The Iron Giant

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2002-07-03 05:58pm

Since Cartoon Network's been playing this movie, based on the novel The Iron Man, since about 7 or so last night, what do you all think of it?

The most notable mistake I can think of is that the movie shows USS Nautilus (SSN 571) launching a nuclear missile (which looks remarkably like a modern Trident missile), when she was an attack sub, not a boomer. Other than this admittedly rather gross error, it was an enjoyable movie with some interesting philosophy to ponder (although one of the "anti-gun" scenes was rather grating - why would an American boy in the 1950s, who himself had a toy gun, be upset about hunting deer?). Definitely heavier fare than one might expect from a "kids movie."

Notable quote:

"I am not Atommo. I am Superman." - the titular Iron Giant.[/img]

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2002-07-03 06:21pm

It didn't look at all like a Trident, it looked like a Polaris, which was (fairly) close to the proper era. However, that doesn't make the Nautilus a boomer.

Post by **Dalton** » 2002-07-03 06:39pm

Iceberg wrote:Since Cartoon Network's been playing this movie, based on the novel The Iron Man, since about 7 or so last night, what do you all think of it?

Very good movie. Too bad it didn't do very well due to the popular belief that Disney's the only company that makes good animated features. Too bad that all of Disney's releases are ripped-off, morally corrupt piles of dung decorated with big names and stupid, useless musical performances.

But jeez, I've seen nothing on Cartoon Network except Iron Giant and Powerpuff Girls commercials for the past day and a half.

Shadowhawk · Post by **Shadowhawk** » 2002-07-03 07:32pm

Yea, CN's really been playing the hell out of it for some reason.

I watched it for the first time last night, and have seen it about a total of 3 times now. Quite a good movie.

There are other problems with the equipment in the movie:
F86 Sabers sure as hell didn't have Air-to-Air missiles. They weren't even developed until the Vietnam War, or thereabouts.
ICBMs didn't even exist in 1957, let alone sub-launched ICBMs.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2002-07-03 08:07pm

F-86s existed in the Korean War, and were long out of service by Vietnam. They are one of several types that are appropriate for the movie timeframe.

Shadowhawk · Post by **Shadowhawk** » 2002-07-03 08:21pm

I know F86s existed in 1957.
My point is that air-to-air missiles didn't.

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2002-07-03 08:25pm

Shadowhawk wrote:I know F86s existed in 1957.
My point is that air-to-air missiles didn't.

However, the AIR-4 air-to-air rocket did...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 2002-07-03 08:46pm

I had seen parts of it a while back. how ever i finally got aorund to watching it today. It was quite a good movie, and some of the Giants weapons were rather awosme

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2002-07-03 09:21pm

Shadowhawk wrote:I know F86s existed in 1957.
My point is that air-to-air missiles didn't.

Oh oh oh, I thought you were saying that F-86s didn't exist till Vietnam.
Whoops.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 2002-07-03 11:35pm

Iceberg wrote:Since Cartoon Network's been playing this movie, based on the novel The Iron Man, since about 7 or so last night, what do you all think of it?

The most notable mistake I can think of is that the movie shows USS Nautilus (SSN 571) launching a nuclear missile (which looks remarkably like a modern Trident missile)

The closest match would be a Polaris A-3. No other US SLBM looks like that (if FAS has identified their pictures right, which isn't a given). However, the RV didn't seperate from the booster like it should have, and IIRC it had a subsonic reentry profile - of which one really couldn't tell from the movie.

I'm somewhat iffy about the launch orders being given: during the Eisenhower era there were no sophisticated controls over nuclear weapons like there are now (for a reason - Kennedy implemented them later), but I somehow doubt that the boomer would launch like that.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2002-07-03 11:36pm

The above message is mine. Sorry, not used to the board.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2002-07-03 11:43pm

Shadowhawk wrote:I know F86s existed in 1957.
My point is that air-to-air missiles didn't.

Incorrect.

AAM-N-2 (Sparrow) was operational in 1956 and was a beam-riding missile (later replaced by the SARH Sparrow).

GAR-1 became operational in 1956. It was also SARH, and was the basis for the IR-homing GAR-2.

