Real steel movie trailer

The year is 2020. 'Robot wrestling' is the most popular and money making sport. Former boxer Charlie (Hugh Jackman) is now a broken man with bills to pay. He gets into the business by hoping his only bet, a 'former champion' Robot would rescue him from the financial crisis if thrown in the ring.Meanwhile, circumstances force Charlie to face his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo). The two see no future together but decide to put-up with each other while Charlie makes some money. Max too gets involved in the robot version of the WWE tournament. If Charlie is brawn, 11 year old Max is the brain behind their fighter robot. Will the futuristic boxing tournament bridge the gap between an abandoned son and his dejected father?

Real Steel movie images

                                                          Click here for more images

Real Steel movie overview

Real Steel was shepherded into production by Steven Spielberg and it’s obvious why the script, loosely based on a short story by Richard Matheson, must have appealed to him. Flawed parent-child relationships set against fantastical backdrops are his thing: think Jurassic Park, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, War Of The Worlds, Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade.But unfortunately Real Steel isn’t a Spielberg movie. Instead, it’s directed by Shawn Levy, the personality-free director who imbued the Night At The Museum films and Date Night with his own unique brand of absolutely nothing.
Possibly as a result, the father-son relationship — the film’s key dynamic — is bungled. While Jackman plays a charismatic chancer as well as you’d expect, Max is an annoying little twerp. Not only is the 11-year-old a mechanical whizz, he’s a brilliant dancer, a shrewd businessman and he gives audacious, crowd-pleasing speeches seemingly off the cuff. Audience sympathy levels for this kid will be below zero – but even more damagingly, Max’s all-round brilliance means his character needn’t, and doesn’t, develop. It’s a lot harder to care when dad’s making all the effort.

The Max character may be badly-built, but the androids aren’t much better. Relationships ’twixt boys and ’bots are richly explored in children’s films such as The Iron Giant and Castle In The Sky, but here it’s barely touched upon. The potential expressiveness of Atom’s unblinking blue LED eyes – the one element of sharp design in the entire movie – is squandered, and a late sequence of “soulful” close-ups of his face is unintentionally absurd.
The other robots are so rote, they might as well have wandered on set from an Xbox game. One of them has a second head - that’s the low level of imagination we’re talking about here - and Zeus, the reigning world champion robot boxer, owes so much to the Transformers franchise that he looks as if he might fold himself up into a superbike at any second. (Zeus is coldly efficient, technologically superior and a serious threat to Charlie’s endearing, all-American incompetence - so naturally, he’s the work of a Japanese designer and is owned by a Russian.
With a lot more focus and a smart re-write, Real Steel could have been a neat companion piece to J J Abrams’s recent Spielberg-aping sci-fi adventure Super 8. Instead, like Atom itself, the lights may be on but there’s no evidence of a soul behind the flicker.

Real Steel movie review

The year is 2020. 'Robot wrestling' is the most popular and money making sport. Former boxer Charlie (Hugh Jackman) is now a broken man with bills to pay. He gets into the business by hoping his only bet, a 'former champion' Robot would rescue him from the financial crisis if thrown in the ring.Meanwhile, circumstances force Charlie to face his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo). The two see no future together but decide to put-up with each other while Charlie makes some money. Max too gets involved in the robot version of the WWE tournament. If Charlie is brawn, 11 year old Max is the brain behind their fighter robot. Will the futuristic boxing tournament bridge the gap between an abandoned son and his dejected father?

Real Steel is a real relief as it is not like Terminator or Transformers or any other lesser known Robot film. No one is killing each other, there are no conniving people who double cross each other for survival and no blood or bullets are spilled.Though it's fictional, everything about the film seems real...the fights, relationships, re-discovery of self belief in the lead character.As far as the boxing of robots is concerned, it is pretty much like any movie on boxing. An underdog takes on the champion...who wins?

What sets the film apart is the treatment and the incredible CGI. Your jaws drop when you see those eight feet tall mighty giant robots enter the ring! The sound effects are mind blowing, especially when the robots punch each other.The bond shared between the father and his son and their robot is endearing.

Little Dakota Goyo deserves a special mention. The kid renders a fine performance and holds your attention even when sharing scenes with Jackman or the robot! Goyo is brilliant. Watch out for his dance moves too. He acts like a pro without losing the vulnerability and naivety you expect from a boy his age.
Hugh Jackman as the former boxer Charlie overdoes his 'boxing' act a bit but touches your heart whenever he engages himself in banter with his son or girlfriend. Evangeline Lilly plays Bailey, Charlie's only support system. The actress renders a mature performance too.

Unpretentious characters, honest performances, unconventional yet comprehensible storyline and stunning action make 'Real Steel' a fun film, one should not miss out on especially if you like WWE! Take your family along.

Real Steel cast and crew

Directed by

Shawn Levy




Hugh Jackman

Dakota Goyo

Evangeline Lilly

Anthony Mackie

Kevin Durand

Hope Davis

James Rebhorn

Karl Yune

Olga Fonda