et in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist in the image of the son he has lost. Unable to fulfill the grieving man’s expectations, our hero embarks on a journey in search of acceptance, experiencing betrayal and a netherworld of robot gladiators, before he returns to save Metro City and reconcile with the father who had rejected him.Are heroes born or made? How does one go about finding one’s true destiny? Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage), a revered scientist on the floating paradise known as Metro City, has recently created a technologically advanced robot in the image of his late son Toby in an effort to assuage his overwhelming grief. Far from an average robot, his creation (Freddie Highmore) is a thinking, feeling robot endowed with the memories and emotions of the real Toby and powered by a unique blue core energy recently discovered by Dr. Tenma’s good friend Dr. Elefun (Bill Nighy). Despite his efforts, Dr. Tenma quickly discovers that his new creation will never replace his human son, and he coldly casts him aside. Being a thinking, feeling robot, the robot boy sets off in search of a place where he might fit in, and his journey lands him below Metro City, on the surface of the wasteland known as Earth, where he is befriended first by a trio of rebellious robots who dub him Astro Boy and later by a group of human orphans led by the robot repairman Dr. Hamegg (Nathan Lane). Although Astro Boy fully intends to confess his robotic origins to the humans, circumstances prevent the disclosure, and his first real friendships are tainted by the underlying deception. Meanwhile, back in Metro City, President Stone (Donald Sutherland) launches a campaign to destroy Astro Boy in an effort to steal the blue core energy and use it with its opposing and very unstable red core energy to guarantee his reelection. In the end, Astro Boy’s real ancestry comes to light, and his relationships with the humans and his very existence are threatened. It also falls to Astro Boy to save Metro City from certain destruction at the hands of President Stone. Based on the 1950s Japanese manga and the 1960s Astro Boy Japanese animated television series commonly credited as the first anime cartoon, Astro Boy is an engaging, action-packed film about self-discovery and pursuing one’s destiny. While there’s a healthy amount of violence and peril in the film, it’s generally appropriate for ages 7 and older. –Tami Horiuchi
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January 10, 2006
#1
Although kids are likely only to remember the 90% good parts of the movie, do be aware there are two scenes that are likely to be frightening and question-provoking. #1 The scientist’s child dies in the first few moments – killed by the peackeeper robot. #2 After creating the AstroBoy (to replace the dead child), the same scientist rejects Astroboy and says he doesn’t want him around anymore and sends him away.
January 10, 2006
#2
if you love a real supre hero
now by mostly every one in the
would!
than this is a movie that you
will wach over & over agen.
astro boy is a movie for not
just the very yong but for all
who realy look for something thats
not just about guns! & killing.
but about love & a need to be
something that most wish all can
be & ack.
human!
January 10, 2006
#3
What I loved most: Extremely Touching Movie for Both Kids & Adults !
What I really hated: not a boring moment !
FINALLY !!! After 57 years of waiting, Astro Boy FINALLY hit the big screen with a BANG !!! The movie not only amused astro boy die-hard fans, it’s for everyone ! It not only explore the humanity among us, how simple things can be left neglected & be regreted later, how a young astro boy can go all the way out to help the needy without a thought of being selfish. This movie emcompasses everything….fun-filled actions, touching storyline, good humours & last but not least, marvellous soundtrack from John Ottman. A MOVIE REALLY WORTH WAITING FOR !!! As what Astro Boy quoted “This is it. This is what I was created for. This is my destiny. ” A destiny to care for the others, the needy ! ALL THE WAY, ASTRO BOY !!!
January 10, 2006
#4
One of the most famous manga/anime characters in Japan, Astro Boy is now made into a computer animated film. Though the film was not a commercial success (in US and Japan alike), the new “Astro Boy” film is not as bad as the rather disappointing box office performance suggests. Perhaps the fans of the original TV series would disagree (not without good reason), but the animation is fairly entertaining with some nice action sequences.
The story is set in the futuristic city, a metropolis floating in the sky called “Metro City.” There, to replace his lost son Toby, a genius scientist Dr. Tenma (voice by Nicholas Cage) creates a specially designed humanoid robot (voiced by Freddie Highmore). The robot not only looks the same externally as the beloved Toby; it is the pinnacle of the most advanced technologies as the new “Toby” or “Astro Boy” can speak, think, and even feel like Toby. However, the doctor soon realizes that something is not quite right. After all, he is not his son.
To make matters worse, President Stone (voice by Donald Sutherland) attempts to use Astro Boy’s energy sources for military purposes so that he would be re-elected next term. Chased by the military police, Astro Boy falls overboard from the City and finds himself on the Earth’s surface, where he befriends a jolly guy named Hamegg (voice by Nathan Lane) and a group of his “children,” including the leader, Artful Dodger-like girl Cora (voice by Kristen Bell).
The film’s storyline, loosely based on Tezuka’s original manga/anime, is not very compelling and some part of the plot is clearly borrowed from two famous novels (by Carlo Collodi and Charles Dickens). Though the robot hero is likable, some characters are insufficiently fleshed out. Fortunately the computer graphics are surprisingly good, and the action set-pieces are engaging and well-done, so please be patient a while and wait for them to start.
The film is produced by the Hong-Kong based company Imagi International Holdings Limited (responsible for “TMNT” (“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”). The director is David Bowers, known for “Flushed Away” co-directed by Sam Fell. Other voice actors include Charlize Theron, Samuel L. Jackson, Bill Nighy, Eugene Levy and Matt Lucas, but their roles are mostly small.
You may not know his name, but Osamu Tezuka (1928-89), creator of Astro Boy or “Tetsuwan Atomu” (meaning Mighty Atom), is probably the most influential manga artist in Japan. The robot Astro Boy first appeared in his comic in 1951, and since then made into TV animation three times (1963-66) (1980-81) (2003-04). Some of you who have seen these animations on TV like me will find that the design of Astro Boy is “modernized.”
The 2009 “Astro Boy” is not a masterpiece and its animation is just acceptable, not outstanding. Still the film is pretty enjoyable.
January 10, 2006
#5
This is an excellent interpretation of the astro boy story.
The animation is not the best, but overall effect is good.
If you are an astro boy fan or anime/manga fan, you won’t be disappointed.