AAM-N-2 (Sidewinder) was operational in 1956 and was also an IR seeker.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 2002-07-04 12:25am

Not only where air to air missiles around by the mid to late 50's, but the F-86 did carry them. The F-86 also has the distinction of scoring the first air to air guided missile kill, made by a ROC aircraft over the Taiwan strait useing an AIM-9B in 1958. The target was a MiG-17, and several more where brought down this way though machine gun fire was a bigger killer.

As for the US not having Sabers by Veitnam, the ANG had them well past 1965, IIRC it was around 1970 that the last squadron stood down. The USAF still has a few Sabers, though they are unmanned target drones.

As for the moive, it was pretty good. However was in the five inch director on that battleship should get a medel for a first round hit on a moving giant robot. THe explosion really is to big for 5 inch, but is all wrong for a 16 inch HC or APC round.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2002-07-04 12:37am

Anonymous wrote:Not only where air to air missiles around by the mid to late 50's, but the F-86 did carry them. The F-86 also has the distinction of scoring the first air to air guided missile kill, made by a ROC aircraft over the Taiwan strait useing an AIM-9B in 1958. The target was a MiG-17, and several more where brought down this way though machine gun fire was a bigger killer.

As for the US not having Sabers by Veitnam, the ANG had them well past 1965, IIRC it was around 1970 that the last squadron stood down. The USAF still has a few Sabers, though they are unmanned target drones.

In addition, later versions of the F-86 were equipped with datalinks for SAGE. The USAF and the Royal Thai Air Force were equipped with them. IIRC, none of those were sent to Europe.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2002-07-04 12:40am

Anonymous wrote:The closest match would be a Polaris A-3. No other US SLBM looks like that (if FAS has identified their pictures right, which isn't a given)

They did.

Shadowhawk · Post by **Shadowhawk** » 2002-07-04 03:38am

Huh. I had never seen F86s carrying missiles, and could've sworn they simply weren't around back then.

It looked like the Sabers were carrying at least two per wing, along with droptanks.

David · Post by **David** » 2002-07-04 01:31pm

We've had missles since WW2.

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2002-07-04 02:20pm

Anywho, good movie but a few tech mistakes.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2002-07-04 06:48pm

As a period piece goes, yeah, the Iron Giant has some technical foibles, but it's still a fantastic movie. Seeing the Iron Giant fly toward the missile and the words "...Superman..." exit his big metal lips... ouch.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2002-07-04 07:49pm

I must find the original novel (it was done by a Yorkshireman and since I'm from Lancashire county, must despise him

) was that also set in America?

In anycase, I knew of the original Sidewinder programme started in 1946 (the ones that just loved the sun) but was unaware that anyone would equip Sabres with such munitions.

Still, the Iron Giant rocked as a weapon when it went to Martian WotW uber destruction mode and Vin Diesel is just a weird VA choice.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2002-07-04 07:51pm

Gil Hamilton wrote:As a period piece goes, yeah, the Iron Giant has some technical foibles, but it's still a fantastic movie. Seeing the Iron Giant fly toward the missile and the words "...Superman..." exit his big metal lips... ouch.

Another sad animated moment that ranks with Guld's death scene in Macross Plus.

I nearly cried at both scenes...

David · Post by **David** » 2002-07-05 12:21am

That kid was so annoying that I only really glanced at the movie.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2002-07-05 09:43am

David wrote:That kid was so annoying that I only really glanced at the movie.

When you ignore the kid and focus on the 40 foot tall killing machine with amnesia, then you can enjoy it.

I remember the book was done by Ted Hughes.

David · Post by **David** » 2002-07-05 08:54pm

Yesssssssssssss

I just wished he had stepped on him at the beginning of the movie.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2002-07-05 08:59pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:I must find the original novel (it was done by a Yorkshireman and since I'm from Lancashire county, must despise him ) was that also set in America?

The original Iron Giant was in England, I believe, though the final part of it was in Australia, where the Iron Giant saves the world from a Cosmic Space Bat that landed on Australia (not in Australia, on Australia. This was a big fucking Cosmic Space Bat we are talking about).

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