66
Metascore
26 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100Christian Science MonitorDavid SterrittChristian Science MonitorDavid SterrittVisually stunning animation.
- 80Village VoiceJ. HobermanVillage VoiceJ. HobermanSteamboy doesn't have the deep melancholia or the visionary élan of last year's Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. Consistent in its graphic invention from first to last, however, it's a sensationally designed piece of work. (The retro stylistics are comparable to Brazil, David Lynch's Dune, and The Iron Giant.)
- 80The A.V. ClubTasha RobinsonThe A.V. ClubTasha RobinsonSteamboy adds a touch of innocent wonder to the formula through Ray's eyes, resulting in Otomo's most human film to date, but humanity rarely seems to be among Otomo's priorities. His films seem far more concerned with the spectacle he manages like no one else in animation.
- 80L.A. WeeklyElla TaylorL.A. WeeklyElla TaylorThe movie's true genius lies in the exquisite animation, a blend of hand-drawn and state-of-the-art digital technology that suggests an old world being bullied into a new one.
- 80The Hollywood ReporterRichard James HavisThe Hollywood ReporterRichard James HavisIt's a roller-coaster action film that thunders along with top-notch set pieces and studiously researched period settings. The only letdown is that the focus on action drowns out any character development.
- 80The New York TimesJanet MaslinThe New York TimesJanet MaslinThe film turns into a preposterous but engrossing spectacle, fueled by a resource more enduring than steam or its successors: big ideas.
- 70Chicago ReaderJ.R. JonesChicago ReaderJ.R. JonesVisually commanding, conceptually beguiling, but dramatically inert.
- 60Film ThreatFilm ThreatPerhaps the key to understanding where Steamboy goes wrong is in understanding why Otomo's previous animated feature "Akira" was such a success.
- 60TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghTV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghThe sci-fi wonders, including an army of shuddering robo-soldiers and one-man, steam-powered bombers with delicate wood-and-linen wings, are truly marvelous and go a long way toward making up for the film's erratic pacing.