Steamboy
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These are actually not really Easter eggs. They are just references to other things
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Steamboy (2004), is director Katsuhiro Otomo's second major (anime) release, following Akira. The movie was released in Japan on July 17, 2004. With an initial production cost of $26,000,000, Steamboy is the most expensive full length Japanese animated movie made to date.
The Japanese release featured the voices of Anne Suzuki, Manami Konishi and Masane Tsukayama. The United States release, held in a limited number of U.S. theaters on March 18, 2005, and expanded to additional theaters on March 25, was released in two formats: a subtitled release featured in fewer cinemas, and an English dubbed version cut down by 15 minutes that featured the voices of Anna Paquin, Alfred Molina, and Patrick Stewart. This movie was distributed by Triumph Films. The DVD was released in Japan on April 15, 2005, in Australia on June 22, 2005, the USA on July 26, 2005, and the UK on March 27, 2006. Both the edited English version and the original Japanese version will be available on DVD, with the longer version being sold as the 'Director's Cut'.
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Thematic Style
Image:Steamboy044.jpg In keeping with the Steampunk subgenre of science fiction, the movie employs alternative history: it is set in a factual 19th-century context, yet it features several geopolitical and industrial circumstances that developed differently or at a different pace, sometimes as a result of advanced technological paradigms that were accomplished via the science already present in the given zeitgeist.
As evidenced by one of the early production sketches, Steamboy was envisioned as an amalgam between a Frank Reade Scientific Romance; a swashbuckling Douglas Fairbanks cliffhanger (similar to The Rocketeer); and a Republic Pictures serial (similar to The Wild Wild West and Indiana Jones). An optimistic result which contrasts considerably from the earlier Lang/Tezuka -inspired retro-futuristic dystopia setting of Metropolis.
Nods
Cat's Cradle
There are elements that bear a certain similarity to Kurt Vonnegut's 1964 Cat's Cradle, such as a respected scientist who helps develop a new and potentially dangerous source of power, the transgenerational relay of techno-political responsibility, an artificial fuel which is an alternative structure of water (and which also catalyzes the molecules of liquid water into a solid ice), and a fictional island as a Deus ex machina.
Laputa
The Steam Castle is probably also a reference to Laputa, the flying island from the book Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift. The people of Laputa are fond of mathematics and technology, but fail to make practical use of their knowledge. This has long been regarded as a satire on a state ruled by a Whig government, as opposed to the Tory government Swift personally advocated. Laputa is also featured in the Hayao Miyazaki movie Castle in the Sky.
The Rocketeer
The Rocketeer is a comic book created by Dave Stevens.
Characters
James Ray Steam
The main character is a 13 year old boy living in Manchester, England. A young inventor following the paths of his father and grandfather. He possesses a mechanical talent that was inherited from his family, and demonstrates this in at least two instances by building a steam-powered riding wheel and a steam-propelled flying device. He has a youthful idealism and sincerely dislikes the employment of technology for harmful purposes. During the film his motivations are alternately swayed by the influences of his father and grandfather.
Lloyd Steam
Ray's idealistic old grandfather. The original conceiver of the Steamball, which he succeeds in developing with his son Edward. A difference of opinions with his son Edward leads to friction between them. While Edward believes that science is an instrument of power, Lloyd simply wishes to use it to help people. They both develop distinctly different visions for their ultimate invention, the Steam Castle. It's later revealed that Lloyd intended the Steam Castle to be a sort of flying amusement park, but Eddy scoffed at such a premise, denouncing it as a "fairy tale vision."
Edward Steam
Ray's father. The accident that occurred in the development of the Steamball left Edward in a state where he needed to have machinery replace some of his body, including his right arm and parts of his legs. It left him not only physically disfigured, but it severely twisted his morals as well, driving him to believe that science is an expression of mankind's ultimate power. Edward's father calls him Eddy. He uses the Foundation and the Exhibition as a springboard to launch his ultimate invention: a monstrous, flying war machine called the Steam Castle.
Scarlett O'Hara
Selfish, misguided, annoyingly spoiled yet whimsical and not completely heartless; she is the 14-year-old daughter of the chairman of the O'Hara Foundation. She matures as a result of her encounter with Ray.
