On CLIPS In November, 2009
ASTRO BOY

A young robot with superpowers seeks his father while battling a madman in this animated feature from director David Bowers.

TRIVIA: David Bowers co-directed what 2006 animated feature?

A young robot (the voice of Freddie Highmore) with superpowers is created by brilliant scientist Dr. Tenma (voiced by Nicolas Cage) in the image of the son he recently lost. Escaping the futuristic city in the sky where he was born, the fugitive hero encounters a group of renegade kids, robot gladiators and danger on a ravaged Earth before returning home to fight a power-mad general and gain his father’s acceptance. “Astro Boy” is a fun, fast-paced animated adventure that will delight the youngsters. There is also enough humor and in-jokes to please the grownups. Director David Bowers’ re-envisioning of the 1960s Japanese television series, which is reputed to be the first anime cartoon, never slows down. The movie has its faults, but there is little time to think about them. A stellar voice cast doesn’t hurt. Besides Freddie Highmore and an emotional performance by Nicolas Cage, Donald Sutherland is menacing as the evil General Stone. Kristen Bell provides rough-edged charm as Cora, a young girl who befriends Astro Boy. As the Fagin-like hustler and fight promoter Ham Egg, Nathan Lane has one of the more memorable roles. Far from boring, this sci-fi variation on “Pinocchio” is not nearly as wooden as one would expect.