The Iron Giant: Special Edition

[PatrickvD]

I think the series Stargate in Region 2 also comes in a digistack, that was the first time I saw packaging like that. It works really well for sets that contain lots of discs. Anyway, I'm kinda pissed off WB is going to release Azkaban in a simple amaray dvd case... now it looks weird on my dvd shelve... I hope it at least comes with a slipcover but from the looks of the pictures I saw online it's not gonna happen.

[Satoshi]

I'd really like to get The Iron Giant, but at the moment I'm not planning on spending any money (other than for Christmas presents) until after Christmas. I'll probably end up getting the film sometime around then. I've never seen it before but it has rave reviews so I definitely want to pick it up.

As far as different types of cases go, the only ones that I don't like are snappers. They feel so cheap, and they don't look right when lined up with amarays. I'm one of those people that has to have all of the DVD spines look nice together when lined up on the shelves, so I sort by color and case type. Snappers are just a pain. I like digipacks, but only when it's four discs or less. For example, the Lord of the Rings: Extended Editions are fine, but 24: Season Two (which is a seven-disc set) is in a digipack and it's an absolute pain. I really like having digistacks when sets get that big, but so far I only have three. Two of them (Smallville seasons one and two) are thicker, because the plastic trays that hold the disc in are bulkier and hold discs on both the fronts and backs of them, while other types of digistacks (such as the UK Alien Quadrilogy that 2099net posted a picture of) are alot thinner, and only hold one disc per tray. The only one of those that I have is Alias: Season Three.

[Quasimodo]

I bought the Iron Giant SE Tuesday, and I've watched it twice already with no problems. I was kind of bummed by the lack of an insert as well.

Also, the bonus features were a bit disappointing. If you already own the original, it might not be worth the double-dip. Of course, it is going for a cheap price. I got mine for $12.24 at Wal-Mart. It probably depends on how much you enjoy commentaries, as that is by far the best extra. The transfer is practically identical, and the 13 mini-documentary segments are pretty fluffy, and they are not indexed in the menus. The only way to watch them other than watching the movie with the feature enabled is to individually enter the title number for each documentary, which is a bit annoying. They also omitted the making-of documentary on the original dvd, which wasn't a great extra, but should have been included all the same.

That being said, everyone should own at least one copy of this movie. Here's hoping that Brad Bird makes many more movies in the future (which probably won't be a problem now given the success of The Incredibles).

[Artlad]

Also, the bonus features were a bit disappointing.

Really? I thought that they were pretty good. especially for a single disc release for a movie that didn't do too well in its theatrical run.

Also I've discovered that my dvd messes up whenever the nuts and bolts icon that goes to the special features comes on the screen. Im thinking that maybe my dvd player is somehow reading the disc wrong when the different branching sequences come up. does anyone know if there is something I can do to the dvd player to fix this cuz its happened in the same spot to 3 discs now (the people at the store are giving me funny looks now) so I'm thinking its not the discs themselves.

[buffalobill]

I got the Iron Giant SE & I love it (except for the lack of an insert which just doesn't ever look right). I Ebayed my original Iron Giant as soon as they announced the oft delayed IG SE so I've been without this classic for well over a year now. Glad to have it back in my collection and not in a snapper.

[BrandonH]

I just got this tonight, and it is a fantastic movie. I agree with the Ebert quote that you sometimes forget that these are just moving drawings. The story and characters are so well done that I immediately become involved in their struggles. Also, the music by Michael Kamen was excellent.

A side note: Is Brad Bird disappointed with the accelerated education programs in grade schools? Both Iron Giant and The Incredibles seemed to hint that gifted people should be allowed to use their gifts without fear of resentment. Maybe that is just my interpretation, but I thought it was worth sharing.

[DEREKG]

While looking threw dvd's yesterday at Walmart I noticed "The Iron Giant SE". I've never seen this film, but I heard it was good. The cover looked different from most ads I've seen online? Has anyone seen this SE?

Should I pick it up?

[Mr. Toad]

It is an excellent movie. The only problem I have with it is Pete Townsend did a score with John Lee Hooker and others in the late eighties(not for this movie) that was excellent and far better than the songs they used. Could have really improved the movie.

[orestes.]

I have the special edition and I recommend it. It's a very good movie and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I don't know many who don't enjoy it. It's directed by Brad Bird who of course directed 'The Incredibles'.

