Release Date (UK) – 5 February 2010
Certificate (UK) – PG
Country – USA
Director – David Bowers
Runtime – 94  mins
Starring – Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Samuel L Jackson

Astroboy is based on a 1950s Japanese comic book hero who has already found his way to the TV screen twice before. This new animated film attempt has a big name voice cast and although it’s a pleasant enough watch its simple story is nothing new so this isn’t the sort of film you or the kids would probably want to watch again. Set in the futuristic Metrocity, a land which rose above the earth after it was ruined by pollution, scientist Dr Tenmas (Nic Cage) son dies in a tragic accident so he uses his DNA to recreate a robot version with superpowers as ‘Astroboy’ is born. However he doesn’t tell Astroboy that he is a robot and after he discovers he’s not Tenma’s real son he leaves Metrocity to live among those left on the earths surface.

The story is pretty tame and basic but enjoyable enough to please any child and the retro geek inside all of us adults, and alongside some great humour – (at one point Astroboy suddenly discovers he has guns hidden in his bottom) there are also some subtle adult jokes, mostly around the dubious politics of the Metrocity mayor (Donald Sutherland). The CGI is superb but I suspect the film will not get to that wide an audience as with the recent run of 3D kids films many children prefer to see a 3D film, and it’s a shame as this would have worked perfectly well in 3D.

Check out the Astroboy Trailer in our trailers section