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This week my picks are
The Iron Giant
(1999 - 
) and
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
(1982 - 
).
The first film was unjustly ignored by the public during its theatrical release, and now
it comes to video with hopes to capitalize on its critical acclaim. Following the
launch of Sputnik in 1957, a giant robot lands in the town of Rockwell, Maine,
which seems to be an even larger threat than communism. A boy named Hogarth
(voiced by Eli Marienthal) befriends the robot, but must hide him from his mother
(Jennifer Aniston) and an imposing government agent (Christopher McDonald). Warner
Bros. proved with this film that they could make an animated feature just as well as
Disney, but failed to compete with the Big Mouse's horrid
Inspector Gadget. This film is a
real treat for everybody in the family, and would make a fine addition to any
video library.
Full review from August 6, 1999
The Iron Giant had parallels to many stories, but it most resembled the second film. Spielberg's story of a lonely boy (Henry Thomas) who finds a much-needed friend after his parents' divorce was, for over a decade, the highest-grossing film ever made. E.T. is perfectly constructed, and is touching enough to crack even the most hard-nosed critic. It is also full of magic, humor, and suspense, which all combine to make the ultimate cinematic experience. It may never show up in any lists above Citizen Kane or Casablanca, but it will have the distinction of being the only film that actually made me cry.
For more information, visit the Internet Movie Database:
The Iron Giant (1999)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Here's some merchandise for sale at
| The Iron Giant (1999) | -- VHS |
| The Iron Giant (1999) | -- VHS Widescreen |
| The Iron Giant (1999) | -- DVD |
| The Iron Giant : A Story in Five Nights, a novella by Ted Hughes | -- Hardcover (Illustrated by Andrew Davidson) |
| The Iron Giant : A Story in Five Nights, a novella by Ted Hughes | -- Paperback (Illustrated by Andrew Davidson) |
| The Iron Giant: Original Soundtrack | -- Compact Disc |
| E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial (1982) | -- VHS |
| E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | -- Compact Disc |
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