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THE IRON GIANT (1999) IS INCREDIBLY MOVING! MOVIE REACTION!! First Time Watching | Superman

2025-09-22 Entertainment
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Reel Rejects
Reel Rejects
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The Reel Rejects Reaction and Analysis of Brad Bird's The Iron Giant

Discover why the 1999 animated cultural phenomenon The Iron Giant resonated deeply, exploring its themes of identity, choice, and its surprising initial box office failure.

Short Summary

  • The film powerfully explores the identity theme: "You are who you choose to be," contrasting programmed nature with conscious choice.
  • Reviewers praised Brad Bird's direction and the tangible scale achieved, even within traditional animation.
  • The relationship between Hogarth and the Giant forms the emotional core, drawing comparisons to How to Train Your Dragon and Terminator 2.
  • Vin Diesel delivered a notable, subtle performance in a largely non-verbal role throughout the film.
  • Despite critical acclaim (95% Rotten Tomatoes Critics), the film significantly underperformed commercially, earning only $23 million.
  • This analysis covers the Cold War backdrop, Kent Mansley's antagonism, and the unforgettable "Superman" sacrifice ending.

This discussion breaks down the emotional impact of The Iron Giant, focusing on how it uses classic 1950s sci-fi tropes to deliver a timeless, human story about empathy and defining one's own destiny. We examine the performances, execution of major themes, and why this beloved classic initially flopped.

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Description

THE VIN DIESEL, BRAD BIRD CLASSIC! The Iron Giant Full Movie Reaction Watch Along: https://www.patreon.com/thereelrejects - Superman Movie Reaction: https://youtu.be/BjIqmecreAM - Get your New Customer offer + 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at https://www.mintmobile.com/REJECTS The Iron Giant Reaction, Recap, Commentary, Analysis, Breakdown & Spoiler Review! Greg Alba & Andrew Gordon (Cinepals) revisit the 1999 animated cult classic The Iron Giant, directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol) and produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the same studio behind countless DC classics like Superman: The Animated Series. The film stars Vin Diesel (Fast & Furious, Guardians of the Galaxy) as the voice of the Giant, Eli Marienthal (American Pie) as young Hogarth Hughes, Jennifer Aniston (Friends, The Morning Show) as his mom Annie, Harry Connick Jr. (Hope Floats, Independence Day) as beatnik artist Dean, Christopher McDonald (Happy Gilmore, Requiem for a Dream) as the paranoid government agent Kent Mansley, and John Mahoney (Frasier, Say Anything) as General Rogard. We dive into iconic scenes like Hogarth teaching the Giant “You are who you choose to be,” the unforgettable “Superman” sacrifice, the deer scene that teaches the Giant about death, Kent Mansley’s escalating paranoia, and the emotional Cold War-era standoff that culminates in one of the most powerful endings in animated history. Famous quotes include “I am not a gun” and the Giant’s heartbreaking “Superman.” We explore why this film flopped at release yet became a beloved classic, its influence on modern superhero storytelling, and how its themes of identity, war, and compassion still resonate today. Who Framed Roger Rabbit Reaction https://youtu.be/4p6p_QH9IyY Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs Reaction: https://youtu.be/tbwLbr_bfgw Hamilton Reaction https://youtu.be/hmaj4FIu5cM Batman 1989 Reaction https://youtu.be/N4jxKx9ABlk 0:00 Checking in! 1:47 The Iron Giant Reaction 31:03 Mint Mobile 32:18 The Iron Giant Movie Reaction 50:22 The Iron Giant Review Follow TheReelRejects On The Socials: IG: https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@thereelrejects?lang=en TWITTER: https://twitter.com/thereelrejects FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ Follow Andrew Gordon On Socials: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieSource Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agor711/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/Agor711 Intense Suspense by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Support The Channel By Getting Some REEL REJECTS Apparel! https://www.rejectnationshop.com/ RR Clips & Shorts Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ReelRejectsClips Music Used In Ad: Hat the Jazz by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Head Editor: https://www.instagram.com/praperhq/?hl=en Supervising Producer: https://twitter.com/nerdchronic?lang=en Co-Editor: Greg Alba Music In Video: Airport Lounge - Disco Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Follow & Listen to Us Wherever You Get Your Podcasts!! - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3XHMwbveiznxSOGxN9XT0M - Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vc3Rhci13YXJzLXRhbGs - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-reel-rejects-tv-movie-recaps/id1616339990 - Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Apocalypse-Podcast/B08JJP58FG Ask Us A QUESTION On CAMEO: https://www.cameo.com/thereelrejects Follow GREG On INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thegregalba/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/thegregalba PLAYLISTS: Trailer Reactions & Reviews: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-bIhJVeYWw9ZsLdoAQFpx38s2hhyFgDe Movie Reviews: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-bIhJVeYWw-comtadVs8b9JsZEWHUyr8 Movie Talk (News, Spoiler Reviews, & Film Rumors!!!): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-bIhJVeYWw8fPQ-21NVSb2IOwIiHbVt8 Youtube Video Reactions & Discussions: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-bIhJVeYWw_qwcPsN_vOxXC6IVzrOQYG Sketches & Short Films: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-bIhJVeYWw_zWuTRfBOUP3aYyIYRzc2y

Top Comments (10)

@joseramirez7629 2025-09-22

“Superman…☺️” - Iron Giant.

339 3 replies
@4523bgb 2025-09-22

I saw someone say on a Superman 2025 reaction that "this is the Superman the Iron Giant wanted to be." So true.

333 7 replies
@thedarkknight2221 2025-09-22

*”You are who you choose to be”* Those words have stayed with me ever since I was 9 years old when I first saw this. They are a cornerstone of my beliefs.

256 4 replies
@ThePhenomenalEX 2025-09-23

For as tense as the climax of the movie is, it has the funniest line of the film. "The missile is targeted at the giant's current location! WHERE'S THE GIANT MANSLEY?"

165 4 replies
@FlyingScotsman4072 2025-09-22

The comedic timing of this film is incredibly underrated, and the emotional beats still gets me to this day. "Superman" 😭

164
@kevinhaniak4707 2025-09-22

They never did a sequel because the movie didn't do very well in theaters because Warner Bros. dropped the ball on the marketing. Brad Bird also thought the movie was a complete story and didn't need a sequel.

141 4 replies
@Wolfking99-x4r 2025-09-22

You are who you choose to be Superman to this day that scene still makes me cry like a kid this is one of the best animated movies I ever saw as a kid

80
@jacobwaters1147 2025-09-22

I’ve met Steve Garcia, one of the animators of the movie at a con, and he totally agrees with me that The Iron Giant is also a superhero movie

21
@commanderkorra3316 2025-09-23

A line from Ted Lasso himself - "Keep an eye on these guys, cause around the 74 minute mark, there's gonna be a room full of grown men crying. lol I love this movie, it's all heart.

20
@ReelRejects 2025-09-22

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18 2 replies

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