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Steel (1997)

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12

Average Rating: 3/10
Reviews Counted: 25
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 22

Steel is a badly-acted movie that indulges not only in superhero cliches, but also the sappy TV-movie-of-the-week ones.

0

Average Rating: 3/10
Critic Reviews: 5
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 5

Steel is a badly-acted movie that indulges not only in superhero cliches, but also the sappy TV-movie-of-the-week ones.

audience

22

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User Ratings: 6,575

My Rating

Movie Info

Low-rent, poorly-lit superhero action is the order of the day in this film from television director Kenneth Johnson -- who makes several references to his series Alien Nation throughout the course of the movie. NBA basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal stars as John Henry Irons, a weapons designer and metallurgical genius who is developing a new sonic weapon for the military with the help of Sparks (Annabeth Gish), a computer whiz. When an accident caused by unscrupulous superior Nathaniel Burke

Warner Home Video

All Critics (25) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (3) | Rotten (22)

Its protagonist is good-natured, wholesome, devoid of moral flaws and acutely civic-conscious. But good intentions aren't good enough, and this Shaq attack is too broad and episodic to attract anything other than the most undemanding crowd.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
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Steel isn't a movie to excite or even entertain. It exists to move merchandise -- specifically, Shaquille O'Neal's oversized physique and marketing machine.

January 1, 2000 Comment
Film.com
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The Los Angeles Lakers' center, at 7-foot-1, is appealing and breathes much needed large life into a tolerable stinker of a film.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
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The concept may not be bad, but there are times when the execution borders on embarassing.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: ReelViews | Comment
ReelViews
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Slow to gather momentum and generates little excitement or tension.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
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Has the distinction of being one of those movies that's so bad it actually has some solid entertainment value.

May 16, 2010 Full Review Source: Movie Views | Comment

an efficient concoction with some nice special effects (there is this sound wave gun that makes the air wiggle when it's shot) and an easy-to-follow plot, about stopping illegal weapons merchants. There are plenty of stunt sequences and futuristic gimmick

June 15, 2007 Comment

What in God's name were they thinking???

July 22, 2005 Comment
7M Pictures

It could be worse. Shaq could be rapping.

June 18, 2005 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment (1)
eFilmCritic.com

Shaq CANNOT ACT!

June 15, 2004 Comment
Aisle Seat

Why does Shaq hate us so much?

April 23, 2004 Comment
Flipside Movie Emporium

Better than you'd think. As kiddie action flicks go, Steel is really not bad.

June 12, 2003 Comment
New Times

This fil

August 1, 2002 Comment

You're entitled to make your own mistakes. Lord knows Shaq is.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: E! Online | Comment
E! Online

Packs the entertainment oomph of a free throw.

January 1, 2000 Comment
Jam! Movies

It's no masterpiece, but it isn't an absolute disaster either.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Cinematter | Comment
Cinematter

Its sappiness and excruciating sentimentality weighs it down.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Sci-Fi Movie Page | Comment
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Steel

This movie was...Okay. It certainly wasn't good, but it wasn;t too bad either. Shaq can't act, no more than he can shoot a decent free throw, but there was still some good. But as always, we begin with the bad. The basketball puns in this movie were just PAINFUL PAINFUL PAINFUL!!! For example, there is one scene where

May 4, 2011
Marc L.
Marc Lewis

Super Reviewer

About the same as Kazam in terms of quality, this is basically the poor man's Batman, even circa '97. Again, it has a bizarre unintentional comedy element to it that makes it worth watching. This has too many seriously toned moments though, which makes it tough to even get through. Poor Shaquille O'Neal really wanted

May 3, 2010
ythelastman89

Super Reviewer

Steel Quotes

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