How about an animated feature for one of 1999's best flicks?

This simple, yet engaging pic is based loosely on the late poet Ted Hughes' book "The Iron Man". Hughes, a British Poet Laureate, wrote the work for his children, after his wife, Sylvia Plath, killed herself.

Set in fictional Rockwell, Maine, in October, 1957, the action begins with the title character (Vin Diesel) falling to Earth just off the coast. He is spotted by a fisherman, who relates the incident to a group of non-believing friends.

Later on, bright but unpopular 9-year-old Hogarth Hughes (Eli Marienthal) must spend another evening alone. His waitress mother Annie (Jennifer Aniston) has to work late. Amusing himself with television and the science fiction of the period, his TV picture suddenly turns to snow.

Going outside to investigate, he discovers that his rooftop antenna has been...eaten? Looking around in the woods near his home, and armed with his trusty BB gun, he sees fallen trees and a path of destruction that leads to a power station. Chewing on a tower at the station, is the giant!

The hapless metal creature bites into a high tension wire and is headed for electrocution, but fearless Hogarth shuts down the power, and saves his new friend.

Soon after, the giant is ensconced in the scrap yard of Rockwell beatnik Dean McCoppin (Harry Connick, Jr.). Now with plenty to eat, and a place to hide, things should be peaceful for awhile.

Enter our villain: Over-zealous federal agent Kent Mansley (Christopher McDonald). It seems that word has spread about strange doings around Rockwell. With his own car eaten, Mansley is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. Unfortunately, this means that the Iron Giant will be killed. Invoking 1950's paranoia, if WE didn't make this thing, then it MUST be bad, right?

Confronting Hogarth, and implying that his single mother could be removed if he doesn't cooperate, Mansley forces the boy to reveal where the giant is hiding. What's more, there is an Army strike force on its way to Rockwell.

Meanwhile, the giant has won the hearts of Rockwell citizens by saving two boys from an otherwise fatal fall. Too late, though, because a missile has been targeted for the giant and Rockwell. How the Iron Man saves the town and himself is both touching and clever.

The film succeeds on a number of levels: The narrative of the boy and his companion; integrating B-movie sci-fi conventions with the on- screen action; exposition of 1950's Cold War nonsense including "duck and cover"; and its appeal both to kids and their parents.

The soundtrack combines 1950's hits with Michael Kamen's less is more score, to very good effect.

Similar to A Little Princess (1995), this movie, under-appreciated in theatrical release, will be discovered and gain lasting popularity in video and cable.