Friday, December 6, 2013

REAL STEEL (ID)

In 2020, human boxers have been replaced by robots. Charlie Kenton , a former boxer, owns the robot 'Ambush', but loses it to a bull belonging to promoter Ricky. Having made a bet that Ambush would win, Charlie is indebted to Ricky. After the fight, Charlie learns that his ex-girlfriend has died, and that he must attend a hearing deciding the future of their son Max. There, Max's wealthy aunt Debra  and her husband Marvin request full custody, which Charlie concedes for $100,000, half in advance, on the condition that Charlie retains Max for three months. Thereupon, Charlie and Max, and Bailey Tallet, the daughter of Charlie's boxing coach, acquire the once-famous robot 'Noisy Boy' and arrange a fight, in which Noisy Boy is destroyed. Attempting to scavenge parts of a new robot, Max and Charlie discover 'Atom', an obsolete but intact robot designed to withstand severe damage, and capable of mimicking its handler's motion. At Max's behest, Charlie pits Atom against the robot 'Metro', whom Atom overcomes. Max convinces Charlie to train Atom, resulting in a series of victories culminating upon national champion 'Twin Cities'. Elated by victory, Max challenges global champion 'Zeus'. Immediately, Ricky and two henchmen attack and rob Charlie, who thereupon returns Max to his aunt; but persuaded by Bailey, Charlie arranges the challenge offered by Max and convinces Debra to allow Max to witness the fight. Ricky bets $100,000 that Atom will not last the first round against Zeus, but loses his bet and is cornered by the fight's bookmakers. In the penultimate round, Atom's vocal controls are damaged, whereupon Charlie guides the robot through his mimetic powers to overwhelm the weakened Zeus; but is unable to win within allotted time. Zeus is declared the winner by number of blows inflicted; but the near-defeat leaves the Zeus team humiliated, and Atom is labelled the "People's Champion".

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