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<H1><FONT size=3>Hiya, Folks!<BR>Too many times, <EM>unless we peruse
<U>other</U> sources than <U>only</U> the Decatur Herald & Review</EM>,
we are sometimes stuck with cutesy movie reviews by faceless
wire-service critics who too often seem to be in love with their
own snarky cleverness...<BR><BR><FONT size=4>Here</FONT> is a very
good review of REAL STEEL from <U>Avon-supporter</U> and nationally-known
critic LEONARD MALTIN.<BR>Take a look and see what <U>he</U> says!<BR>(And by
the way, ROGER EBERT gave REAL STEEL <U>3 stars</U> today in the Chicago
Sun-Times).<BR><BR><EM>When it comes to the Herald & Review's
non-locally-generated movie reviews, <FONT size=4><U>ALWAYS get a 2nd
opinion</U>!</FONT></EM></FONT></H1>
<DIV><FONT size=5 face="Lucida Handwriting">-Skip</FONT></DIV>
<H1>Real Steel—movie review<BR>by Leonard Maltin (used with permission)</H1><!-- surphace start -->
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<P><BIG><B>From the billboards you might think</B> this is another
<I>Transformers</I> movie—heaven help us—when in fact, <I>Real Steel</I> is a
cross between <I>Rocky</I> and <I>The Champ</I>. It’s formulaic and unashamedly
manipulative, but it’s played with sincerity…and it works.</BIG></P>
<P><BIG>This project has been in development for years, under Steven Spielberg’s
watchful eye, and bears only superficial resemblance to the Richard Matheson
story that inspired it. (You may remember its first adaptation, as a 1963
episode of The Twilight Zone called “Steel,” with </BIG><BIG>Lee Marvin.) The
screenplay is credited to John Gatins, with story credit to Dan Gilroy and
Jeremy Leven.</BIG>
<P><BIG>The time is the near-future. Hugh Jackman plays an irresponsible,
washed-up prizefighter who ekes out a living as manager for boxing robots. When
his ex-wife dies, he’s forced to spend a summer looking after his 11-year-old
son—a boy he’s never really known (played by newcomer Dakota Goyo) who just
happens to be a savvy superfan of robot boxers. It’s the kid who has faith in a
“junk pile” Jackman is ready to write off. With some t.l.c. and Jackman’s boxing
experience, the discarded machine takes them to the Big Time, and helps cement
the damaged relationship between father and son.</BIG></P>
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<P><BIG>Under Shawn Levy’s direction, the story never misses a beat, with
fully-committed performances by Jackman, Evangeline Lilly (as the woman who’s
always believed in him), and fresh-faced young Goyo, who bears a strong
resemblance to Ricky Schroder and has the same ability to win you over at
emotional moments, even if you’re trying to resist.</BIG></P>
<P><BIG>Technically, the film is one of those modern marvels in which it’s
impossible to tell where reality ends and CGI takes over. (In fact, the key
robot characters were actually constructed as animatronic “puppets” standing
eight feet tall. It’s only when they walk or box that they’re not real.) But
this movie lives or dies with the human element, and if you’re a sucker for a
story involving an underdog—and a father’s redemption in the eyes of his
son—you’ll willingly surrender to <I>Real Steel</I>. If you’re looking for
something gritty or only interested in high-tech combat between machines, you’ll
have to look elsewhere.</BIG></P>
<P><BIG><FONT size=5 face=Impact>SO, what are you waiting for? It's Starts at
THE AVON THEATER today!!!</FONT></P></BIG></FONT></STRONG></DIV></BODY></HTML>