RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
RT's Blu-ray HQ
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Steamboy
Steamboy

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Steamboy (2005)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
58 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

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.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for action violence.

Runtime: 2 hrs 6 mins

Genre: Foreign Films

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

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Jul 26, 2005

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Steamboy

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

A highly entertaining ride, but the visuals are just about the only thing that's truly fresh about it.

Full Review Source: About.com | comment 1 Comment
03/18/05
Jurgen Fauth
Jurgen Fauth
About.com

frustrating, challenging the imagination with pure spectacle but failing to supply a clear road map to follow.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
03/17/05
Bill Muller
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

While Steamboy lacks the emotional resonance and psychological complexity of Akira, it is state-of-the-art anime made by one of the masters.

Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | comment Comment
05/13/05
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

As ever, Otomo's attention to the most minute details of setting and character are beyond reproach.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/20/05
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
09/26/05
AV Club

It may be one of the most expensive anime features ever, but there isn't a wealth of entertainment on offer in Steamboy.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
12/06/05
Matthew Leyland
Matthew Leyland
BBC

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
12/27/07
Joe Lozito
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

Often immensely thrilling in the most elemental ways, even in a US-release cut that's 23 minutes shorter than the Japanese original.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
03/18/05
Ty Burr
Ty Burr
Boston Globe
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/02/05
Boston Phoenix

When the "steam castle" morphs into a Spielbergian mother ship, I knew that Otomo's overheated fantasy had, yes, run out of steam.

Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly | comment Comment
03/24/05
Thomas Delapa
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly

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.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
03/27/05
Wade Major
Wade Major
Boxoffice Magazine

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.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
03/18/05
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Though visually stunning, suffered from some jarring edits, bizarre character reversals and general lack of narrative cohesiveness.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
03/17/05
Robert K. Elder
Robert K. Elder
Chicago Tribune

Otomo outdoes his Akira with this cinematic feast.

Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | comment Comment
03/17/05
David Sterritt
David Sterritt
Christian Science Monitor

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.

Full Review Source: CHUD | comment Comment
03/18/05
Devin Faraci
Devin Faraci
CHUD
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

No matter how big and impressive, all of this pales in comparison to the human soul, which this film simply does not have.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
04/08/05
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Otomo continues his reign as the George Lucas of Anime!

Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net | comment Comment
03/14/05
Edward Douglas
Edward Douglas
ComingSoon.net

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.

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
05/04/05
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

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.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
03/17/05
Chris Vognar
Chris Vognar
Dallas Morning News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
all

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 . . . Opens in new window
More...

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
32% 32% Terminator Salvation
36% 36% Angels & Demons
95% 95% Star Trek
25% 25% Four Christmases

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
88% 88% Inglourious Basterds
78% 78% The Hangover
49% 49% Taking Woodstock
26% 26% The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
47% 47% The Girl From Monaco

More New Releases…

See All

RT On Current TV

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

Learn how you can be part of the show

More...

What’s Hot On RT

Sam Worthington

Sam Worthington

A video interview with the Avatar star!

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

Check out the brand new trailer now!

Golden Globes

Golden Globes

Up in the Air leads with 6 noms!

Nominee Gallery

Nominee Gallery

See who got nominated for Golden Globes!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • How Avatar Happened: The Path to Innovation Source: CinemaBlend.com
6
  • Rob Marshall Says Pirates 4 Is Still a Maybe Source: ComingSoon.net
18
  • ET Teases Iron Man 2 Teaser Source: Collider.com
17
  • Tobey Maguire Refutes Hobbit Rumors Source: Hollywood Reporter
7
  • Prince of Persia Featurette Posted Source: Yahoo! Movies
2
  • Trailer Bulletin: Robin Hood Source: ComingSoon.net
55
  • Mel Gibson Plans a Mexican Vacation Source: Variety
8
  • New Iron Man 2 Clue Posted Source: Screen Rant
26
  • Gibson and DiCaprio are Going Norse Source: HitFix
75
  • Lord of the Rings Coming to Blu-ray April 6 Source: Hollywood Reporter
8
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Avatar Live Up To The Hype?
236
  • Awards Tour 2009: Golden Globe Noms Here!
121
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Girlpower Rules Again with Princess at #1
70
  • Awards Tour 2009: Inglourious Basterds Lead Critics Choice Noms
43
  • Awards Tour 2009: Avatar Best Picture at NYFCO!
38
  • The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 1
37
  • Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage
33
  • The Effects of Where the Wild Things Are
30
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Critics Consensus: Princess, Invictus Are Certified Fresh
21
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
23
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Steamboy at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Steamboy at IGN
  • Steamboy at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
Best Sci-Fi This Decade
Best Sci-Fi This Decade External Link

Techland lists the best Sci-Fi films of this decade.

40 Worst Films of the 2000s
40 Worst Films of the 2000s External Link

Moviefone takes a look back at the biggest stinkers of the past 10 years.

10 Questions For Zac Efron
10 Questions For Zac Efron External Link

The Me and Orson Welles star answers reader questions on TIME.com.

Best Decade Ever!
Best Decade Ever! External Link

Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill offers his thoughts on what the best decade for film was.

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure External Link

In the AV Club's "Scenic Routes," Mike D'Angelo reminisces about the Tim Burton film.

Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Follow RT on Twitter External Link

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.