A highly entertaining ride, but the visuals are just about the only thing that's truly fresh about it.
Steamboy (2005)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:86
Fresh:50
Rotten:36
Average Rating:6/10
Consensus: The story isn't the greatest, but there's an abundance of sci-fi eye candy to compensate.
Theatrical Release:2004
Box Office: $287,034
Synopsis: Katsuhiro Otomo, the master Japanese anime director behind the international success AKIRA, scores again with STEAMBOY, the inventive story of a family of inventors from Manchester, England, that... Katsuhiro Otomo, the master Japanese anime director behind the international success AKIRA, scores again with STEAMBOY, the inventive story of a family of inventors from Manchester, England, that gets ripped apart by greed, pride, and power. Ray Steam (voice of Anne Suzuki) is a young boy following in the footsteps of his father, Eddy (Masane Tsukayama), and grandfather, Lloyd (Katsuo Nakamura), scientists dedicated to advancing technology through the use of steam. When Lloyd invents a steam ball that has unheard-of possibilities, everyone wants it--world leaders, wealthy industrialists, and even the government--but most of them want it for evil purposes. And so it is up to Ray to protect the fate of the earth while also choosing between his father and grandfather. The background paintings and 3-D CGI animation are gorgeous, creating a gray-and-white palette of gear-driven machines that melds perfectly with the story, which takes the main characters to a major science exhibition in Victorian-era London. In addition to the original subtitled Japanese version, there is an English-language edition featuring the voices of Anna Paquin, Alfred Molina, and Patrick Stewart. STEAMBOY is an animated gem both kids and adults can enjoy. [More]
Starring: Anne Suzuki, Manami Konishi, Katsuo Nakamura, Masane Tsukayama
Starring: Anne Suzuki, Manami Konishi, Katsuo Nakamura, Masane Tsukayama, Kiyoshi Kodama, Ikki Sawamura, Susuma Terajima, Satoru Saito, Anna Paquin, Alfred Molina, Patrick Stewart
Director: Katsuhiro Otomo
Director: Katsuhiro Otomo
Screenwriter: Katsuhiro Otomo, Sadayuki Murai
Producer: Shunji Komori, Hideyuki Tomioka
Composer: Steve Jablonsky
Studio: Columbia Tristar
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Reviews for Steamboy
frustrating, challenging the imagination with pure spectacle but failing to supply a clear road map to follow.
While Steamboy lacks the emotional resonance and psychological complexity of Akira, it is state-of-the-art anime made by one of the masters.
As ever, Otomo's attention to the most minute details of setting and character are beyond reproach.
It may be one of the most expensive anime features ever, but there isn't a wealth of entertainment on offer in Steamboy.
Often immensely thrilling in the most elemental ways, even in a US-release cut that's 23 minutes shorter than the Japanese original.
When the "steam castle" morphs into a Spielbergian mother ship, I knew that Otomo's overheated fantasy had, yes, run out of steam.
Though it falls short of the crossover standard set by Hayao Miyazaki's Oscar-winning Spirited Away, the attempt is far too accomplished and inventive to dismiss.
There may be possibilities here, but they're lost in the extraordinary boredom of a long third act devoted almost entirely to loud, pointless and repetitive action.
Though visually stunning, suffered from some jarring edits, bizarre character reversals and general lack of narrative cohesiveness.
The end credits play over a series of still drawings of Ray and the steamball's further adventures and EVERY SINGLE ONE of them looks more interesting than the movie.
No matter how big and impressive, all of this pales in comparison to the human soul, which this film simply does not have.
When massive bursts of steam are frozen into giant flowers of jagged ice, Otomo gives us a literal Cold War, to remind us of the folly of the arms race.
A feast for the eyes and a thrillingly brazen transposition of the high-tech on the old-fashioned, fueled by a dose of what-if historical fantasy.
Latest News for Steamboy
November 18, 2005:
Ten Animated Movies to Compete for Oscar Consideration
ComingSoon.net shares a press release from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) regarding the Best Animated Feature hopefuls. Seems we have a solid ten movies... More...
March 07, 2005:
Visually stunning . . . ![]()
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