Steamboy: Critic Reviews

It's nifty to behold, but about the only drama in Steamboy lies in waiting for this colossal hovering machine-monster to blow a gasket.

In this mind-bending, elaborate anime, the industrial era is reimagined as a time of steam-powered aggression.

The movie never transcended its elaborate production work to achieve an independent reality. It's simply pictures of what never happened.

Its problem is not a lack of things to look at. There's plenty of them, and they're all cool. It's just that, in this world of clanking, hissing machines, even the people seem like robots.

Often immensely thrilling in the most elemental ways, even in a US-release cut that's 23 minutes shorter than the Japanese original.

It's a sensationally designed piece of work.

The weak story and bland hero are no match for the increasingly exciting visuals, while the score by Steve Jablonsky should be on exhibit in the Hall of Lead.

Its action couldn't have been much more thrilling if done entirely by computer or shot in costly live-action.

A feast for the eyes and a thrillingly brazen transposition of the high-tech on the old-fashioned, fueled by a dose of what-if historical fantasy.

Sometimes a rousing action movie, and always a visual delight.

There may be possibilities here, but they're lost in the extraordinary boredom of a long third act devoted almost entirely to loud, pointless and repetitive action.

Though visually stunning, suffered from some jarring edits, bizarre character reversals and general lack of narrative cohesiveness.

Steamboy, ultimately, shares deep-seated themes with the futuristic Akira. Both offer cautionary tales about scientific responsibility and the evils of war. And both look pretty cool, too.

With pipes groaning, gaskets warping, rivets failing. steam jetting and boilers overheating in every direction, it looks like a giant set of inverted bagpipes. One thing is for sure: If I were a plumber, Steamboy would be my favorite movie ever.

Despite its wild dreams, it becomes just another rusty piece of animated machinery, going through the motions somewhat mechanically.

frustrating, challenging the imagination with pure spectacle but failing to supply a clear road map to follow.

Steamboy is breathtakingly detailed and ambitious beyond anything I have ever seen in the realm of animation. But the chase goes on much too long, and Ray and Scarlett are never still long enough to develop any inner resonance or romantic rapport.

Younger viewers may start squirming with boredom during the heavier debates, but there's always another cool piston-powered machine on the way.

Loaded with eye candy, though it lacks the sophisticated storytelling and character development of Japanese director Katushiro Otomo's classic Akira.

A profoundly silly exercise in adolescent excess.

Feels as needlessly over-engineered as the movie's own city-demolishing retro-futuristic hardware.

It's a roller-coaster action film that thunders along with top-notch set pieces and studiously researched period settings.

Never really pops its rivets except in several thrilling action sequences, but the sharp imagery and inventive technology make it worthwhile for animation fans.

Animated film is too violent for younger kids.