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"ASTRO BOY" (2009) (voices of Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage) (PG) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Minor Extreme Moderate Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate Minor Extreme None None Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Minor Minor Extreme Heavy Heavy QUICK TAKE: Action/Adventure: A boy discovers that he's actually a robotic surrogate son to a scientist/inventor who no longer wants him as his replacement child, unlike a warmongering President who does, but only for the powerful energy source that's in his chest. PLOT: In the future, Metro City is a safe and prosperous municipality that floats in the sky above the surface of the planet below that's littered with old robots that have been discarded by the humans up above. The latest generation of those robots have been invented by Dr. Tenma (voice of NICOLAS CAGE) whose young son, Toby (voice of FREDDIE HIGHMORE), seems to have inherited his dad's smarts. As head of the Ministry of Science working for President Stone (voice of DONALD SUTHERLAND), however, Tenma doesn't have much time for his son, instead allowing house robot Orrin (voice of EUGENE LEVY) to watch over the boy. When the scientist informs Toby that he's been called to work on the Peacekeeper project with his colleague, Dr. Elefun (voice of BILL NIGHY), the boy's interest is piqued. Accordingly, he sneaks into the lab where he learns about the Blue Core, Elefun's peaceful power source discovered from outer space. But Stone wants the opposing and volatile Red Core inserted into the Peacekeeper robot, and the results are disastrous, with Toby ending up being accidentally killed in the resultant chaos. Stricken with guilt, and using some of Toby's recovered DNA, Dr. Tenma creates a perfect robotic replica of Toby, but with advanced features, powered by the Blue Core, that should keep him safe. After a while, however, the scientist can't continue with the ruse and tells his son not only that he's a robot, but also that he no longer wants him. But President Stone does, or at least the Blue Core inside him. In the ensuing chase, the robot is knocked out and falls to the planet's surface. There, he meets a bunch of orphans, including Cora (voice of KRISTEN BELL), Zane (voice of MOISES ARIAS) and Grace (voice of ELLE FANNING), who use an old robotic Trashcan, that believes it's a dog, as a lure to catch robots for Hamegg (voice of NATHAN LANE). He used to work for the Ministry of Science up on Metro City, but now runs a gladiator style contest down below for the amusement of humans. Since the Toby robot appears so human, however, the kids -- who are led to believe his name is Astro -- instantly befriend him, and they go about collecting Zog (voice of SAMUEL L. JACKSON), a huge robot from a bygone era. Fellow robots Sparx (voice of MATT LUCAS), Robotsky (voice of BILL NIGHY) and Mike the Fridge (voice of DAVID BOWERS), who are the sole members of the Robot Revolutionary Front, know what the robot boy really is and want his help to defeat Hamegg. But with President Stone wanting the Blue Core inside him so that he can wage war with those on the planet below him -- to get reelected -- Astro Boy must contend with all of that while also facing the dangerous and continuously morphing Peacekeeper robot. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? It's a good bet many younger ones might be interested due to it being an animated flick about a kid with superhero type powers. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG For some action and peril, and brief mild language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: TOBY is a bright boy who lets his curiosity get the best of him and ends up killed in an experiment gone awry at the Ministry of science. He then comes back, via implanted memories in a robotic version of him, Astro Boy, and must contend not only with his father no longer wanting him (for not being the real thing), but also learning that he's a robot and not a real boy. He must also deal with both Hamegg and President Stone wanting him, but for different yet equally ruthless reasons. DR. TENMA is his father, an equally brilliant scientist who doesn't have much time for his boy due to his busy days working for President Stone. When his son is accidentally killed in the experiment, he uses his grief to fuel his creation of a robotic surrogate of the boy, but then finds he just can't love him as much since he's not the real thing. PRESIDENT STONE is the leader of the land who wants to wage war in the belief that doing so will get him reelected. Accordingly, he orders Tenma to work on the ironically named Peacekeeper robot and then wants the blue core power supply in Astro Boy for his own nefarious plans. CORA is a teenage girl who befriends Astro down on the planet surface and works for Hamegg in collecting robots for battle, unaware that Astro is one of them. HAMEGG is the Fagin type character who uses orphans as his worker bees in collecting robots for his gladiator style shows. While he initially appears to be a good guy, he eventually shows his true colors, particularly in regard to his dealings with Astro. SPARX, ROBOTSKY and MIKE THE FRIDGE are robots who make up the Robot Revolutionary Front and want to defeat Hamegg and stop his gladiator style games. They're a big part of the film's comic relief for their bumbling ways. DR. ELEFUN is Tenma's colleague who introduces the recently discovered blue and red core power supplies, unaware that they're going to fall into the wrong hands. In terms of Toby's robotic surrogate, he shows him more compassion than the boy's father is capable of delivering. ORRIN is the domestic robot who cares for Toby at home. He also serves as comic relief. