ASTRO BOY Review

ASTRO BOY is Pinocchio with a butt gun. It’s an exciting action-packed family film but at the same time, it’s also cliche and rip-off of other better movies in the past that have had similar themes. For an adaptation, writer/director David Bowers doesn’t put… much effort in making it original. On top of that, I’m not sure if it’s a good thing for kids to be exposed with so much tragedy in one movie. Although ASTRO BOY still has enough blue heart to keep itself from becoming one of the worst movies of the year.

Few characters have made as powerful or as lasting an impression on international popular culture as Astro Boy. The little robot first appeared in 1951 as a character in the celebrated artist and animator Osamu Tezuka’s legendary manga (Japanese comic book) and became an instant icon. He was subsequently featured as the star of his own television series in both black-and-white and in color, eventually airing in over 40 countries. Astro Boy created the standard for a new form of animation that has become world famous as anime. Now for the first time, Astro Boy will be brought to life on the big screen. Created with breathtaking computer animation from Imagi Studios, the film “Astro Boy” is a thrilling tale of a true hero. The film is set to debut in theaters on October 23, 2009. Set in futuristic Metro City, “Astro Boy” is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist named Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage). Powered by positive “blue” energy, Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) is endowed with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed and the ability to fly. Embarking on a journey in search of acceptance, Astro Boy encounters many other colorful characters along the way. Through his adventures, he learns the joys and emotions of being human, and gains the strength to embrace his destiny. Ultimately learning his friends and family are in danger, Astro Boy marshals his awesome super powers and returns to Metro City in a valiant effort to save everything he cares about and to understand what it means to be a hero.

There are at least 3 deaths in this movie, all happening to the same kid, Toby a.k.a Astro Boy and the message of self-sacrifice, as noble as it may seem, could be a bit intense for some viewers. Call me uptight but for the audience that ASTRO BOY is targeting, I have doubts parents want their children to run hastily into danger just because they have no other option. But this movie does make clear on the fact that there is a potential to do good and a potential to be bad, represented by the blue heart and the red energy. The problem is, just as the story tries to tell you, you never know what each might be capable of. The red is just as highly unpredictable as the blue, so the evil could absorb anything it wants, and the good could simply disregard its own welfare just for the sake of others when it doesn’t necessarily have to go that extreme.

It’s got some worth watching action, none of the robots fights are boring. The gladiator arena has got to be my favorite part because not only does it show off the cool powers that ASTRO BOY has, it’s in our human nature to see how the hero would beat a bunch of bad guys bigger than him but it’s also a fun and a kick-ass turning point in the story. I’m not a fan of the original manga so I’m not an expert on the history or mythology but for an animated film that doesn’t look for competing with Pixar, ASTRO BOY sure has its moments.
If there’s one complaint about the voice cast, I’d have to say Nicolas Cage, but I think he’s a victim of poorly written lines.
I think the movie could be less melodramatic, it does inspire kids to do good but the message of destiny and finding your place in this world is too obvious instead of subtle and effective.

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