ASTRO BOY (USA/Japan/HK 2009) ***
Directed by David Bowers

The popular robot ASTRO BOY is given a full modern makeover in David Bowers’ American computer animated full-length feature.

Set in a futuristic world where humans co-exist with servant robots, ASTRO BOY focuses on the character of the film title.  ASTRO BOY (Freddie Highmore) is a robot created by scientist genius Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage) to replace his son Toby, killed in an accident.  But unable to fill the void of his lost son, the doctor vanquishes ASTRO BOY out of Metro City where the robot boy proves himself, saves the world and wins back daddy’s heart.

As the story implies, lots of sentiment is present.  (Bring the Kleenex!).  But the narrative is strong and never does the action overcome the story.  A little romance is thrown in as Astro Boy searches for another family that will accept him.  The film plays like a classic super hero film.  Like SPIDER-MAN and SUPERMAN, the first part if the film is dedicated to the origin of the protagonist’s powers, how he tames that power and finally his usage to fight whatever villain or monsters need to be vanquished.

Bowers’ adaptation of the TV series to the large screen is formulaic but it works.  The Japanese feel is kept - the signs and posters in the film are in Japanese are as the Japanese styled wardrobe and facial features of the characters.  The monster villain robot looks like a fully decked out samurai.  Bowers holds back on the cutesiness (thankfully) and balances humour with the action scenes.  The transformer-like fight finale is more fitting than in the TRANSFOMERS 2 movie. 

Call me sentimental but I will always remember ASTRO BOY as the 1962 black and white television series most fondly.  Though CGI has improved this latest entry, the mostly still animation (only the lips moved as the characters spoke) of the original ASTRO BOY is the one I love best!