REAL STEEL

 BY: THE BLONDE AND THE BRUNETTE

Look out UFC fighters; you may be replaced in the future by Robots.  A Steven Spielberg Action/Drama/Sci Fi, Real Steel is set in 2027 where the ultimate fighters are Robots.  Directed by Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum) and starring Hugh Jackman (X Men) as Charlie Kenton, a retired fighter who now promotes the new fighters who are 8 foot tall steel robots, weighing in at 2000 pound fighting in the ring. Always down on his luck, he reunites with a long lost son, Max (Dakota Goyo - Thor, 2011) after the mother died.  While Max and Charlie are getting to know each other, they enter the robot junk yard to find parts and Max finds an outdated robot from 2014 that can hold his own in the ring. Both father and son begin the adventure of a lifetime building their way into a lasting relationship through the robot fighting circuit. Supported by their only friends Bailey Tallet (Evangeline Lily, Lost) and Finn (Anthony Mackie, Million Dollar Baby), they make it to the biggest champion bot fight of the century.

THE BLONDE:  OK, so I have to admit that when this movie first started and for about 15 minutes, I was thinking up excuses to leave the theatre that I hadn’t already pulled on the Brunette. Tummy pain, headache, PMS, restless leg syndrome … AND THEN… all of a sudden the film picked up its pace and kept getting more exciting and more interesting till the very end. Granted, it would have been much better and far more exciting if Hugh took his shirt off a few hundred more times or at least three.

THE BRUNETTE: I agree! It was a little slow paced and I was thinking of pulling an emergency at the office excuse myself! But as did the Blonde, I eventually got caught up in the film’s excitement and fun.

THE BLONDE:  I adore Jackman, but… Goyo (the little Boy) stole this film. This kid has a long career ahead of him. A typical Spielberg child… He is gorgeous, talented, and lights up the screen. Goyo is a great actor as well. His eyes just reach into your heart. The only way Hugh could have even kept up with this kid is to be shirtless the entire film or more.

THE BRUNETTE:  Dakota Goyo is a natural. FYI, he also played in the film Thor as young Thor.

THE BLONDE: This is a real underdog film. It was awesome to see the cool multi-media effects with all the robots. I totally suggest taking your young boys of 5 or more to see this film. They will love it.

THE BRUNETTE:  I have to agree with you again Blondie! Every time the robots stood up I could actually feel their power, size and strength. The fighting scenes were so real that I actually felt sorry for the loser of each fight.

THE BLONDE:  Oh you’re so full of bull, you actually felt sorry for the loser. BOO HOO BOO HOO!

THE BRUNETTE:  Speaking of the bull, I found that scene with the robot fighting the bull a bit upsetting as well.

THE BLONDE: Ugg!!  It was a fake bull, get a grip on yourself! I liked the robot Atom the best though. He had a sweet and gentle heart and I almost believed he was real. I wanted to take him home with me along with Hugh.

THE BRUNETTE:  And I, I, I should get a grip on reality? Atom the robot, not Hugh, would go home with you and the robot was not real!!!!!

THE BLONDE:  Ouch! Hey, stop raining on my parade… I did find a lot of story holes however. Like how did little Max carry Atom up to the top of the mountain by himself in the rain. I mean really! As well as his mom dying and there were no tears over it. It was indeed a bit farfetched.

THE BRUNETTE:  I myself had trouble buying the futuristic point of this film. It is set 16 years in the future and nothing on screen appeared to look futuristic at all other then the robots.

THE BLONDE: Well Hugh was a lot more buffed then he has been!

THE BRUNETTE:  Leave up to you to miss my point entirely! Moving on, in true Spielberg fashion, the musical score was fantastic and added to the excitement and intensity of the movie. This CD would be worth picking up for your collection.

THE BLONDE: I thought it was realistic and sweet how the relationship between Charlie and Max grew on screen. I would have liked a different ending to the film for that reason…

THE BRUNETTE:   On that note, Bailey and Charlie had a special relationship of their own. Bailey’s character brought the details of Charlie’s past telling how her dead father trained Charlie in the boxing ring.

THE BLONDE:  This was an old fashioned, feel good, easy to understand film. It is the old tale of how even old robots win out, just like real people with determination, belief, work and heart.

THE BRUNETTE:  It reminded me of the film, “The Champ” (with Jon Voight and Ricky Schneider); where the courage, intelligence and determination of the child teach the down and out father a life lesson.

THE BLONDE:  So rockers, although this is a fun date movie; I rate Real Steel, a solid C. Have a bucket of popcorn and some candy to add to your pleasure.

THE BRUNETTE: I disagree, and rate this film a solid B! Furthermore, I encourage moviegoers to look for the sequel in 2012.