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this animated adventure film that's been rated PG. No profanity is present, but various colorful phrases are. A computer-animated woman is briefly seen in a bikini. Violence consists of animated, sci-fi type battles, with characters and robots smashing and bashing each other about, with the intent to capture or kill, while weapons are also used and lots of property damage occurs. Those scenes and various moments of potential peril as well as the death of a child (who's later "resurrected" in robotic form) may be unsettling, suspenseful and/or scary to younger viewers, but probably few others. Slapstick style material also occurs. Bad attitudes are present (and some viewers might not like the film's apparent political leanings), as is behavior that some kids might be enticed to imitate. There's brief alcohol content, as well as a smoking reference, while a little bit of crude humor is present. Tense family material (a father losing his son and then no longer wanting his robotic surrogate who doesn't realize he's not the real thing) also occurs. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, during the opening credits, we see a point of view shot going through a light tunnel of sorts. Other flying shots follow later in the film, while there's also a downward looking vertigo style shot. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE We briefly see a miscellaneous couple with wine in front of them. President Stone asks Astro Boy if he cares for a drink, and then jokingly holds up some oil. BLOOD/GORE Some robotic window cleaners leave black marks on a window when startled (a crude humor visual). Hamegg goes to eat some several-day-old pizza, with its "toppings" then scurrying off in the form of cockroaches. At one point, guns emerge from Astro Boy's robotic butt and shoot the Peacekeeper in the eye, prompting Astro Boy to say (in surprise), "I got machine guns, in my butt?" DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE About Dr. Elefun, President Stone says, "He's a dangerous idiot." He then takes Elefun's work, intended for peace, and uses it to crank up his war machine strategy, all in hopes of using that to get reelected. When a female scientist refuses to put the blue core energy sphere into the Peacekeeper, President Stone bumps her aside, telling her, "Move over sweetheart." We hear from the Robot Revolutionary Front that Hamegg enslaves robots, but when Astro Boy meets him he states he loves them as well as repairing them (which turns out to be a lie). Astro Boy doesn't let the human kids know he's really a robot. There's a comment about "grace" before dinner, but we then see it's a reference to a girl named Grace (some viewers might not like the joke, as no prayer occurs). Hamegg runs a gladiator style robot battle to the death tournament for the enjoyment of humans. Some viewers might not like the apparent political leanings of the film (with the blue core being good and the red one bad, while the President who's up for reelection wants to use war to ensure his campaign success). Some viewers might not like President Stone angrily asking the Peacekeeper, after ignoring his order, "What, are you deaf?" FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to younger viewers but probably few others. Astro Boy reaches out to grab a hold of a floating robotic window cleaner, but then realizes he's stretched out through the open window, with only his toes on the ledge. He then falls a long way, including a POV of him falling, but the rockets in his feet are then activated and he's no longer in peril. A pilot falls from his ship and Astro Boy flies down to rescue him, catching him before he hits the street. As robots suddenly move from within a pile of discarded ones, some younger kids might be scared by the beginning parts of that until it's revealed that they're not dangerous. Under direction from President Stone, Tenma has Astro Boy lie down and then removes the blue core power orb from his chest, thus deactivating him. But he changes his mind moments later, and puts that back in. President Stone tells his soldiers/guards that he wants Tenma and Dr. Elefun shot for treason, but that never occurs. As the Peacekeeper transforms into a progressively bigger and scarier looking robot villain, some younger kids might find that unsettling, suspenseful and/or scary. At one point, guns emerge from Astro Boy's robotic butt and shoot the Peacekeeper in the eye. That's followed by the Peacekeeper using a building like a