This movie is for kidsBlade22
Excellent movie with superb effectsdanisanna
I didn't expect much of it but watched it nonetheless because of Hugh Jackman. I ended up really enjoying this. Funny, action-packed and sweet. That kid is adorable and Jackman is fantastic as always.IreneAdler
Nice family story, great robot effects, Hugh Jackman is good as always... an entertaining movie.GagasTele
I wasn't expecting much from this but man I liked it alot!dpanter
Holy crap what a turd.It starts out great, with a very nice premise and good establishment of the characters, flaws and all. Then it goes downhill throughout, to finally end up in a nasty, cliche-ridden sap-fest. Inconsistencies galore as the movie tries to make us cheer the robot on, like it's alive(!)... the whole robot-Rocky theme was ham-handed and over the top.
You got all the makings for a kick ass robot fighting movie and decide to not capitalize on it and instead make it a annoying story about how a scumbag loser decides he isn't a scumbag loser anymore simply because a kid turns up that he abandoned at birth 9 years ago, a kid that has somehow magically aged to 11 in those last 9 years.
I absolutely understand why kids and Americans would love the underdog story. Anyone else should be able to see through this insanely predictable travesty.
It even ends with slow motion fade-to-white scene that's as close to a freeze frame finish you can come without doing the actual freeze frame!
Well done A-Hole-wood. You managed to pull the family crowds and make a buck. I assume there will be a sequel. I also assume it will suck like nobody's business. Please prove me wrong!
Maxahlia
My inner kid loved this.Showing items 1 – 15 of 45