06-04-2019, 02:48 PM
'Steel' [1997]
I've been re-reading 'The Death & Return of Superman Omnibus' whilst watching the DC animated movies of the same storyline ('Doomsday', 'Death of Superman' & 'Reign of the Supermen') and thought I'd check out this 1997 film about John Henry Irons. I had never heard of it previously, but soon discovered that it wasn't well regarded.
It's a very basic origin story, although it's not made clear whether it's supposed to exist in a DC universe or not. Superman is barely mentioned, though Batman is frequently invoked. But as a pop culture reference, perhaps? Certainly, a 'Batman Forever' arcade game is featured prominently throughout.
Either way, the Batman films seem to be the basis for the design and feel of 'Steel', just without the budget. This film looks cheap, from the sets, location work, effects and most certainly Steel's suit. The cast includes well-known faces such as Judd Nelson and Richard Roundtree (the stand-out acting-wise, though there's little competition). And, of course, Shaquille O'Neal is cast as Steel. Which is where, unfortunately, this film begins to unravel.
Shaq is no actor. Steel, perhaps, but more accurately Wooden. He looks uncomfortable throughout, with no line of dialogue delivered naturally. In a superhero movie, suspension of disbelief is key, and not once was I able to believe that Shaq was anything other than a former basketball star struggling in a career unsuited to him.
Judd Nelson plays his villain as if he's in a real superhero movie (ie. over-the-top dastardly) and Annabeth Gish does fine in a Oracle-lite role - in a wheelchair in front of a computer screen for most of the film. 'Much' hilarity is had with a running joke that Steel can't free-throw baskets (oh, how we laughed) and Roundtree gets to make one Shaft reference (oh, how we laughed again). No doubt much of this must have looked better on paper than the screen, like the chase through a shunting train yard, which lacked any suspense and danger I'm sure they were aiming for.
As a TV pilot for a non-existent Steel show, this would have been OK. As a theatrical superhero movie, it fails. He shoots... and misses.
I've been re-reading 'The Death & Return of Superman Omnibus' whilst watching the DC animated movies of the same storyline ('Doomsday', 'Death of Superman' & 'Reign of the Supermen') and thought I'd check out this 1997 film about John Henry Irons. I had never heard of it previously, but soon discovered that it wasn't well regarded.
It's a very basic origin story, although it's not made clear whether it's supposed to exist in a DC universe or not. Superman is barely mentioned, though Batman is frequently invoked. But as a pop culture reference, perhaps? Certainly, a 'Batman Forever' arcade game is featured prominently throughout.
Either way, the Batman films seem to be the basis for the design and feel of 'Steel', just without the budget. This film looks cheap, from the sets, location work, effects and most certainly Steel's suit. The cast includes well-known faces such as Judd Nelson and Richard Roundtree (the stand-out acting-wise, though there's little competition). And, of course, Shaquille O'Neal is cast as Steel. Which is where, unfortunately, this film begins to unravel.
Shaq is no actor. Steel, perhaps, but more accurately Wooden. He looks uncomfortable throughout, with no line of dialogue delivered naturally. In a superhero movie, suspension of disbelief is key, and not once was I able to believe that Shaq was anything other than a former basketball star struggling in a career unsuited to him.
Judd Nelson plays his villain as if he's in a real superhero movie (ie. over-the-top dastardly) and Annabeth Gish does fine in a Oracle-lite role - in a wheelchair in front of a computer screen for most of the film. 'Much' hilarity is had with a running joke that Steel can't free-throw baskets (oh, how we laughed) and Roundtree gets to make one Shaft reference (oh, how we laughed again). No doubt much of this must have looked better on paper than the screen, like the chase through a shunting train yard, which lacked any suspense and danger I'm sure they were aiming for.
As a TV pilot for a non-existent Steel show, this would have been OK. As a theatrical superhero movie, it fails. He shoots... and misses.
It's not the years, it's the mileage.
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