Jason
One of the men working in the O'Hara Foundation in the United States of America. Jason and Alfred were the ones that want to get the Steamball. However, Ray Steam is kidnapped. He represents the more brutish half of the 2 O'Hara thugs, and engages in a vicious aerial battle with Ray toward the end of the movie.
Alfred
The smarter of the two O'Hara thugs, Alfred works with Jason in trying to steal the Steamball. He outlives his oafish companion, and seems to hate Ray even more. He, along with Jason, performs much of Simon's dirty work. The two of them capture Ray and bring him to London, and later attempt to kill him. Alfred does so by trying to smash him with a construction crane, but Ray deftly avoids it, causing it to slam into Alfred instead.
Robert Stephenson
Edward and James Lloyd Steam's friend and rival, a major player in the Industrial Revolution. He claims that he wishes to use the Steam Ball for the good of the British Empire, but exactly how he plans to do it is questionable...
David
Young talented German engineer and Robert Stephenson's loyal right hand. His kindness does not betray a thirsty ambition.
Archibald Simon
The O'Hara Foundation's chairman's representative, he is overweight and wears glasses. Grossly obsessed with money, he continues to market his wares even when his life is in danger, with comical results.
Plot summary
Template:Wikify-date The movie opens with scenes of Edward and Lloyd working to develop the Steam Ball. They obtain water of "exceptional purity" from a cave in Iceland and then transport it by means of a trans-arctic submarine to Russian Alaska (the first nuclear submarine to make such a trip wasn't launched until a hundred years after when the movie was set). What is actually happening during this scene isn't explained until later in the movie. As the apparatus strains to perform its function, Edward demands that his father end the experiment. Recklessly, his father won't abort the experiment for fear of wasting the rare water they were using. The apparatus explodes, apparently killing Edward. The Steam Ball remains in the wreckage of the machine.
The brief title sequence rolls and the setting shifts to a textile mill in Manchester (1866). Ray is introduced in a sequence where he saves the mill's steam engine and the lives of its operators by heroically crawling into a service compartment below the boiler. Upon emerging, he and the engineer were blamed for the damage to the device by the mill's uncaring manager.
According to the English dub, he "pays himself" with a brass valve. On the way home he learns of the London Exhibition and is tormented by the other kids about his "crazy" father and grandfather. During the next scene, a major part of the movie's theme is revealed through a passage that is read by one of his mother's students whom she is tutoring (possibly a younger brother, it isn't clear). The passage is better understood in the subtitled version. It describes the motives of his grandfather and father (before the accident).
The plot resumes several scenes later with the arrival of a package, immediately followed by two men in black who introduce themselves as being from the O'Hara Foundation. They never actually say this but Ray's mother says they had come to claim the Steam Ball. Obeying his grandfather's instructions, he refuses and snatches it away from their grasp. Just then Lloyd (the aforementioned grandfather) shows up to help Ray defend the ball. He tells Ray that his father is dead and to flee the scene.
A struggle ensues and Ray makes it to his newly completed steam-monowheel. The chase is quickly joined by a huge "steam tractor" or "steam automotive" (depending on whether you are looking at the dub or subtitles). The huge contraption smashes the front of the house before continuing the chase.
Some miles later, the chase moves onto a railroad, immediately ahead of a train. The two-way track and its exceptional quality are much more akin to modern Japanese bullet trains than anything that is likely to have existed in the period.
After some action, the O'Hara Foundation's "Plan B" is foiled. By coincidence, Mr. Stephenson, who was the intended recipient of the Steam Ball, was on his way to Manchester to meet with the elder Dr. Steam. They notice the man operating the Steam Tractor (implausibly operating the thing in the river because the river would have leached all the heat from the boiler), setting off a flare but failed to realize he was signaling for the initiation of "Plan C."
While Ray and Dr. Stephenson discuss Edward and the ball, a zeppelin (not invented until 1897) descends over the train and rips the roof off with a giant crane. Ray is kidnapped. During the struggle we get the first inkling of the power of the Steam Ball as a burst from it damages some nearby buildings. (The Steam Ball itself is entirely implausible.)
