Astro Boy (2009)

When an android replica of a boy is rejected by his aggrieved creator, he goes off to find his own identity in an adventure that would make him the greatest hero of his time.

Director:

David Bowers

Writers:

Osamu Tezuka (manga), David Bowers (story)

Stars:

Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charlize Theron	...	'Our Friends' Narrator (voice)
Freddie Highmore	...	Astro / Toby (voice)
Ryan Stiles	...	Mr. Moustachio / Burning Robot (voice)
Eugene Levy	...	Orrin (voice)
Nicolas Cage	...	Dr. Tenma (voice)
Donald Sutherland	...	President Stone (voice)
Bill Nighy	...	Dr. Elefun / Robotsky (voice)
David Alan Grier	...	Mr. Squirt / Math Cowboy / Boxer Robot (voice)
Alan Tudyk	...	Mr. Squeegee / Scrapheap Head / Stinger Two (voice)
Newell Alexander	...	General Heckler (voice)
Bob Logan	...	Stinger One (voice)
Dee Bradley Baker	...	Trashcan (voice)
Kristen Bell	...	Cora (voice)
Moises Arias	...	Zane (voice)
Sterling Beaumon	...	Sludge (voice)

Storyline

Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist in the image of the son he has lost. Unable to fulfill the grieving man's expectations, our hero embarks on a journey in search of acceptance, experiencing betrayal and a netherworld of robot gladiators, before he returns to save Metro City and reconcile with the father who had rejected him.

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | astro boy character | troubled production | movie flop | gender in title | 

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Taglines:

Have a blast.

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some action and peril, and brief mild language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Entertainment news reports in late January, 2009, stated that production had appeared, at the time, to have shut down, possibly due to the recession.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Mr. Moustachio: [at Toby, who finished the pop quiz] Yes, Toby. Is there a problem?
Toby Tenma: [Carrying the quiz] There's no problem. I'm just finished, and I'd like to leave.
Mr. Moustachio: Finished?
Toby Tenma: For rocket science, it wasn't exactly rocket science.
Mr. Moustachio: [with Toby's quiz] I don't suppose there's much point in you staying...
[Moustachio realized that Toby is leaving]
Toby Tenma: Good lucky, guys.
[Toby leaves the school]
Mr. Moustachio: [as Toby's quiz is 100% sucessful] Just like his father.

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Crazy Credits

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.

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Alternate Versions

For television airings, rather than cropping, the film has been reanimated from scratch to 1.75:1.

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Connections

Featured in Hewy's Animated Movie Reviews: Astro Boy (2009)

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Soundtracks

Marching Down the Field
Composed by Harry Edwards
Courtesy of APM Music LLC

User Reviews

Sweet-natured, colourful and fun- a good animated film that could have been more

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

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [China]

Country:

Hong Kong USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 October 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Astro Boy

Box Office

Budget:

$65,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,702,923, 25 October 2009

Gross USA:

$19,551,067

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$39,886,986

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imagi Animation Studios, Imagi Crystal, Summit Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1