Where is his sister?

You would think with me being home I would do my posts on time. I would have expected that but apparently that is too difficult for me. Well I have been surprisingly busy with zombie walks, and improv shows, and movies to get around to it. But at least I have made it even though I am going to see Toxic Avenger: The Musical tonight. I think it should be rather amusing.

Anyways, last Friday another childhood treasure was brought back to the big screen. Astro Boy was released with little fanfare and up against the Halloween rush of horror movies. It didn’t bode well unfortunately. It only raked in about $6.7 million over the weekend in sixth place a good $4 million behind #5 Couples Retreat, after a budget of about $65 million. But I think the problem is to that there wasn’t really that much PR for the movie. Yes I saw posters and there were a couple of notes on the internet here and there but it didn’t get the usual brainwash-the-children treatment that most animated movies get. I was so shocked and excited when the first teaser trailer came out and then nothing else was really released until just before the movie came out. Usually that would mean the movie wouldn’t be any good but to tell you the truth it ain’t bad at all.

Astro Boy is a highly advanced robot boy who was created by Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage) to replace his son who was lost in a tragic accident. He was built to look like his son Toby and imprinted with all his memories but after realizing this robot can never replace his son he banishes him and Astro (Freddie Highmore) leaves on a mission to find acceptance among others.

As I said the movie ain’t bad, it is, the only word I can think of, cute. At first it thinks it is a Disney movie with the sad beginning with Toby being ignored by his father and his death to follow soon after but it picks up and ends on a happy note (and a weird tentacle monster). It isn’t the best kid’s movie out there but certainly more fun than Where the Wild Things Are. With so much being put into kid’s films today so that is does appeal to both the parent and the child that market is continuing to develop some serious competition.

The dialogue was ok. At points it did run a little flat and lack lustre but for the most part it kept you interested and entertained. The movie is given some momentum by having a couple of subplots that add a little more fun to the story. There is the RRF (Robot Revolutionary Front) and there are the robot gladiators. The RRF were particularly fun and reminded me a lot of the Penguins in Madagascar.

There was a lot of voice talent in the movie including Kristen Bell, Nathan Lane, Eugene Levy, Bill Nighy, and Donald Sutherland. There was also Nick Cage but I wouldn’t call what he did talent. His voice acting was so bad that it was actually distracting. Every time I heard in speak all I could think of was Nick Cage. It pulled me out of the story. He just can’t emote. I mean he can barely act most of the time when he is on screen but what made them think he would be any better if he could not be seen?

The best thing about this movie was that they didn’t change the look of Astro at all. These days they insist on “modernizing” or “updating” the look and that usually ends up killing the character all together. But with this movie he was exactly the same, from the pointy hair down to his red boots.

I do recommend Astro Boy. It would be good to see in the theatre but I don’t think it is a must. It is a definite rental. It is a just a fun little movie. Kids will like it and adults will enjoy the nostalgia even though they didn’t include his sister, Uran (sometimes known as Astro Girl). At least this childhood favourite wasn’t crapped al over.

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