February 2, 2010
Japan’s Mickey Mouse gets an American makeover in Astro Boy. Renowned as an asian icon since 1951, Osamu Tezuka’s creation gets his first big-screen outing. Rollicking and super-glossy, it’s got heart and soul. But is it much different from many CGI movies?
In Metro City, Dr Tenma (Nicholas Cage) hasn’t time for his young son (Freddie Highmore). Losing him in a scientific accident, Tenma assuages his grief, creating a hybrid replica – Astro Boy – part human, part robot. Powered by positive ‘blue core’ energy, Astro Boy is a super-powered force for good. But President Stone (Donald Sutherland) wants the energy for his military misnomer, the Peacekeeper robot.
Outcast in the robot junkyard Earth has become, Astro Boy’s journey is just beginning. Finding friendship among the Fagin-esque ragamuffin crew of the eccentric Hamegg (Nathan Lane), Astro Boy gives peace a chance. But robot-wars are looming. And Astro Boy must use his powers to save the world from science gone wrong.
Aimed squarely at younger kids – probably boys – Astro Boy is gung ho fun, blessed with silky cinematography from Hong Kong’s leading CGI company, Imagi. Directed by Brit-born animation-specialist David Bowers (Flushed Away), it’s fast and loud, with plenty of bangs and crashes. But there’s a deliberately-naïve aspect to the animation – harking back to the manga – which Avatar-audiences might find too flat.
Tezuka was a big Disney fan and his creation is Pinocchio with rockets. So Astro Boy scores over most kiddie-cartoons with its uncompromising sense of isolation and rejection. Death happens. Astro Boy’s superhero loneliness is as poignant – more so – than that of Batman or Spiderman. Bolted on though are barking trashcans and fast-talking squeegee robots, to keep it light, or irritating, depending on your view.
A gladiator-style combat sequence with Astro Boy forced to fight all comers is breathtakingly done. And the whiz-bang showdown is spectacularly staged, setting itself up nicely for a sequel. With a nod to Hayao Miyazaki’s floating cities, and a Godzilla-like trashing of skyscrapers, there are Japanese references if you want them.
Astro Boy certainly entertains. The non-stop action will amuse hyperactive kids. The emotional punch, well-drawn characters and the brilliant voice work by Bill Nighy (the good scientist) and Freddie Highmore push it further. Not quite to infinity, but beyond expectations.
In Metro City, Dr Tenma (Nicholas Cage) hasn’t time for his young son (Freddie Highmore). Losing him in a scientific accident, Tenma assuages his grief, creating a hybrid replica – Astro Boy – part human, part robot. Powered by positive ‘blue core’ energy, Astro Boy is a super-powered force for good. But President Stone (Donald Sutherland) wants the energy for his military misnomer, the Peacekeeper robot.
Outcast in the robot junkyard Earth has become, Astro Boy’s journey is just beginning. Finding friendship among the Fagin-esque ragamuffin crew of the eccentric Hamegg (Nathan Lane), Astro Boy gives peace a chance. But robot-wars are looming. And Astro Boy must use his powers to save the world from science gone wrong.
Aimed squarely at younger kids – probably boys – Astro Boy is gung ho fun, blessed with silky cinematography from Hong Kong’s leading CGI company, Imagi. Directed by Brit-born animation-specialist David Bowers (Flushed Away), it’s fast and loud, with plenty of bangs and crashes. But there’s a deliberately-naïve aspect to the animation – harking back to the manga – which Avatar-audiences might find too flat.
Tezuka was a big Disney fan and his creation is Pinocchio with rockets. So Astro Boy scores over most kiddie-cartoons with its uncompromising sense of isolation and rejection. Death happens. Astro Boy’s superhero loneliness is as poignant – more so – than that of Batman or Spiderman. Bolted on though are barking trashcans and fast-talking squeegee robots, to keep it light, or irritating, depending on your view.
A gladiator-style combat sequence with Astro Boy forced to fight all comers is breathtakingly done. And the whiz-bang showdown is spectacularly staged, setting itself up nicely for a sequel. With a nod to Hayao Miyazaki’s floating cities, and a Godzilla-like trashing of skyscrapers, there are Japanese references if you want them.
Astro Boy certainly entertains. The non-stop action will amuse hyperactive kids. The emotional punch, well-drawn characters and the brilliant voice work by Bill Nighy (the good scientist) and Freddie Highmore push it further. Not quite to infinity, but beyond expectations.