Astro Boy
The film was not a success in Japan, opening at the bottom end of the top ten films of that week. Initially, it broke box-office opening records for a CGI animated movie in China at the time. However, numbers dropped after a few days. By the end of its run in China, it was not considered a box office success. Unlike two other U.S.-produced Japanese-based films had done previously: Dragonball Evolution (2009) and Speed Racer (2008) had tanked in Japan, but went on to be hugely successful in China.,Astroboy's hair-spikes change position from left to right and vice versa throughout the whole movie. But then, this is in keeping with the spirit of the original TV series, so it not quite a mistake.,Astro Boy: What? I got machine guns... in my butt?,After the end credits, a card stating "When in Hong Kong, visit Imagi Studios" The art is the same classic style as the opening, with a tram touring a back lot. This is much like what Universal studios did at the end of their films.,For television airings, rather than cropping, the film has been reanimated from scratch to 1.75:1.,Featured in Hewy's Animated Movie Reviews: Astro Boy (2009),Breezy Day
Composed by Roger Roger
Courtesy of APM Music LLC,While there are better animated films out there, Astro Boy is a long way from being down there with the worst. Coming from someone who loves animation dearly and only know the TV series by name(really need to get round to seeing it), Astro Boy was a good film that could have been even better. The bright spot about Astro Boy is the animation which is just wonderful, full of detail, beautifully modelled character designs and vivid colours, and the music, which has a rousing sweep to it, also shines. The dialogue is smart and intelligent, the comic relief is actually amusing and doesn't feel misplaced at all and the more emotional parts don't come across as mawkish. The story generally works, of course it is formulaic and can drag from trying to do too much(as well as having an ending that is too at odds with the rest of the film) but the heart and charm is there as well as a fun and sweet nature. There are a lot of action sequences too and they are very exciting without bogging things down too much. Credit also is due for incorporating darker adult themes and doing them in a way that doesn't jar and gives the film emotional impact and heart, the beginning is downbeat, but anybody will relate to and be moved by it. The characters generally do engage, especially the endearing protagonist. And generally the voice work is very good, although Bill Nighy felt out of place and Nicolas Cage had a tendency to be too monotone. Freddie Highmore is perfect in the protagonist role, Donald Sutherland seems to be enjoying himself as the villain, Charlize Theron and Kristen Bell are decidedly sincere and Nathan Lane and Matt Lucas are great fun. In conclusion, good but could have been more. 7/10 Bethany Cox,