NOAHTHEBEST'S Forgotten Reviews,
my new article series where I review some of the worst or weirdest pre modern age superhero movies!(anything before iron man)
I'd first like to apologize for not getting a review out last week, I was on a trip and couldn't get around to reviewing this, anyway...
Today I review Steel.
Steel is a 1997 high tech shaq-sploitation( amovie that has Shaq in it for no other reason than he's Shaq and people like Shaq) action film about the Superman character Steel. For unknown reasons though, this movie decided to go the Catwoman route, and have no connection whatsoever to Superman, completly changing Steel's origin. Apparently, the movie was designed as a spin off of an upcoming Superman film based off the death of superman comic. Unfortunatly, that movie was cancelled, but suprisingly, Steel moved forward. From what I've heard from others who have seen this movie, who back in the 90's called it the death of the superhero genres, maybe it should have been canceled too. Well, it's time for me to watch it.
THE GOOD
Shaq is really charismatic in this, though he does overact sometimes. The overacting is sometimes a plus though, in a so bad it's good way. And Shaq isn't the only one doing it. The villains here are steriotypical cheesy 90's villains.
Two greedy sociopaths, one of them a long haired, lazy eyed arcade game disigning billionare, and one of them a pretty boy who randomly murders people with SCIENCE!!! Other villains include a street gang led by A GUY WEARING NOTHING BUT LEATHER WITH AN EYE PATCH. WTF!?!?
Another thing I loved was Shaq's characters relationship to the people around him. He's an overall great guy with family, friends, he's great with kids, and has an innate need to do whats right. He's trying to keep a kid, I think his nephew, it isn't ever clarified out of gangs, and clean up the streets. It sounds boring, but its endearing to see something like that.
And there's a wheel chair that shoots lasers.
Also, guess who shows up in this movie working at the junk yard where Steel operates his war against crime? Here's a hint:
He's a complicated man, and no one understands him but his woman.
Need another? He's a bad mother... Shut your mouth! But I'm talking 'bout shaft! We can dig it!
THIS MOVIE IS GREAT!
THE BAD
The special effects, along qith Shaq's over acting, make me constantly laugh out loud. The scene where Shaq lifts rubble off his friend is especially insane. Actually, he somehow overacts, but doesn't act at all, at the same time. It's like he's playing himself, but doing a bad job at it. Still, his charm more than makes up for it. But... the character "sparks" is also overacting in this, but the difference is, she has none of Shaq's charm, and it comes off laughably bad.
Another problem is, in this movie, Shaq has a cop friend who is pretty involved in the first half hour, than never returns the rest of the movie, even when he gets arrested. I guess this was part of an old script or her other scenes were cut, but its wierd.
Also, when Shaq becomes Steel, its pretty.... unimpressive.
THE TERRIBLE
Their is a scene in this movie involving Shaq going to a center for veterans, breaking a window to prove a point, and kidnapping a disabled woman as the room cheers. Ummmm.....
Also, the line: "Eat the hot dog, don't be the hot dog"
Overall, this movie is so bad, it becomes good. It's not a comedy, but it works as one. This is actually my most enjoyable reviewing experience of these movies. I highly recomend this film.