Steamboy (2004)

59% of critics liked it
(88 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(14,412 ratings)

Katsuhiro Otomo, director of the groundbreaking anime feature Akira (1988), returns with this visually striking fusion of the past and the future. It's the Industrial Age in England, reimagined, and various and sundry inventors and scientists are arriving in Britain to hawk their products while… More Katsuhiro Otomo, director of the groundbreaking anime feature Akira (1988), returns with this visually striking fusion of the past and the future. It's the Industrial Age in England, reimagined, and various and sundry inventors and scientists are arriving in Britain to hawk their products while capitalism rears its ugly head. A gadget-happy British lad named Ray (voice of Anna Paquin) receives a mysterious package from his grandfather Lloyd Steam (Patrick Stewart) -- a tiny ball that turns out to be an engine toting immense power. As it happens, several of these little balls run the O'Hara pavilion, a massive, mobile fortress. Ray later discovers that his dad and grandfather are located inside of the pavilion; his dad, Eddie, has become mesmerized by O'Hara and subject to their whims, while Lloyd suspects that O'Hara may want to use the balls for nefarious purposes, and tries to put a definitive end to those plans. Indeed, the O'Hara people soon take over the Great Exhibition and turn it into a veritable circus for weapons dealers. Meanwhile, Ray starts to develop feelings for a young girl named Scarlett O'Hara. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 6 min.
Directed By: Katsuhiro Ôtomo
Written By: Sadayuki Murai
Genres: Drama, Animation, Art House & International, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Mar 18, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Jul 26, 2005
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment

Critic Reviews

J. Hoberman, Village Voice
It's a sensationally designed piece of work.
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
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.
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
The movie never transcended its elaborate production work to achieve an independent reality. It's simply pictures of what never happened.
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
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.
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
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.
Tom Long, Detroit News
Despite its wild dreams, it becomes just another rusty piece of animated machinery, going through the motions somewhat mechanically.
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Animated film is too violent for younger kids.
Rex Roberts, Film Journal International
The film's extended debates on the ethics of science, government and personal responsibility would recommend it to critics of a medium that too often panders to audiences.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Visually impressive, but I thought it was never going to end.
Matthew Leyland, BBC
It may be one of the most expensive anime features ever, but there isn't a wealth of entertainment on offer in Steamboy.
Michael Szymanski, International Press Academy
This is as close to the great Speed Racer hero of my generation that this generation has come up with so far.
Rory L. Aronsky, Film Threat
This being a "Collector's Gift Set", it's not only the DVD that has some good extras...
Rory L. Aronsky, Film Threat
In the movies, action doesn't necessarily equal a reaction.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Robert C

Not at all what I was expecting, but enjoyable none the less. A bit long in my opinion, but lots of cool concepts and visuals.
Dean M

This Japanese computer-generated anime is cool, starts out as a nice Jule Verne-style adventure, but the story is too complicated and talky to maintain momentum. Animation of the machines is smooth and graceful, but the characters are stiff and charmless.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Steamboy" starts in Manchester, England in 1866 where Ray Steam is a mechanic and engineer, even though he is still a kid. He lives with his mom while his father and grandfather are working on an engineering project in Alaska. One day, a package… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Steamboy" starts in Manchester, England in 1866 where Ray Steam is a mechanic and engineer, even though he is still a kid. He lives with his mom while his father and grandfather are working on an engineering project in Alaska. One day, a package arrives from his grandfather which contains a metal ball with a detailed set of instructions. Quickly, some sinister-looking gentlemen from the O'Hara Foundation, the elder Steams' employers, show up and ask for the package. When their request is politely declined, they resort to force. Ray resorts to escaping on a self-propelled wheel with the villains in hot pursuit in a mechanized tractor.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Steamboy" is a fun and creative adventure anime in the steampunk subgenre that is very well animated. It has much to say about a scientist being responsible for any weapons that they invent. Any respectable scientist should steer clear of the military at all costs and not let their inventions be exploited.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Note: I watched this movie in Japanese with English subtitles.[/font]
Mike

I haven't seen it with the Japanese language track, which would probably help.
Marion R

I was confused as to whether the lead character was a girl or a boy, overall it was meh.

Cast

            Anne Suzuki as Ray Steam

            Manami Konishi as Scarlett O'Hara

            Katsuo Nakamura as Dr Loyd Steam

            Masatane Tsukayama as Eddie Steam (Japanese Version)

            Kiyoshi Kodama as Robert Stephenson

            Susumu Terajima as Freddie

            Satoru Saito
            
            Ikki Sawamura as David

            Anna Paquin as James 'Ray' Steam

            Alfred Molina as Dr Eddie Steam

            Patrick Stewart as Lloyd Steam

            Kari Wahlgren as Scarlett O'Hara

            Robin Atkin Downes as David

            Rick Zieff as Simon

            Mark Bramhall as Alfred

            David Lee as Jason

            Oliver Muirhead as Admiral

            Oliver Cotton as Robert Stephenson

            Kim Thomson as John

            Paula Jane Newman as Emma

            Moira Quirk as Alex

            Peter Lavin
            
            Julian Stone
            
            William Hootkins
            
            Alan Shearman
            
            Rosalind Ayres
            
See full cast

Steamboy (2004)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Robert C

Dean M

Walter M

Mike

Marion R

Cast

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