*Boxer-turned-fledgling fight promoter Charlie Kenton’s (Hugh Jackman) dreams of winning a world title were dashed the day robots began replacing human beings in the ring. Broke and in a losing battle with booze, he currently finds himself struggling to stay a step ahead of all the impatient loan sharks holding his IOUs.

Charlie first tries to pay off his debts in one fell swoop by placing a big bet on his only robot in a bout against a bull being staged at the state fair. But that endeavor leads to disaster when his rusty, remote-controlled machine not only loses, but is reduced to a worthless pile of rubble in the process.

Charlie is about to hit rock bottom, when he receives word that an ex-girlfriend has just passed away, suddenly making him the legal guardian of an 11 year-old he’s never known. Max (Dakota Goyo) soon arrives accompanied by his filthy-rich Aunt Debra (Hope Davis) and Uncle Marvin (James Rebhorn) who assume that the down-and-out, deadbeat dad would be more than happy to let them raise the boy in the lap of luxury.

After conniving Charlie threatens to put Max up for adoption, he signs away his rights for what amounts to a $100,000 ransom and a chance to spend the summer with the boy before finally surrendering custody. The couple grudgingly agrees, thereby affording the two an opportunity to develop a deep bond while turning an obsolete android abandoned in a junk yard into a contender for the World Robot Boxing Federation crown.

So unfolds Real Steel, an , overcoming-the-odds boxing flick packing a surprisingly-powerful emotional punch (pardon the expression) for a cliché-ridden sci-fi revolving around rock‘em-sock‘em robots in 2020. Though the picture’s basic plotline superficially sounds like a futuristic version of Rocky, the sentimental father-son drama actually features far more of the earmarks of a kid-friendly Steven Spielberg (who served as executive producer) adventure than that Sly Stallone classic.

Credit director Shawn Levy for cultivating an endearing chemistry between co-stars Hugh Jackman and Dakota Goyo while simultaneously ratcheting up the tension around their pugilistic robot’s ring prospects. Consequently, the audience ends up caring as much about Charlie and Max’s blossoming relationship as about their underdog quest for the crown. Maybe more, as real heart trumps real steel.

10/10 Great Film.

When I saw the trailer on television I thought to myself well that's gonna rubbish well I can truly say I have eaten those words everything from the storyline , script , cgi and action sequences were brilliantly put together to make a movie that I would have to say is the best film of this year for me so far would I want to to a sequel I would say yes but only if they can match or do better then the first otherwise it would be best to just leave it at that overall i would have to give this film a massive 9/10 a must see movie that all the family will enjoy so if you haven't seen it yet grab the popcorn get comfy and enjoy.

Real Steel" imagines a near future when human boxers have been replaced by robots. Well, why not? Matches between small fighting robot machines are popular enough to be on television, but in "Real Steel," these robots are towering, computer-controlled machines with nimble footwork and instinctive balance. (In the real world, 'bots can be rendered helpless on their backs, like turtles.) It also must be said that in color and design, the robots of "Real Steel" are glamorous and futuristic-retro enough to pose for the cover of Thrilling Wonder Stories.

The movie's story, however, is not from the future but from the past, cobbling together Rocky's rags-to-riches trajectory and countless movies in which estranged fathers and sons find themselves forced together and end up forging a deep bond. Hugh Jackman stars as Charlie Kenton, a former boxer who is now hanging onto the fringes of the fight game as the owner-operator of a ramshackle robot he tours with. It's no match for the competition, and when the desperate Charlie replaces it with another battered veteran, it can't even outfight a real bull.

Even during these early fight scenes, however, it's clear than the movements of the robots are superbly choreographed. My complaint about the battling Transformers of the movies series is that they resemble incomprehensible piles of auto parts thrown at each other. Fast cutting is used to disguise the lack of spatial continuity. "Real Steel," however, slows down the fight action enough so that we can actually perceive it, and the boxing makes sense.

