Jason KingAstro Boy ($15-)
October 7th 2009 08:04
:
Astro Rocks!
Category: No Category
This film was a total surprise and blew my mind. I felt like a kid again watching Sunday morning Astro on cartoons and since watching it last night I have now become Astro mad! I want all the DVD's and a big statue of Astro, my new hero!
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.
I think there is a real attraction to Astro and it works because of the Superman enigma. He is this amazing indestructable hero that can fly. Everyone loves that - then he is a little innocent child with a heart of gold who is very vulnerable. Major story success!! Hero made! How can you not root for him and love him. Yay Astro
The direction is handled well by David Bowers (Flushed Away), and from my limited knowledge and understanding of Astro Boy and his history, the storyline was accurate and managed to capture the best parts for this feature. I am sure die hard fans will whine and complain, just like I did for Harry Potter, but for the general public this film hits every mark. It should be noted the Japanese release of the movie uses the original character model of Astro Boy, maintaining the original bodyform, facial features, and hairstyle rather than the updated character model. The differences can be noted in a comparison between the U.S. and Japanese trailers for the movie. So - die hard fans - this maybe more to your liking, plus it will be in Japanese so even more authentic but this one is all I need and I can't wait to buy it on Blu Ray so I can add to my collection.
There is an abundance of actors you will all know voicing the characters. Donald Sutherland plays the evil president with great humor, Samuel L Jackson speaks about ten words but is a great character, Nathan Lane is basically playing Nathan Lane with his usual brilliance, Bill Nighy is superb as the amazing scientist and the only person whose voice annoyed me was Nicholas Cage, it seemed like he just spoke with no attempt at being a character.
Freddie Highmore is brilliant voicing Astro and his voice emanates innocence and heart - you just want to hug Astro in so many scenes and let him know he will be alright. Kristen Bell, who suddenly replaced Scarlett Johansson for unknown reasons, and is best known from Veronica Mars, Couples Retreat and Heroes is also good as Cora - the human child who lives on the surface and befriends him. I would have liked to have seen more of Cora and the relationship develop with the human children but the time they do spend together works well especially considering they have to fit in a lot to the story.
There are so many characters in this film and it is filled with humor and film references. Two of my favourite characters are a squigee and spray bottle - both robots that fly around the city washing windows - they pop up every now and then and do something funny. Also emotions appear in writing on the face masks of the "storm trooper" characters that are the police for the president. Things like "Sudden Bowel Release" will flash over someone's face mask, then there is the Robot Revolution Front who have a suitcase "Pulp Fiction" style with the glowing gold light, they explain what was in the suitcase with better humor than Tarantino.
The animation is outstanding and the only odd thing about the film, considering Dreamworks was involved with "Japanese" Imagi Productions (TMNT) is that why was this not made in DIGITAL 3D? The 3D could have been sensational.
I really wished this film would get more advertising. Personally I think it is one of the best animations out this year, and not only one of the best cartoons but also one of the best action films out - this has a very remotely similar story to Surrogates but shits all over it. The only one I find just as good is Up. This film SHOULD be as huge but I have not seen much marketing at all and think if the word is not spread it won't succeed - and I want a sequal so get out and watch it people!! Well worth $15- and out Thursday 15th October.
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.
I think there is a real attraction to Astro and it works because of the Superman enigma. He is this amazing indestructable hero that can fly. Everyone loves that - then he is a little innocent child with a heart of gold who is very vulnerable. Major story success!! Hero made! How can you not root for him and love him. Yay Astro
The direction is handled well by David Bowers (Flushed Away), and from my limited knowledge and understanding of Astro Boy and his history, the storyline was accurate and managed to capture the best parts for this feature. I am sure die hard fans will whine and complain, just like I did for Harry Potter, but for the general public this film hits every mark. It should be noted the Japanese release of the movie uses the original character model of Astro Boy, maintaining the original bodyform, facial features, and hairstyle rather than the updated character model. The differences can be noted in a comparison between the U.S. and Japanese trailers for the movie. So - die hard fans - this maybe more to your liking, plus it will be in Japanese so even more authentic but this one is all I need and I can't wait to buy it on Blu Ray so I can add to my collection.
There is an abundance of actors you will all know voicing the characters. Donald Sutherland plays the evil president with great humor, Samuel L Jackson speaks about ten words but is a great character, Nathan Lane is basically playing Nathan Lane with his usual brilliance, Bill Nighy is superb as the amazing scientist and the only person whose voice annoyed me was Nicholas Cage, it seemed like he just spoke with no attempt at being a character.
Freddie Highmore is brilliant voicing Astro and his voice emanates innocence and heart - you just want to hug Astro in so many scenes and let him know he will be alright. Kristen Bell, who suddenly replaced Scarlett Johansson for unknown reasons, and is best known from Veronica Mars, Couples Retreat and Heroes is also good as Cora - the human child who lives on the surface and befriends him. I would have liked to have seen more of Cora and the relationship develop with the human children but the time they do spend together works well especially considering they have to fit in a lot to the story.
There are so many characters in this film and it is filled with humor and film references. Two of my favourite characters are a squigee and spray bottle - both robots that fly around the city washing windows - they pop up every now and then and do something funny. Also emotions appear in writing on the face masks of the "storm trooper" characters that are the police for the president. Things like "Sudden Bowel Release" will flash over someone's face mask, then there is the Robot Revolution Front who have a suitcase "Pulp Fiction" style with the glowing gold light, they explain what was in the suitcase with better humor than Tarantino.
The animation is outstanding and the only odd thing about the film, considering Dreamworks was involved with "Japanese" Imagi Productions (TMNT) is that why was this not made in DIGITAL 3D? The 3D could have been sensational.
I really wished this film would get more advertising. Personally I think it is one of the best animations out this year, and not only one of the best cartoons but also one of the best action films out - this has a very remotely similar story to Surrogates but shits all over it. The only one I find just as good is Up. This film SHOULD be as huge but I have not seen much marketing at all and think if the word is not spread it won't succeed - and I want a sequal so get out and watch it people!! Well worth $15- and out Thursday 15th October.
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Comment by Michelle Sweeney
Competition Queen
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Hope u like it as much as I did! Thanks for the comment.
Comment by Wilson Pon
Health 2 Know
Adventure Toes
Techno Stuffs
boxing sound
Business Rope
Gosh, I missed the good old days, where I spent my times watching Astro boys all day long... Lol
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
From the trailer and word of mouth i had written this off as another failed attempt to reinvigorate my childhood memories ala the deplorable "Speed racer".
I'm a huge Astro fan from back in the day and it will take alot to get me to give this a chance...that being said the reimagined series that came out recently wasn't to bad.
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Yeah JD - Really.
But you might dislike it as I enjoyed Speed Racer - I think we had a mini debate when I watched it. I loved the big bold colors and the way it was made.
I had forgotten most of Astro until I saw it the other night and found it great! When I did see the trailer I assumed it would be shit also but got a big surprise. It put me on a journey that I enjoyed.
If you are a massive Astro fan from way back maybe you should get your hands on the Japanese version of this - it may be more to your liking and visually be more accurate.
Thanks for the comment guys and have a great day!