Summit Entertainment has set March 16 as the release date for 'Astro Boy', the film adaptation of the classic manga and anime created in 1951 by the legendary artist Osamu Tezuka. Astro Boy (voiced by Freddie Highmore) is a young robot with incredible powers, created by a brilliant scientist named Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage), who embarks on a journey in search of acceptance.
Too bad The Astro Boy cartoons haven't been aired on TV lately or this movie could have made some serious bucks, but kids don't know who Astro Boy is.
All I can say is GO GO GO ASTRO BOY!!!!
Unfortunately that WAS the problem (producers wanted to cash in on "this new anime thing" and gave us movies of Speed Racer, Kimba and Astro Boy that -they- remembered and kids didn't)--Also, we'd gotten too cynical about "other people"'s CGI, especially when they weren't in 3-D.
That said, it's a suprisingly cuter movie than it looks--Imagine "Robots"'s design with "Meet the Robinson"'s cuddliness. (And to answer Pete's question, it's cute in the way "Meatballs" WASN'T...)
I'm rarely as hyped to see bonus features as I am now. Can't wait to see the new animation and delete scenes. Wonder what the featurettes are? And I'm not surprised there's no commentary, but I would have really liked one. I know David Bowers liked the original manga most out of the iterations of Astro Boy and it'd have been nice to hear his opinions on it and how it affected the way he directed the picture.
i hope they talk about how they ran out of $ and almost shut down the movie =P. then re-hired some of hte animators back. as is often the case, the behind the scenes story is often more dramatic than the film they are trying to make =P
To expand on how a commentary could look-- "And this is the part where people say we ripped off A.I... When it's A.I. that ripped off Astro Boy." XD
Also I guess I know what the featurettes are, here are the other features on the upcoming Japanese release.
Virtual tour "Welcome to Metro City" with Freddie Highmore
Voice cast interview
"Let's be ATOM!" (probably Japanese exclusive)
Anecdote about remaking characters
I will get this with me being a fan of the Astro Boy anime but I don't know if I will right away because Gunslinger Girl seasons 1 and 2 come out the same day and don't know how much money i'll get for my birthday(which is just around the same time).
i saw some of this online and was very impressed I will be buying it. I do that alot look at films im not sure about and if I like what I see I turn it off an go to the theatre or wait to buy or rent it.
It's an American movie with animation from Imagi in Hong Kong.
And it really isn't bad. It had many good reviews, and the bad reviews don't dismiss it completely. Unfortunately it has a somewhat dull second act with failed comedy relief, but the action and drama are well executed. One of the best scores of the year as well if you ask me.
Summit Entertainment has set March 16 as the release date for '
(And to answer Pete's question, it's cute in the way "Meatballs" WASN'T...) 
(Nic Cage especially)