OK, OK, it doesn't completely make sense, because when one of these behemoths slugs the other with a right cross to the jaw, we're wondering (1) shouldn't one of those punches cause as much damage as a car wreck, and (2) why do robots have jaws? For that matter, why are they humanoid at all? "Real Steel" doesn't pause for logical explanations. In this world, robots do the work that human boxers used to do. (Sugar Ray Leonard was a consultant on the fight scenes.) The director is Shawn Levy, who didn't endear himself to me with the "Night at the Museum" movies, but gets on base with this one.

If the movie were all robot fights it might be as unbearable as — well, a Transformers title. Drama enters in the person of Charlie's son, Max Kenton (Dakota Goyo), a smart, resilient pre-teen who, like all kids, seems to have been genetically programmed to understand computers, video games and all allied fields. Charlie is a very bad absent father, and as played by Hugh Jackman, he is actually mean toward his boy. Charlie's sister (Hope Davis) and her husband (James Rebhorn) plan to adopt the boy, but in a complicated arrangement, Charlie first has to take care of Max for a summer.

This Max is some kid. He loves robots. During a scouting expedition in a 'bot junk yard, he comes upon an ancient training robot named Atom literally covered in mud and convinces his dad this relic still has fighting potential. Amazingly, it hasn't entirely rusted away, and father and son rehab it and teach it some new tricks. One of its abilities is a "mirror mode," which allows it to mimic the motions of its controller. Since Charlie is a has-been boxer, Max has faith that Atom can win as his dad's avatar.

All of course leads up to a big match with a fearsome juggernaut named Zeus. To my amazement, this fight scene is as entertaining and involving as most human fights, and the off-screen story (involving Zeus' odious owners) adds interest. It's hard to hate a robot, but not its owners.

Curiously, however, it's easy to love Atom. With his blue eyes glowing behind a face of steel mesh and his skinny, muscular body facing off against giants, he's a likable underdog. Steven Spielberg was one of the producers of this film, and knowing of the research he put into making E. T. lovable, I wonder if screen-testing was used to help design Atom. You wouldn't say he looked cute, but there is something about him that's much more appealing that his shiny high-tech rivals.

"Real Steel" is a real movie. It has characters, it matters who they are, it makes sense of its action, it has a compelling plot. This is the sort of movie, I suspect, young viewers went to the "Transformers" movies looking for. Readers have told me they loved and identified with their Transformers toys as children. Atom must come close to representing their fantasies. Sometimes you go into a movie with low expectations and are pleasantly surprised.

This film was awsome. It was great in showing people what the future could be like. Everything about this movie was amazing, the acting was spot on, the way the film was shot was spot on and the way it made you feel while watching was just amazing. I would recomend this film!!!

Real Steel is a good movie about a washed up boxer named Charlie(Hugh Jakeman) with serious debt problems struggling to make it as he fights robots.But everything changes when the mother of Max his son,dies and he has to take the boy in for the summer.Max finds a robot at the dump and instantly feels connected to it.Charlie finds out that he and Max have alot in common as they go through good times and bad.They along with Atom (the robot) some how get a title shot with the robot champion.With good action and heart felt moments this was an ok movie! Nice sound track too.

this movie is great, i was watching it with my son. we watched it two times in a row. he\'s like a robot rocky... great for the whole family. i love underdog stories and this is one of the best. if you like boxing,robots and underdog stories, this movie is for you

This film was surprisingly ok, the story line was kind of predictable but it was still a pretty good watch. It's not too long and easy to watch without having to put much thought into it.

As far as boxing movies go it's not exactly a classic but if you like science fiction movies with a bit of boxing then this would be right up your street.

I watched this a little while ago,and its great. There is a real kind of feelgood factor too this flic.Hugh Jackman nails this part....perfect casting. He escapes the wolverine mantle and does an excellent job here....the guy can act for sure. the story has a few echoes of rocky..and it has some realy good well written scenes that are very funny and yet serious and vital to the story.The sfx are very good. The fights are great and the robots steal a lot of the scenes with their expressions( robotic body language ).This is a simple watch and enjoy flic. Well worth it.