Hollywood's attempts to do the anime style never seem to get it ... That Astro Boy gets at least some of the elements right could be seen as some kind of triumph -- just not enough of one to induce us to recommend it.
Astro Boy (2009)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:83
Fresh:40
Rotten:43
Average Rating:5.7/10
Consensus: While it isn't terribly original, and it seems to have a political agenda that may rankle some viewers, Astro Boy boasts enough visual thrills to please its target demographic.
Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for some action and peril, and brief mild language.
Genre: Childrens
Theatrical Release:Oct 23, 2009 Wide
Box Office: $19,014,667
Synopsis:
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...
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 toMetro City in a valiant effort to save everything he cares about and to understand what it means to be a hero. --© Summit
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Bill Nighy, Freddie Highmore
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Bill Nighy, Freddie Highmore, Donald Sutherland, Eugene Levy, Nathan Lane, Matt Lucas, Sterling Beaumon, Madeline Carroll, Charlize Theron
Director: David Bowers
Director: David Bowers
Screenwriter: Timothy Harris, David Bowers
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Get This Movie
Rent DVD
Click on the "SAVE" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.
Reviews for Astro Boy
The fun and merriment take a backseat to the sci-fi elements, which are probably not what the intended audience is looking for.
Any critic who complained about the lack of story in "Where the Wild Things Are" should be forced to watch the escapades and high jinks of "Astro Boy" on a loop until they realize that activity is not to be confused with actual storytelling.
Summit Entertainment has tried just a little too hard to broaden the appeal of its new computer-animated feature Astro Boy.
If you think it's a good idea to begin a movie for children by killing off a young boy in an industrial accident as his father looks on, raise your hand. Anyone?
The cheap '60s Japanese TV cartoon series... is updated into a cheap and sometimes unsettling computer-animated adventure.
I wish the film version of Astro Boy provided a stronger antidote to mediocrity....the script takes its sweet time establishing its rules and locale, then rolls in one too many subplots.
Although Astro Boy has its moments, in a movie year already crowded with animated successes, it may not have the superhuman strength to stand out.
It's harsh, but it's sweetened by Toby -- he's not a real boy, but he's a classic hero.
This animated adaptation of the Japanese comics characters and concepts appears to have been cobbled together from parts of other, better movies.
Astro Boy alternately soars and sputters through a story line that’s not quite sure who it’s aimed at.
The movie never soars like Astro Boy, but it does rise above the lack of promise that prevails in the early scenes, which is a tough thing for any movie to do.
A muddled film full of one-dimensional characters and insultingly strident politics.
It's creepy, and it's weird, and it's something like a mecha minstrel show, particularly in how the film pretends to a 'robots are people too' theme yet fails itself to treat them as such.
dourly imagined tale whose only real value is in explaining the secret behind that pointy hairdo sported by our hero for all these years
Decked out in snazzy computer-generated animation, but comes across as more rote than exhilarating.
This is nothing more than indoctrination to Marxism. Is this what you want your kids watching for a Saturday matinee?
Latest News for Astro Boy
October 22, 2009:
Critics Consensus: Astro Boy Doesn't Quite Soar
This week at the movies, we've got an anime hero (Astro Boy, with voice work from Kristen Bell and Nicolas Cage); a vampire war ( Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant,... More...
October 03, 2009:
Astro Boy: Movie Review, Photos, Trailer, Poster ![]()
More...
September 27, 2009:
New: View the Brand New Trailer Here. ![]()
More...
August 12, 2009:
Trailer Bulletin: Astro Boy ![]()
The full official trailer for Imagi's anime feature finally arrives. More...
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Fresh Links
Featured

MSN Movies offers a little background on the success of Disney Animation.

TIME takes a look back at the history of vampires on film.

Techland examines the visual splendor of Peter Jackson's upcoming film.

AOL put together a list of 10 recent news items that would be perfect as TV Movies.

Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill explores how remakes and reboots have warped our thinking.
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic



