Real Steel

I really need to stop judging films based on when they are released. It turns out that “Real Steel” was supposed to come out in November but was released a month and a half earlier so as to avoid competing with a film franchise that shall not be named. “Real Steel” is a genuine Christmas Blockbuster even though it came out in October. The movie isn’t perfect but its sense of fun is. The acting is very good and there is chemistry. The special effects were great and so was the design of the film. It has a lot of cliché boxing movie moments but because the film was able to pull off sincerity, these cliché moments work just fine.

I was a little uncomfortable watching a robot fight a bull in the first scene. I like rodeos but not ones where the animal gets that kind of punishment. At least Black Thunder won. The film took a realistic approach to the year 2020. Even though it has already failed to correctly predict the future, it was never meant to just like executive producer Robert Zemeckis' "Back to the Future: Part II". Some films do go too far in predicting the future but the filmmakers held back in some places in "Reel Steal" such as the clothing that people wear and the settings. I bought the world I saw on screen mostly thanks to Hugh Jackman’s performance in that first fight with the bull. I believed robot boxing in the first scene also because of Jackman’s performance. When Max and Charlie have that moment in front of Bailey’s gym, I could feel potential for chemistry. Shortly after, we get it thanks to Dakota Goyo’s performance. He creates real humor for the character of Max. He also takes the passion that kids have for something, such as video games, and applies it to this fictional sport. I also like the scene when we first meet Zeus and there is a “Mean Joe”-type moment. I had a nice laugh at that. Charlie and Max's relationship is developed very well and it starts in the frightening moment when Max almost falls to his death. In order for us to cheer for Atom, he must be viewed as another character and not as a machine. We start to view him as such when Max starts to believe that Atom is alive. Another bonding moment for Charlie and Max is in Atom’s first fight. Charlie at first has no faith as he predicts the moves of the opponent. Once a half a minute is left in the first round however, Charlie suddenly snaps into support mode and it is a great moment of Jackman’s. Charlie never thought Atom could take so much punishment and so once 30 seconds are left in the first round, Charlie face changes as he realizes that there is hope. I like the deal the Charile makes with his son that if Max dances before the fight, Charlie will teach Atom how to box. This bonding moments and others really help move the story forward. I saw a lot of “Rocky” moments in this film but the filmmakers didn’t just copy and paste elements from that film. Rather, they replicated moments from “Rocky”. A good example of this is after Charlie agrees to train Atom and he comes out of the hotel room early in the morning. That reminds me of Rocky’s first morning run. The filmmakers were able to tweak these cliche boxing movie moments and make them original because of the genre change and the sincerity of the acting performances. The center of this film was the relationship between Charlie & Max and the center of "Rocky" was different. This further creates originality. While the entire plot is cliche, the sincerity we feel as we watch the film has us guessing the plot right to the end. I also like the moment when Charlie discovers Twin Cities’ weakness. Atom’s ability to sustain massive damage allows for Charlie to figure out how to beat Atom’s opponents. I also love the slapping celebration between Charlie and Max after they beat Twin Cities. It is funny that The Blob and Wolverine get a rematch in this film but that is not what you are thinking about as you watch the scene. Instead, it is quite an unhappy moment and this proves that the movie is working. Sure Ricky may have been justified in beating up Charlie but defiantly not Max. This scene teaches Charlie that he must pay the consequences for his past actions. I love something that Max says as he is about to go with his aunt. Max reveals to Charlie that he wanted his father to fight for him or in other words care about him, not just try to profit from their relationship. I like that the whole cast come to the final fight, even Max’s aunt and uncle who are overjoyed at the end. I am happy that Ricky gets what he deserves at the end of the movie and that it is Finn who gives out this judgment. The match between Zeus and Atom is very well scripted and portrayed. Also, I love Danny Elfman's music for Zeus' entrance. It is silently eluded throughout the film that Atom will at some point have to use his shadow function to finish a fight and it is a powerful, dramatic moment. In order for Charlie to help Atom win, Charlie must also treat Atom as a living character. Charlie is boxing once again and the depiction of this with Max & Bailey watching is a great moment. Jackson's face when he taunts Zeus through Atom is so cool. I love the reactions of Mashido and Lemcova after the final fight. Mashido is too proud to say anything and nothing that Lemcova can say will satisfy the crowd who reject Zeus’ victory. This is another “Rocky” moment in that the loser becomes “the peoples’ champion”. I would have liked to see a more original ending but I can’t seem to think of one that I would have liked. The whole movie has Charlie and Max disagreeing with each other's decisions. Sometimes Charlie is right but other times Max is right. It is the two of them working together that makes things happen in their favor. Separately, the characters are flawed but with each other they can always make the right decision.

I also liked the performance of Albertan Evangeline Lilly in this film. "Real Steel" was my introduction to her. There were a bunch of Canadians working on this movie including the director. I also like how the screenwriter for this movie, John Gatins, plays Kingpin. The motion capture work was great in “Reel Steal” and I believe that the biggest reasons why it worked was because the filmmakers used “simulcam” from “Avatar” and also because Sugar Ray Leonard was the boxing advisor. The special effects are worthy of their Oscar nomination but I could tell that the competition among the other nominees was too much to overcome that year, even for Atom. Director Shawn Levy, who brought us the “Night at the Museum” films, did a good job and I was glad to see Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg’s names attached to this film. Apparently, Spielberg wanted there to be practical effects wherever possible and personally, I had a hard time telling the real robots from the CGI ones thanks to Stan Winston's Legacy Studio. Even though this film came out in the same year as a “Transformers” movie and even though there are a lot of “Rocky” moments, “Reel Steal” is able to accomplish enough originality to work on screen. The acting was good as was the film’s design. The show is a good amount of fun. I felt the film had a slight lack of resolution concerning the fact that Max will live with his aunt even after this huge climax. I think this will further the desire for a possible sequel. From what I hear, many of the cast and crew will be returning for that if it is made and I for one will welcome that film.

4 Stars