THE CARTOON THAT MADE ME CRY WRITE-OFF

I've always been the strong one in my family and that came in handy when my first husband left home. While I enjoyed having my two sons to myself, a change came over me that I wasn't prepared for and wasn't sure how to handle. Almost 30 years later, I still don't.

I've become more emotional than any human being I know.
I cried like a baby when my sons got married - not because they were leaving home (by then I had already remarried), but because I was (and still am) so proud of the young men they are.
I cried when I found out they were to become fathers.
I love when they come to visit but cry when it's time for them to leave.

Yes, I've turned into one big sack of mush.

While my sons understand and accept this, they were agape with wonder and amusement when they saw tears tolling down my cheeks as we watched THE IRON GIANT with 4-year old Frank and 3-year old Stephanie.

Honestly,now, how could anyone watch that soft-hearted, friendly Giant and not feel the warm emotions stirring inside?

You tell me! (lol)

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First of all, I hesitate to tag this animation with the word cartoon. To me, cartoons should make you laugh, but THE IRON GIANT makes you think!

This story takes place somewhere in Maine in the late 1950s, a time where it was considered safe to leave your children home alone. A time when kids didn't get into trouble. A time when no one ever thought aliens would come from outer space.

Hogarth is a rambunctious 9-year old whose single mom must work to make ends meet, often leaving the little boy home alone. While in today's society, this is frowned upon, in Hogarth's little town, where everyone knows just about everyone else, Hogarth, except for the mischief he can find, is usually okay.

Such was the case late one summer afternoon. Being bored, he turns on the TV. Within minutes, the picture goes blank making Hogarth suspect something happened to the antenna. Being the adventurous boy that he is, he decides to on the roof and fix the metal contraption.

Once outside, finding the antenna completely gone and his yard trashed, he picks up his toy gun and follows the destructive path to the electrical towers that supply power to the town.

Hogarth is surprised and intrigued when he spies a giant robot eating every bit of metal in his path.

Just as this IRON GIANT is about to wrap his huge metal jaws around the live cables, Hogarth grabs the power switch, turning off the current, thereby saving the Giant's life. Realizing what almost happened results in a friendship between Hogarth and this mysterious robot.

This friendship leads to all sorts of problems for Hogarth. The Giant has an insatiable appetite for metal and his search for this unusual food begins to cause an upset when he's seen by some of the town's residents while trying to eat a train. They don't appreciate this MONSTER being in their midst. They don't know where's he's from all they do know is that want him gone - and they don't care how it happens. They call in the Army to help find and destroy this huge monstrous alien.

In an attempt to hide the Giant and keep him from harm (and from accidentally harming others), Hogarth convinces Dean, the owner of a junkyard to let the Giant stay there where he can eat all he wants and never get caught.

While all seems well, Hogarth enjoys his new friend and the games they have begun to play. One afternoon, Hogarth brings his toy gun to the junkyard. The Giant, seeing the "weapon" automatically goes into his built-in "defense" mode and fires a laser beam at Hogarth. Dean, who is standing nearby watching Hogarth, pulls the boy away just in the nick of time.

As Dean is furious with the Giant and begins yelling at him, he suddenly realizes that the Giant has no memory of what happened. It seems that once in his "defense mode", everything else is blocked out so he can successfully carry out his "destroy" mission. As soon as the Giant's defense mode shuts down, Dean gently explains to him what he has just done.

Saddened, feeling guilty and ashamed at almost killing his friend, the Giant leaves the junkyard. Anticipating what kind of trouble he can get into, Dean and Hogarth are in hot pursuit - but unfortunately, because of the Giant's long legs, are not keeping up very well.

As they hurriedly try to follow the huge footprints, they hear in the distance the same screams that the Giant hears - the frightened screams of children who are hanging and about to fall from a high balcony. The Giant races toward the children just in time to rescue them and place them safely and gently on the ground. The people of the town now realize that the monster they feared so much is nothing more than a gentle giant. The problem the town faces now is how to stop the Army from their pursuit and determination to destroy their new friend.

No matter how they plea with the hard-headed General, as far as he's concerned, he has his orders and no one is going to stop him. While the town is standing beside their new Iron Neighbor, one of the General's crew accidentally fires the missile - the same missile that has been programed to "seek and destroy" the IRON GIANT.

The missile finds its target - standing in the middle of the town and everyone in it.

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I'll stop here as I don't want to spoil this wonderful "picture" for those who have not yet seen it.

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What I will tell you is this:

Yes, this "animation" is extremely enjoyable, but there are many aspects of this movie that deal more with society than entertainment. For instance, it depicts how people can be and usually are in error when they fear what they do not understand and therefore judge the unknown.

It deals with the innocence of a child who can accept someone for whom he is, not how he looks and have the courage to face the unknown with an open mind.

There are other topics entwined in this magnificent epic: love, loyalty and compassion for others - all mixed excellently well in this wonderful tale.

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As you take this adventurous journey with Hogarth, you find yourself becoming friends with the Giant. You want to share his world and have him share yours. You want to protect him from those who don't understand his gentle nature. But can you? Can you protect him? But most importantly, can you, honestly, put aside your own human nature to pre-judge? Can you put aside your own human nature and find compassion for those different from yourself?

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While I watched this cartoon (?) with my grandchildren, found more times than not, a huge lump sitting in the back of my throat, but it wasn't until the end that the tears began falling like a wide open faucet.

Were they tears of sadness, joy, understanding?

Or maybe it's just that I'm an overly emotional person?

Watch this wonderful, awe-inspiring animation and "judge" for yourself. I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.


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While you're at it, please watch for read my fellow epinioners who have also participated in this write-off.

systemdwn
yuffie
drj0402
daystorm
jaderabbit