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Immediate impressions of Real Steel were that it seemed like a comparison between Transformers with the Rocky series. However, because it starred Hollywood favourite, Australian actor Hugh Jackman, in the leading role, it added more flavor and excitement to the film. Real Steel is also based on the short story called Steel by Richard Matheson, and was made into an episode from Twilight Zone. Therefore, the film could have gone either way – a complete failure or heaps of fun. Real Steel may have had its occasionally cheesy moments but there is no denying that it is a very enjoyable film that provides everything that it intended to achieve, which is to entertain and thrill its audience.
Hugh Jackman is an actor who usually delivers the most serious performances in some of the most fun and entertaining films you could witness. Therefore, in any film that Jackman takes a role in, it will bound to be heaps of fun. However, with Real Steel, he plays a character where he gives us a corny but still emotional performance. Jackman stars in what is perhaps his first live-action film that is family-friendly for all ages. Nevertheless, with Jackman’s role as former boxer Charlie Kenton and the love-hate relationship between his son, Max Kenton (portrayed by Dakota Goyo), it is a typical protagonist character that is easily likable and will make you smile from start to finish.
Considering that Hugh Jackman practically stole Real Steel as his own film (on-screen, at least), in the supporting roles were Evangeline Lilly as Bailey Tallet, Charlie’s childhood friend and possible love interest. Furthermore, Dakota Goyo, who had made a brief appearance as the young Thor in Thor, played a more important and frequent role in Real Steel. He portrayed Max Kenton, Charlie’s pre-teen son. He has a love-hate relationship with his father but when Atom, the robot, comes along, they work together as a team to win matches. Therefore, it provides how much a father and son can easily connect and how important it is to do so.
As we have encountered many times particularly within the past decade, directors have gone over the top regarding visual effects. When comparing it to Transformers, it has its jaw-dropping effects that does make the film dazzling to observe. However, the difference is that Real Steel adds character to the robots and the humans. Shawn Levy, who gave us a lot of fun from Night At The Museum yet disappointment from the sequel and the remakes of The Pink Panther and Cheaper By The Dozen. He makes this film not only entertaining, but thought-provoking too. For example, because Real Steel is set in a not-too-distant future and has varieties of technologies used by humans, which makes the audience ask: with the uprising of technology nowadays, what if the events of Real Steel could become true? In addition, by mixing the human world with the sci-fi world of robots, it became pure gold for science fiction geeks. Nevertheless, director Levy gives easily his best film to date with jaw-dropping effects, a very fun story with very likeable characters and demonstrates what entertainment is all about.
Overall, Real Steel is a truly exhilarating, exciting and entertaining motion picture that has it all. It has dazzling effects that was well direction and the performances from the actors were splendid. Furthermore, it has solid characters with a very good message. People might initially see this as loosely related to Transformers or the Rocky series, but it is a film on its own. There is no doubt that Real Steel is an emotional and action-packed entertainer from start to finish and good news: we could be in for a potential sequel soon.
8/10
