Astro Boy

Jozua J. Jonker
Viewing: Nu Metro
Release Date: 4 December 2009

Directed By Dawid Bowers
Screenplay By Timothy Hyde Harris & Dawid Bowers

Cast:

Nicolas Cage (Dr. Tenma), Kristen Bell (Cora), Charlize Theron (Narrator), Bill Nighy (Dr. Elefun), Samuel L. Jackson (Zog) Freddie Highmore (Astro Boy), Donald Sutherland, (President Stone), Moises Arias (Zane), Nathan Lane (Ham Egg), (Eugene Levy Orrin) Ryan Stiles (Mr. Pistachio), Matt Lucas (Sparx), Madeline Carroll (Widget / Grace), Sterling Beaumon (Sludge)

Genre: Animation
Classification: 10MV
Running time: 93 Minutes

I was exited to see Astro Boy because since I discovered Magma and Anime a few years back I have become a huge fan. The Magma comic series "Tetsuwan Atomu" created by Osamu Tezuka in 1952 formed part of what dubbed him as the god of Manga. The creators of the 3d animation Maryann Garger (Producer), Dawid Bowers (Director), and Timothy Hyde Harris (Screenplay) did not stick to the original plot. This adaption might leave hardcore fans dissapointed, which seems to me was written mainly for westerners.

In a futuristic world where the earth is a rubble heap for discarded robots and humans live on a floating island, we find our hero as the flesh and blood son of Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage). Dr. Tenma is the head of the ministry of science and also responsible for the invention and technology behind robotics. Yes, in this world a humans every whim is served by friendly robots and if they no longer function as required they are plainly discarded. President Stone (Donald Sutherland) has asked the ministry of science to build a guardian robot to protect the floating utopia from immanent danger. During its test run Dr. Tenma is son killed when the red energy placed inside the guardian robot makes it goes besirk. At the lose of his, Dr. Tenma rebuilt his son as a robot boy with all his memories which he soon realizes cannot replace his son. Astro Boy is discarded with and finds himself amongst the surface folk.

This 3d-animation film is definitely friendly for children of all ages but aimed for the younger kids. The initial beginnings of a grim story is balanced by light moments and child like humor and innocence, creating a strong moral under current. The creators of this film steered away from clever anecdotes of adult humor and twists and plot turns that would help the kids keep up with their short attention spans today. Which is logical off course... The action sequences was done well and yet again a good balance between a lot and to little. The animation for me was great but not as good as its predecessor Kung-Fu panda. This said, one of the main characteristics in its visual style was efficiency, which carried over to the story, cutting it down to the bare essential but this I feel added to the energy with which the story was told.

Mom and dads will enjoy taking their kids to see this movie knowing that they too can experience some of the Japanese pop culture not worrying about what they are exposing their kids to. I also feel that the makers of this film set out to do what they intended. Don't leave it with me though, add your own comments and score.

It gets a successful 7 out of 10. See you at the movies.

2012

Jozua J. Jonker

Viewing: Sterkinekor
Release Date: 4 December 2009

Directed By Roland Emmerich
Screenplay By Roland Emmerich & Harald Kloser

Cast:
John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt,Thomas McCarthy
Woody Harrelson, Danny Glover, Liam James, Morgan Lily, Zlatko Buric, Beatrice Rosen, Alexandre Haussmann, Philippe Haussmann, Johann Urb

Genre: Action/Adventure, Drama
Classification: PG13
Running Time: 158 Minutes

Although this film for me was amazing in terms of no brainer entrainment value, it sparked something else in me that I liked about movies of this nature. Added with a pinch of salt, if you found your niche in film making like Roland Emmerich, and you do it extremely well there will be people that love it and people that don't. If you think you don't know his work, you will be surprised that you indeed watched some of his movies, Independence Day, Godzilla and The Day After Tomorrow. We find our hero Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) as a washed up writer who has only managed to write one book (“Farewell Atlantis”). His career which in terms of publications has not done so well. He is divorced from his wife Kate (Amanda Peet) and an estranged father to his kids. He is a limo driver to make ends meet and it seems like the adventurous life of successful novelist or at least the appearance their of still alludes him. What I like about epic disaster movies is it makes me think. It reminds of that saying, “Watch therefore, for you do not know in what kind of a day your Lord is coming.” It makes me ask questions like, “Am I or will I be ready for when it all goes up in flames”. It makes me do a little reassessment of, “Am I living my life to the full!” My film review peers may give me a hard time that I might be over dramatic in my approach to this particular film, which only leaves itself open for good critique based on its amazing special affects, but I will simply remind them that we have always had a fascination with the end of days. Maybe what we don't like is to be reminded that everybody knows it might and can very well happen. It leaves us to ponder about the value of the larger than life aspirations we have in our daily lives. Well if your are no philosopher you might just think this is one to many as far as disaster movies go ,get over it already!



Then, disaster strikes, literally! In this seemingly washed out timid man, Jackson Curtis, beats the heart of a hero. It makes me think why he did not take more risks in his life, why he did not stop and think about what is really important. It is a struggle that most of us associate with or not. Why? Because sitting in the comfort of everyday life we know that only seemingly impossible challenges grow and make us extra-ordinary. In our society, comfort is our main concern and becoming more than what we are is the road less travelled by to experience the true fullness of our potential. As our planet and cities literary fall apart around us, what is left? What do we take with us? We all want to be the hero without any effort on our part. The true antagonist in this story is not the natural disaster or the politicians (Oliver Platt) inside us who seek survival at any cost and the self serving merchants (Zlatko Buric) who in their riches create such a world of comfort bringing up the next generation to think everything comes easy. You can avert or solve any crisis by throwing enough money at it, even a seat on the newly created “Arks” that carry the monetary elite in the film to safety. I mean we can't save'em all.



Now in terms of disaster movies this is a not a unique concept. It all goes back to what killed the dinosaurs will eventually come for us as the premise of the movie is built on ancient predictions by the Mayans and several other cultures. What I did like was the subtle theme of the film. Our hero needs to journey these invisible human forces as well as what the earth throws at him. This adventure makes him realise what few want to realise even in this reality, “what is really important in life”. Will he make it? As the earth's paradigm shifts, so does his. What is also missing in most disaster movies is decent characters that Harold Kloser (Producer) & Emmerich (Director) formed so well. The visual affects where stunning, not an effortless feat but in true Hollywood style spectacular eye candy. Although it is the same story just with a different outfit, this type of film still mesmerizes me and the silver screen has not lost its magic. Don't leave it with me though, add your own comments and score...

It gets a life changing 7.5 out of 10. See you at the movies.