baseball bat to hit Astro Boy. The Peacekeeper then nearly stomps down on Astro Boy, but Cora and her friends fly in and save him at the last second. Without power, Metro City begins to fall downward toward the surface below, with Astro Boy trying to prevent that by holding it from the bottom. The Peacekeeper grabs a flying car containing Cora and her friends and threatens to harm them (to get Astro Boy to come back). SPOILER ALERT: Astro Boy flies deep into the Peacekeeper, with the contact between the red and blue power spheres causing a massive explosion. Astro Boy appears to be dead (others think that), but he's resurrected. GUNS/WEAPONS Laser type guns/Rockets: Carried and/or used to threaten and/or attempt to wound or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details. President Stone's soldiers/guards carry futuristic weapons. Astro Boy creates an animation on a computer screen for a physics problem that includes an arrow hitting a robotic cowboy in the crotch. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "May you rust in peace," "I am so busted," "Nobody likes a smarty pants," "He's a dangerous idiot," "I'm gonna kick some butt," "Not cool enough, hotshot," "Jeez," "Move over sweetheart," "I am so freaked (right now)," "You're the man," "Wow, that's creepy," "Don't be a dummy," "Holy cow," "No losers from the surface policy," "Dude," "Blah, blah, blah. Boring, boring, boring," "Viva la revolution," "Nice try, rust bucket," "Hold it right there, twinkle-toes," "Let's get it on," "I'm old school," "What, are you deaf?" "I got machine guns, in my butt?" "Onward and upward" and "Oh nuts." The fighting, stunts and other action might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Kids play and run amuck inside their headquarters, including hitting golf balls and shooting arrows inside, swinging on a tire, throwing chairs to walls, and one girl taking a chainsaw to a pizza box. JUMP SCENES Robots suddenly move from within a pile of discarded ones, startling Astro Boy. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of suspenseful, some ominous, and action-oriented music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY None. SEX/NUDITY We briefly see Astro Boy in just shorts and boots. Astro Boy flies over a woman sunbathing in a bikini, with his rocket boots giving her an instant tan. SMOKING An old robot waiter does his program bit and asks, "Smoking or non-smoking?" with another robot (that's partly on fire) going by and saying he's definitely smoking. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Tenma visits his son, via a projected hologram, to inform him that he won't be able to do something with him as promised, due to work obligations, and Toby appears disappointed, but this seems par for the course. Tenma sees his son in harm's way with the Peacekeeper and can't do anything to save him as a resultant explosion obliterates the boy (not seen). All he can find is his baseball cap, but he takes a hair from that and uses the DNA to recreate his son, memories and all, but as a highly advanced robot. Astro Boy overhears Tenma and Dr. Elefun discussing him and confronts them about what's wrong. Tenma finally admits that Astro Boy is a robot and that he doesn't want him anymore (causing both the father and robotic son stress). Astro Boy then flies off. President Stone makes a reference that he's been married several times. We hear that all of the kids under Hamegg's care are orphans, but later hear that Cora's parents are still alive up on Metro City (we see her trying to call them, but only getting their answering machine, with Cora lamenting to Astro Boy about whether they miss her). She's reunited with them at the end of the film. Under direction from President Stone, Tenma has Astro Boy lie down and then removes the blue core power orb from his chest, thus deactivating him. But he changes his mind moments later, and puts that back in. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The Pinocchio, Oliver Twist and other bits of homage and/or borrowing that occur in the film. We hear that all of the kids under Hamegg's care are orphans, but later hear that Cora's parents are still alive up on Metro City (we see her trying to call them, but only getting their answering machine, with Cora lamenting to Astro Boy about whether they miss her). She's reunited with them at the end of the film. Robots now and in the future. The comment that fitting in can be more complicated than it seems. The apparent political leanings of the film (with the blue core being good and the red one bad, while the President who's up for reelection wants to use war to ensure his campaign success). VIOLENCE A vehicle smashes into a robot, followed by another robot getting into a test crash car, and we hear the sound of impact, but don't see it (played for laughs). President Stone's soldiers forcibly take the red and blue core energy spheres from Dr. Elefun. In a demo of the Peacekeeper, small robotic probes fire upon the Peacekeeper, with that then firing back and blasting them, while also absorbing some of them and using those to fire back as well. The Peacekeeper then fires at President Stone and the