Astro Boy opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, October 23. Credit: 2009 Imagi Crystal Limited and Summit Entertainment, LLC. Original Manga �© Tezuka Productions Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

Astro Boy Movie Opens

It’s a boy, it’s a robot, come to save Metro City

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Astro Boy
Rated PG
Release Date: October 23, 2009
Genre: Animation/Action/Family/Sci-Fi
Director: David Bowers

Astro Boy originally appeared in 1951 as a comic book character. He starred in his own black and white TV series in 1959. The cartoon was reborn in a color series in the 1980s. Now he returns as to the big screen in the new movie , opening nationwide Friday, October 23.

The movie is about a realistic superhero with both robotic and boy-like qualities. Astro Boy is sensitive, willing to do good, and very likeable. All the characters were enjoyable to watch, and the plot moved along quickly.

Actor Freddie Highmore did a great job as the voice of Toby, the live boy, and Astro Boy, the robot. Donald Sutherland plays General Stone, Nathan Lane is Ham Egg, and Nicholas Cage is Dr. Tenma. Kristen Bell plays Cora. All of them were amazing as the voices of computer-generated characters.

This action and adventure movie was quite exciting. Although a bit sad at the beginning, viewers won’t be disappointed with the heroic ending. As in many great movies, there is the struggle between good and evil. These forces end up clashing together, but I'm not going to give away how the battle unfolds. It's more fun to see it yourself.

I think the movie will appeal to kids who like computer animation, as well as their parents. It has a positive message, so you can bring along kids of all ages. They’ll be entertained for the entire hour and a half. It has laughs, action, drama and suspense—something for everyone.

(For an interview with actor Freddie Highmore, the voice of Astro Boy, see Kid Reporter Matthew Spana's story, The Filming of Astro Boy. )

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