Terry M's Reviews

Pretty crappy, from the poor writing and hackneyed dialogue, through the grossly deficient animation. Not worth watching.
Review Date: 6/3/2019

Despite the presence of some talented actors, the movie had nowhere near the quality and dynamism of the first movie: Core. Wil Wheaton's character was unnecessary. Terry Farrel's character was introduced as a strong-willed intellectual, but she became a young girl along for the ride. Bruce McGills's character was OK, somewhat believable, but too clichéd. Harry Van Gorkum made a good villian, but inconsistantly gets pushed around and also changes character. It seems more like an old made-for-TV show with below par effects, and a preliminary script. Even the CGI looked amateurish. The tension that should have been there between some of the actors just wasn't there. What tension existed between two of the characters suddenly evaporated. The two with the love interest seemed pretty casual about it until the end when the obligatory kiss came about. Granted, the movie is 16 years old, but the writing wasn't very good. The focus on the Chinese as stereotyped bad guys out to control the world, and incompetent, since most are unable to speak or understand English, except for one guy, was unbelievable. Unbelievable also, was the reappearance of a laboratory complex, with the same camera angles, in exact architectural detail, that had been completely destroyed earlier in the movie.
Review Date: 6/11/2016

The graphic novels were far better than this weak animation. The story is reasonably Lovecraftian, but hardly horrific, or worth watching for kids older than 1st grade. Fine for toddlers if you want to keep them entertained for 79 minutes. In fact, there are some cute, cuddly little stuffed-toy type characters who are plopped in near the beginning and end who do absolutely nothing.
Review Date: 6/3/2019

Wonderful to watch Marilyn in this. What an example this is of the antiquated ways of men. Marilyn's character was portrayed as being very naiive, yet she successfully resisted a man who thought she was an easy target, and he had a right to have her. Comical, to say the least.
Review Date: 4/19/2025

This is exceptionally well done! Fun to watch. The movie concerns the development of steam engines, but taken to extremes in 1866. Inventors, including famous English locomotive designer Robert Stephenson, are in competition for the future of their use. The title character is part of a family of inventors, and uses the flying machine seen in the cover image simply as a means of escape. He is not a superhero, as the name implies. The movie really deals with the uses to which these fantastic new steam machines can be put. One issue is that of Science vs. weapons of war. The animation is top notch, and the voicing and dialogue are superb. There are lots of machines: tractors (locomotives that run on land), tanks, submarines, flying machines, and weapons, lot of weapons. There is a crystal place built for a science exhibition (like a World's Fair) and then there is the Steam Tower.
Nothing is magical; everything is scientifically possible, but nothing is perfect.
The end sequence that the credits roll on is worth watching. It can also be watched without the credits.
In fact, this movie is worth watching more than once, particularly to understand the early scenes, which make much more sense in retrospect.
Did I mention Patrick Steward does the voice for one of the most important character/inventors?
Review Date: 1/27/2012

Finally: the worst movie I have ever seen.
Review Date: 7/2/2017

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