Real Steel

A watchable popcorn flick with a clear target audience, built on boxing movie clichés and relying solely on the core robot gimmick. It's pulled forward by the likeable Jackman and the fights in the ring, but it's knocked down by predictability and a runtime that is too ambitious for such a simple film. For one viewing only, but definitely a nice sci-fi nod to the Rocky of the genre. (08/15/2018)

I'll keep it short this time. Negative aspects: Incredibly unsympathetic son/brat/little monster. Too many "family aspects" in the film and the associated clichéd story (hideously ripping off Over the Top!), and the fact that it is clear how it will turn out before every robot fight. The music that's not by Danny Elfman. Idiot "cool" dances with a robot (terrrible) ___ Positives: Hugh Jackman. The music that is by Danny Elfman. Perfect, excellently animated robots with imaginative design (the cowboy!) and their realistic fights, which really made me feel like I was watching huge plated boxers hitting each other. Two and a half stars. (01/10/2012)

An ordinary film, I can't think of a better descriptor. The visuals are nice, like Transformers – it can't get much better. Hugh Jackman is a likeable dad and the chemistry between him and Evangeline Lilly is very good. The child in the main role is excellent, too. Otherwise, it's a pile of clichés about how a father dad becomes a good dad, how a loser and troublemaker becomes a proper man, and how the last chance usually works out. If you're expecting real emotions in the ring, better watch Warrior or a ton of other films with less family and more social focus dealing with racial issues or criticizing “humanity”. If you want a farce like Cinderella Man, that's more or less what Real Steel is, just this one is rated PG13 – money is also made from children. I don't want to say it’s a complete piece of crap, but there's definitely no deeper thought or anything that would make me want to see it again or remember it. (02/03/2012)

A punch aimed at the masses. Uncle Spielberg didn’t use the robot idea just in Transformers, but added this job on the side inspired by Matheson’s short story. Hugh Jackman is really cool, Dakota Goyo excellent (mustn’t laugh at the name) and I was pleasantly surprised by Evangeline Lilly who is awesome in this picture and has no problem in tossing that whiney Kate from Lost over her head. The story is a classic story of self-searching, strengthening family bonds and fighting enormous robots in the ring. The tricks are really effective during the fighting, with the right stuff of boxing at heart (especially in the finale). Levy’s can direct when he has a decent screenplay in his hand. A movie that charges you with positive energy. (01/03/2012)

Transformers has a lot of money for breathtaking effects, but Real Steel has heart, which is the most important thing. Straightforward family entertainment with a straightforward script and an annoying wise geezer in the main role. But everything is so nice, and even the annoying wise geezer ends up begin likeable, that it was a lot of fun to watch. In a nutshell, a pleasant surprise, though the robot fights could have been shot with more dynamism and tension, they felt too much like a routine. Overall, though, nice pop-corn fun. (01/06/2012)