On the surface, Real Steel boasts action and technology with it’s futuristic robot boxing at the core. But the heart of the movie lies in the story of father-son duo Hugh Jackman and Dakota Goyo. Today, Real Steel opens in theaters nationwide!
Photo Credit: DreamWorks
Over the weekend, I attended the Red Carpet World Premiere of the film and was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The film is set in the future when boxing as we know it no longer involves human fists. The audience doesn’t get much in the way of back story as to how the sport of robot boxing evolves…a sequel perhaps? At the start of the film, we learn that Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), a former boxer who lost his chance at a title when steel robots took over the ring, is struggling to make just enough money to continue his livelihood. When he loses his last hope at making it big, he learns that his son, whom he hasn’t seen in years, has lost his mother. Not ready to take on the responsibility of parental figure, Jackman negotiates a deal to only keep his son through the summer.
Photo Credit: DreamWorks
Once again, Charlie is on the move, looking for the next robot and the next fight to bring him some money and some victory. Like his father, Max (Dakota Goyo) is fascinated with technology and robots and when he learns that he has been “sold,” he convinces Charlie to allow him to tag along. After losing yet another boxing match, Charlie heads to a junk yard where robot scraps are discarded, in hopes of finding anything worth salvaging. During one of the most intense scenes of the film, Max loses his grip in a junk yard and narrowly escapes a treacherous fall when his shirt gets stuck on a piece of a discarded robot. Charlie pulls Max to safety and the audience begins to see his human side. Convinced that this robot has saved his life, Max spends all night pulling “Atom” out of the pit where “he” had been discarded.
Photo Credit: DreamWorks
At first glance, Atom is a smaller robot, unlikely to be any match for the larger, stronger, and more technologically-advanced robots “he” would be up against. But because he was used as a sparring robot in former days, it is discovered that he can sustain quite a bit of damage without being destroyed. Max, who establishes a bond with Atom, convinces Charlie to build and train him to compete. This is the story of Atom…an underdog who astonishes audiences and captures the heart of a little boy. But the real story…the one you’ll walk away from the movie with, is the story about the rebuilding of a relationship between a father and a son.
Photo Credit: DreamWorks
Real Steel, with it’s high-tech robots and gripping scenes is now showing in theaters nationwide. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, you can see the film at the famous El Capitan Theatre which in and of itself is a treat. However, included with the price of admission, you’ll have an opportunity to take your picture with robots Atom and Noisy Boy from the film. Tickets on FamilyFinds are just $9.
Stay tuned for my upcoming interview with Dakota Goyo who plays Max in the film.
No compensation was received for this post. I was invited to attend the world premiere. All opinions remain my own.
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