others, with a protective shield dropped in place to protect them. The Peacekeeper runs but bounces off that, but it then starts to absorb the shield, causing a hole in it. Soldiers then fire at the Peacekeeper, followed by Dr. Elefun thrusting an energy source at the Peacekeeper that blows it backwards, deactivating it. During the explosion, Toby is apparently obliterated (off camera), with only his baseball cap left. Astro Boy is zapped to be brought to "life" for the first time, and he's lifted off the ground during that. When it stops, he falls and lands hard, but is okay. Astro Boy creates an animation on a computer screen for a physics problem that includes an arrow hitting a robotic cowboy in the crotch. A flying model plan accidentally hits Tenma on the head. While flying for the first time, Astro Boy accidentally smashes into a building (but is okay). He also causes other accidental damage, including flying through a billboard and smashing into other things. President Stone's ship crushes part of his political opponent's billboard. Some ships aim weapons at Astro Boy and then chase after him when he takes flight. They fire green suction "tubes" at him, and finally nab him with those, but he then pulls them the other direction, causing some accidental property damage as they crash into things. A huge robot repeatedly blasts Astro Boy, followed by firing many missiles and such that also blast the robot boy, sending him falling unconscious down to the surface below Metro City. Trashcan pushes Astro Boy toward a deep hole in the scrap heap, but he lands in a net and is captured by the human kids. Cora pins Sparx to a table, followed by Astro Boy playing along and pinning him to a wall (so as not to let the human kids know he's also a robot). The kids' newly reactivated robot, Zog, accidentally steps onto and crushes a smaller one (the latter is seen, still "alive," but in flattened form, scurrying along like a crab). Cora accidentally hits her head inside a car and then trips over some junk and hits the ground. Hamegg zaps Astro Boy when he lets on that he knows he's a robot. Astro Boy finds himself unwillingly participating in Hamegg's gladiator style to-the-death robot tournament. The first opponent has large, rapidly spinning blades with which it tries to hit Astro Boy. He tries flying up and away, but hits a force field at the top of the stadium and falls back to the ground. The other robot comes at him again, but he flies that one up and into the force field, destroying the robot. The next opponent starts small and splits into two pieces, with one rapidly firing at Astro Boy. He causes one to smash the other and then takes the second and uses that to shoot the first. He must then battle many additional ones, hitting and kicking them, etc. Zog is then brought out and Astro Boy refuses to fight him. It appears Zog is going to smash him, but he doesn't, prompting Hamegg to zap both, and then Astro Boy repeatedly. Zog then goes to step on Hamegg and we think he's crushed him, but then see that Astro Boy stopped his foot. Moments later, a person in the crowd throws a can that hits Hamegg on the head, while trashcan the dog bites one soldier on the leg and Zog picks up two of them, but does them no harm. After being reactivated, Astro Boy flies up and out through a building, causing some unintentional damage along the way. The Peacekeeper sucks up President Stone inside its body, absorbing him into it (but he's still alive inside it, and later is seen back in normal form, no worse for the wear). The Peacekeeper blasts out through a building. From a distance, we hear and partially see a war being waged on Metro City. As the Peacekeeper transforms into a progressively bigger and scarier looking robot villain, some younger kids might find that unsettling, suspenseful and/or scary. At one point, guns emerge from Astro Boy's robotic butt and shoot the Peacekeeper in the eye. That's followed by the Peacekeeper using a building like a baseball bat to hit Astro Boy. The Peacekeeper then nearly stomps down on Astro Boy, but Cora and her friends fly in and save him at the last second. The Peacekeeper fires a blast at Astro Boy who fires back at him. As the two continue their battle, all sorts of massive scale property damage occurs. Sparx hits Robotsky with a golf club. Astro Boy slams a girder down onto the Peacekeeper's head, and then repeatedly punches its face (small fists to a gargantuan robot head). The Peacekeeper then grabs Astro Boy and yanks him inside, but both are then blasted backwards (with Astro Boy slamming into a building) due to the red and blue power spheres nearing each other. SPOILER ALERT: Astro Boy flies deep into the Peacekeeper, with the contact between the red and blue power spheres causing a massive explosion. Astro Boy appears to be dead (others think that), but he's resurrected. A girl kicks President Stone on the leg. At the end of the film, a gargantuan flying octopus type creature fires upon the city with various blasts, and Astro Boy flies upward to battle it (not seen, as the scene ends). Reviewed October 13, 2009 / Posted October 23, 2009

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