Film: Astro Boy
What’s the story?
When the superheroic youngster falls from his city in the sky to the barren lawless land below he’s forced to fight other, more aggressive robots in the gladiatorial ring created by evil genius, Hamegg. Trying to save him are a feisty bunch of homeless kids and the hopeless robots of the Robot Revolutionary Front.
Good Stuff: Based on a best-selling Japanese comic, this also has a human side which is similar to the Spielberg’s Artificial Intelligence: AI. The animation is eye-poppingly colourful and there are some truly amazing flying scenes. Little Britain’s Matt Lucas proves his comedy worth as the leader of the Revolutionary Robots.
Silly Stuff: Gets a bit bogged down at the start with Tenma’s dilemma at bringing his son back to life in robot-form. Bill Nighy as the voice of Dr. Elefun is snoringly dull.
Verdict: Cool comic-strip superhero fun.
Three Stars
Film: Astro Boy
E1 Entertainment
Cert: U
Out: 5 February
Starring: Freddie Highmore, Nathan Lane, Matt Lucas, Nicolas Cage
