Hatchet reporter Arich Morales shares his latest movie experience.
“Real Steel” (2011)
Think Rocky mixed with Transformers, and there lies the basic premise of this movie. Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, “Real Steel” is about the futuristic sport of robot boxing. The film follows Charlie (Hugh Jackman), a former professional boxer who attempts to rebuild his life by taking up the new sport.
But when his ex-girlfriend dies unexpectedly, he assumes temporary custody of his 11-year-old son Max (Dakota Goyo). Together, the two find an old, discarded robot model named Atom, and their luck changes. After rebuilding and training Atom, they watch the fighting bot win match after match until they receive a shot at the big leagues.
At its core, this film is the story of the underdog. Charlie builds himself up from rock bottom with the help of his son and achieves success in more ways than one. The idea itself is not original, but is applied in a challenging futuristic context.
The story’s progression can be slow at times. The opening scenes see Charlie’s numerous losses and the events surrounding the custody of his son. The action remains steady even after the pair discovers the sparring bot. Apart from their first match, the subsequent fights are short and leave the viewer wanting more.
But the last portion of the movie brings plenty of climactic action as their numerous victories attract much public attention, resulting in opportunities to fight in the big league boxing matches with heavyweight robots. The action builds and leads up to an epic final match.
Though sometimes poorly developed, the father-son relationship between Charlie and Max offers an emotional aspect to balance the film’s action sequences. Viewers can see Jackman’s character grow as he discovers an unexpected bond with his son.
Though “Real Steel” fails to deliver a blockbuster performance, it provides plenty of action, a decent amount of comedy and an entertaining show for the audience to enjoy.
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Director: Shawn Levy
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly
Release Date: Oct. 7