Review of Astro Boy (2009) by David H — 20 May 2011

I like anime, let me just get that out of the way. I dig that Astro Boy is considered, by many, to be the first legitimate form of anime programming. It's a good premise, and was pretty original at its time.

Now, of course, it's not quite as original; so seeing this movie may have you tasting stale popcorn. But for what it was, knowing a bit of the history, I was surprised at how genuine the movie felt.

"Astro Boy" is an accomplishment not only in animation, but in storytelling as well. I was really touched by the emotions the characters were able to convey. And speaking of emotion, I was really surprised at how the movie began, with Toby's.

..well...let's just say I wasn't expecting that to happen. From there, Astro Boy's journey of self-discovery is both amusing and heartfelt, with Freddie Highmore delivering a strong, believable performance.

If you haven't seen any of his movies, do yourself a huge favor and watch this kid - he's amazing. The rest of the cast is just as strong, with favorites like Bell, Lane, Levy and Stiles. Admittedly, I'm not a fan of Nicolas Cage and when I hear his voice, I cannot see the character - I only see Cage every time.

A problem I have, yes I know. But even so...Cage was able to pull in a good performance as a suffering father. All around, this movie roller coasters through all the appropriate emotions, and makes for a great family flick.