Comments on: Astro Boy Review

By: pjf

pjf — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 23:03:54 +0000

Couple of things,
1 the voice acting is fine – the problem with nic cage voice acting is that when I heard his accent for some reason I got uncomfortable not seeing his face. something about his accent needs his face to go with it. but this feeling subsided quick enough.
2. this is quite a serious film but a film made entirely for kids, genuinely, there is no subtle sexual inuendo, or in adult humour or deep adult themes that you find in most of the animated stuff these days, there is also very little slapstic. Yet it does not dumb down its themes, it treats the kids watching as intelegent human beings. My daughters seemed to love this film adnd I must admit that I enjoyed it too.
3. The visuals are not supposed to be the same as cars or ice age. I think the visuals team have done a stunning job and shown well thought restraint not venturing too far away from the cartoon roots. It looks and feels very much like a turbocharged cartoon. I really appreciate this and it is the first time I think CGI has been used to update a cartoon and done it well.
Most of the characters are engaging, the simple hero story is well done, and there is enough emotional content to give it depth.

I really liked this and I am supprised by the bad reviews. But I think there are alot of adults reviewing a real kids film from an adult point of view and getting it wrong. Cars, Iceage, walle etc, good films but they are adult films cleverly diquised as kids films so we get suckered in. This is a rear example of something purer, and simpler, and truer. a propper kids film.

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:08:54 +0000

It’s a clear observation based on the content of the film.

By: GODFATHER

GODFATHER — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:19:15 +0000

I’m 50/50 on your review John. With the use of too many “big name” actors for voice roles and the opening, I totally agree with you. However, as a fan of the TV show, I think that the movie did quite well in keeping true to the story of Astro Boy, but updating it mildly (if memory serves me well) to mainstream it for today. We seem to forget that this show was not that big for some time, and I think it showed with the lack of a big marketing budget, leading to the disappointing opening weekend numbers.

Could the story have been better? Sure, but I think this is a springboard to relaunch a TV series and not another movie. That’s where this story will find its audience. In TV, you’ll need the “useless, do nothing” characters to fill some storylines, which might be one of the reasons the “Revolution” is included in the film.

Personally, I’d rate the movie (for entertainment value only) at a 6.5/10. I also wish it was better, but without having the marketing machine blitz the hell out of it, I never expected it to do all that well.

Anxiously awaiting your post on the Voice Actors vs Mainstream Complancency.

By: Mikano94

Mikano94 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:45:40 +0000

Lately I’ve had no interest in any animated movie not made by Pixar. I’ve been disappointed with previous animated movies that have not and have never been disappointed with a Pixar film, even Cars was good IMO.

By: Meli

Meli — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:56:26 +0000

From the sound of your review it seems they pretty much kept the movie as is after showing an unfinished cut to focus groups.

The kiddo and I were part of one and we both HATED those stupid revolutionary robots they were worthless, non-funny and a waste of time. The other kids in the group seemed mostly indifferent to them. Every time they popped up (which felt like a lot) I was pulled out of the movie. I disliked Nic Cage voicing the Dr. and Highmore did alright as Astro Boy, but honestly this movie might have benefited from using actual voice actors (I agree with your statement whole heartily) and the deleting of some useless characters.
The kid and I will probably check out the movie once on DVD only so we can see the completed animation cut.

By: NoName

NoName — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:43:51 +0000

beggar can’t be chooser

The movie is very different from anime and manga furthermore movie theme familiar to Megaman.

By: 420BAND

420BAND — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:20:21 +0000

Where’s the fight for Albert Brooks?

Hey, these are cartoons BTW and most of the Non-Pixar stuff does’nt hold water at all…This was a cute flick with a hard hittin’ story and some sweet action sequences. Now were seeing Magna and Anime come hollywood mainstream.. I’m not a fan of this genre but this was a pleasent film…As for voice actors vs. celebrities I agree , some DO totally take away from the final product.. Seth rogan, Nic Cage, are terrible and should not be allowed to do it… but this is something the Studios do so , F-IT!

By: Darren J Seeley

Darren J Seeley — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:59:01 +0000

That is a subjective interpretation, possibly one of many.

By: krazie835

krazie835 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:37:04 +0000

The fact still remains Pixar doesn’t exactly hire trained voice actors for most of their movies though.

By: Louis

Louis — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:43:16 +0000

Yeah, it never works really… Arthur and The Invisibles had the most impressive combination I have seen: Madonna, Snoop Dogg, and David Bowie and it still bombed mesirably. The only exception to this whole discussion is Hoodwinked. Not sure how Harvey Weinstein pulled that one off, but it sure did find its legitimacy (thanks to Anne Hathaway? Who knows really!)