Dr. Stephenson returns to Ray Steam's home and investigate his workshop. They don't learn much. They notice the apparatus in the shop is designed for extraordinarily high pressure and speculate that it was for a demonstration.
The next "Act" of the movie begins in London. The second most dynamic character in the movie (second to Edward), Scarlett arrives on a side wheeler. She is carrying an odd looking dog which resembles a chihuahua named Columbus. Her character is revealed in how she mistreats the creature.
Ray finds himself in an ornate dining room with steel walls. He meets Scarlett and Archibald Simon (called by his last name for the remainder of the movie). He is shocked when, out of a swirl of steam, his father appears. His heavy footsteps suggest that his legs are mostly mechanical. He wears a mask over half his face and few strands of hair cling to his scarred scalp.
He takes Ray on a tour of the "Steam Castle" (or "Steam Tower"). Scarlett tags along. During this sequence there are some stunning visuals as Edward proclaims his vision for the Steam Tower. He claims that it will relieve man of his toils and bring about a new age of enlightenment.
There is a cut scene where Stephenson discusses issues with an Admiral of the British navy. It is resolved that there will be a raid on the O'Hara pavilion and that they should be prepared for anything.
He recruits Ray to help him finish the project and announces that Ray would be its heir, to Scarlet's chagrin. While he is working, Scarlett comes to him and demands he fix Columbus's treadmill (or indoor walker) (which is spinning out of control) that his grandfather had built. This leads to them sneaking into the main pavilion at the exhibition to steal some parts. The scene primarily is a character development scene where the relationship between Ray and the still evil Scarlett begins to develop.
Lloyd, who had been captured and placed in a cell, escaped by improvising an explosive and set about to sabotage the Tower/castle. Several scenes later, Ray encounters Lloyd and there is another brilliant scene where they pass through the Castle's arsenal and Lloyd explains the folly of war. Ray also struggles with the question of what exactly has become of his father and which side (Lloyd's or Edward's) is correct. This is the major conflict of the movie.
The sequence ends with Ray escaping with one of the Tower's three steam balls (which are it's primary if not only source of power). Scarlett, arguably, plays a role in his escape by knocking a rifle out of one of the goon's hands. (perhaps someone else remembers that guy's name). Primarily, though, Ray is saved by David and the Royal Navy. The destroyer class battleship depicted was probably not developed until the late 1880s, as the first iron battleship, the HMS Warrior, was developed a mere six years prior to the film and only had under-powered engines and broadside cannon.
Being enlightened to the importance of the social aspects of technology, Ray challenges Stephenson, when he meets him on the deck of the battleship, "What is the purpose of Science, Technology, all of it?" Stephenson answers "Science exists to make people happy." Ray was satisfied with this answer and hands over the ball. To his horror, the admiral immediately orders the first wave of attack against the steam Tower.
The first line of defense is a class of "steam troopers" who are assisted by powered exoskeletons. Simon begins his sales spiel to his potential customers.
Meanwhile, the battleship travels to Stephenson's workshop to deliver the Steam Ball. Stephenson installs the ball into his own device which, presumably, will be used to charge the pressure cylinders of his own war tanks. (not invented until World War I, some 50 years later) Regardless of the actual function of that machine, its dramatic role is to highlight the similarity between Stephenson and the O'Hara foundation, that they're exactly the same, just not as prosperous.
With this in place, the second attack is launched against the O'Hara "Pavilion." The foundation releases its own tanks and the attack is repulsed. Scarlett, who is trying to figure out why Ray was being attacked, notices that there's fighting going on around the pavilion. Simon explains "It's just a little war with Great Britain."
Scarlett, not understanding the gravity of the situation, goes out to meet the Queen. She steps right into the middle of the conflict. She is shaken to her senses as a shell rips past her, nearly knocking her down. Then, in one flash as a shell hits the main pavilion, shattering the glass, she comes to her senses and reaches a moment of epiphany and, in that instant, is transformed from villainess into heroine. She goes back into the castle in attempt to find Simon and to get control of the situation.
The battle intensifies and Simon unleashes his "Aero Corps." They use powered gliders (not invented until the 1890/early 1900s). They are fairly effective but the pilots usually didn't survive the landings... When David goes out to watch this new spectacle, Ray seizes the opportunity to retrieve his Steam Ball.