[ichabod]

My feelings on this movie are strangely mixed, I found it wonderful yet tedious at the same time! Which I know doesn't really sound possible. I also thought that about the Incredibles, Hmm maybe it's a Brad Bird thing!?

Anyhoo, I would recommend it to you and if you are thinking of getting it the SE is definitely the way to go!

[Key]

Get it. I loved every minute of it, from opening to ending. I personally didn't think there was a boring minute in it, as opposed to The Incredibles (which I loved, but some parts were really tedious).

[dvdjunkie]

I own this Special Edition, as of yesterday, and I can tell you it way improved over the original issue, which I still have.

I bought it for more reasons than one. First, it is a very good story and there is not a dull moment in this film. Secondly, I am a Pete Townshend and The Who fanatic and have to have it in my collection to maintain the integrity of my The Who collection. Thirdly, I am a Vin Diesel fan and this was the first movie to feature his voice and of course the rest is history.

I say get the SE. Run don't walk back to Wal-Mart and get the SE of "The Iron Giant".

[RJKD23]

I've been holding off on buying this mainly because
1.) I haven't heard of reviews
2.) I haven't seen a reasonable price

but now that you mentioned "wal-mart", I think I'm gonna stop by today after I pick up Bambi and Spongebob

oh, and since most of the members who replied said "to get the movie"

[orestes.]

I bought it for under $20 Canadian and that was good so I'l sure it'll be cheaper in the US.
I'm glad I got it when I did because it was getting hard to find quite fast and I didn't want to wait and have it become so hard to find that the only copies I find are slightly damaged.

Even though they call it a special edition it seems they don't give it enough special treatment in my opinion. Mine didn't even have a chapter index or anything. I guess I have a different view on what I find special. (or spoiled by Disney's special editions) Still it's better to get the SE than the original and the cover art is darn nice.

[Sunset Girl]

I double-dipped on this one, since I replaced my bare-bones copy with the special edition. Or you might say I "triple-dipped," if you count the VHS copy I replaced with the bare-bones disc.

I don't remember how much I paid for the special edition. I was just happy to get some real bonus features. This is one of my favorite non-Disney animated films, by the way. So yes, yes, buy it!!!

[thatartguy]

Awesome, awesome, amazing movie.

[Siren]

When the movie first came out, like most the public, I ignored it. Not much for movies about giant robots. Then about a year ago, Cartoon Network aired it. I sat down with my daughter to watch it. She fell asleep halfway through (she didn't find it boring, she was sick that day), but then I had gotten interested.

I was floored. I thought it was a beautiful movie. Reminded me of E.T. I like it better the E.T. actually.

The scene in the woods with the deer was so wonderfully done. I really enjoyed the movie overall.

I also liked the humour. So much is put on fart and burp jokes, it was nice to have something with witty humour.

And hearing Vin Diesal do the voice of the giant was funny in itself. Not that he said much, but I just try to imagine putting those two together and find that amusing. And I loved the character of the junk-yard artist. And I thought the villian was fantastic. As devious and devilish as some of Disney's greatest villians. When he did the turnaround at the end and tricked the Army, I literally gasped and said out loud, "That b*****d."

[HogarthHughes]

RJKD23 - The reviews for the Iron Giant were excellent at the time of release.
In Animation World magazine its summary of 1999 said:
“Iron Giant received probably the strongest reviews of any feature of any kind in 1999 and yet failed to break $25 million.”
Im writing about the failure of the film in a case study for my University Dissertation and have lots of information on why the film failed even with such good critical response. Mostly on the part of Warner Bros.
In my opinion it it the best animated film ever made.

[ichabod]

RJKD23 - The reviews for the Iron Giant were excellent at the time of release.
In Animation World magazine its summary of 1999 said:
“Iron Giant received probably the strongest reviews of any feature of any kind in 1999 and yet failed to break $25 million.”
Im writing about the failure of the film in a case study for my University Dissertation and have lots of information on why the film failed even with such good critical response. Mostly on the part of Warner Bros.
In my opinion it it the best animated film ever made.

Perhaps in your review, you could compare it to the awful Shark Tale, which hardly got any good reviews and yet made $160,000,000.

[Siren]

LMAO!

Isn't it the truth?