The laboratory comes under attack from the Aero corps and is mostly destroyed, the attacking glider crashed nearby, injuring David who cares more about the ball than himself. Ray recovers the wreckage of the glider and builds a rocket from it.
The battle at the pavilion continues as Simon unleashes the "Aqua Corps". These are even less effective than the aero corps, due to their inability to climb stairs.
The admiral has had enough, he orders a bombardment of the pavilion. The outer shell of the building crumbles revealing the castle's true form.
Edward retort's his father's line to him and orders the building to launch... Scarlet finds him in the control room and is confused because Edward, by means of his prosthetic arm, has melded with the castle (as of 2005, Prosthetics capable of that bandwidth of communication are still in the future).
The castle itself is revealed as a colossal steam-powered rocket. It takes to the sky and begins its pre-programmed journey down the Thames. The jets of the rocket are freezing cold and freeze the Thames solid, neutralizing the battleships.
The navy continues to bombard it. Ray becomes worried that the thing would explode (well, any normal steam artifact would simply run out of charge and splash into the river..). Ray takes to the air with his rocket and engages in a battle with an O'Hara airplane. Stephenson musters a few dozen railroad engines and attempts to use chains to pull the thing down. The Tower and it's remaining two balls are weakened and Edward crashes it into central London.
Simon, his customers, and the crew of the tower, escape in one of the tower's zeppelins.
Lloyd confronts Edward and tells him that his dream is over. Edward retorts that he succeeded the moment the tower took off. Ray manages to reach the control room only in time to see Lloyd try to shoot Edward. Edward escapes into the tower's depths. Lloyd is ready to die with his son when the tower explodes, as he believes, over the Thames. When he learned that wasn't the case, they set about a desperate plan to repair the tower with the third Steam Ball.
Strangely, one of the O'Hara goons attempts to kill Ray with one of the old construction cranes. When the ball is installed, Eddie appears in the auxiliary control room to help Lloyd work the machinery.
With all this catastrophe unfolding around them, Lloyd's vision for the tower is revealed. The tower's amusement park ferris wheel and carousel horses appear from the mechanism. The tower transforms into a walker and extends feet so huge that they crush several buildings.
It staggers back to the Thames and collapses into the river. As it begins to break apart, Ray makes it back to the main control room so that he can rescue Scarlett and escape. He takes Edward's rocket suit. The final scene in the movie is a scene of the tower's destruction and the hero and heroine's escape.
Future of Steamboy
This is the future of Steamboy (the images of the future can be seen in the end credits of the movie).
It begins with Ray Steam, now in his home in Manchester that is under re-construction. Meanwhile, in London, Scarlett O'Hara and Simon are in a ship resembling the Titanic, probably going to Manchester. So, finally, one week later, Ray Steam is in Paris, France to battle the robotic monster that is attacking the city. Finally, the monster is defeated, Ray Steam returns to Manchester to see Lloyd Steam. However, he is in bed, finally he is dying. But before he dies, the last thing he did was to give Ray the light. Once that, Lloyd dies. One day later, Ray visits the cemetery to stare at the tombstone of Lloyd Steam. Meanwhile, one day later, Ray is Steamboy and runs away off the train danger. Luckily, one train is not a danger and ends up heading to London. Now it's World War I, and as British troops slog through the trenches, Lloyd's lamp is nearby, lighting the way. Finally, Steamboy faces the man with a Zorro-like hat and sporting a black style. There on, there's a new villain, wearing a black top hat. The next day, two Steamboys are saving the zeppelin airships from destruction. Four weeks later, the good ole' people and a red haired girl are standing with the bi-plane behind them. Finally, the red-haired girl is actually Scarlett O'Hara.
References
Scarlet O'Hara
Also the name of the main character from the classic romance Gone With the Wind. The GWtW Scarlet (spelled "Scarlett") was also a selfish brat who grows up after meeting someone, though instead of Ray Steam it's Rhett Butler.
Coronation Street
When you see Ray walking down the street in the beginning, he passes through local Manchester pub Rovers Return, a reference to the British soap opera Coronation Street.