Dear Reader: Update, Movie Review Intelligence will
continue publishing this website through June (more...)
Search a Movie:
ASTRO BOYMovie Reviews
Animated tale about a robot boy, created by a brilliant scientist in the image of the son he lost, who becomes a superhero and simultaneously learns what it means to be human. Cast:Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Bill Nighy, Nathan LaneDirector:David BowersRelease Date:October 23, 2009DVD Release:March 16, 2010From:Summit EntertainmentRating:PGLength:1 hr 34 min
Astro Boy played to good not great reviews. • Joe Williams wrote in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Cobbled together from trusty old parts, 'Astro Boy' manages to stand on its own feet.... parents can enjoy this 'toon as much as their kids." • And Bill Goodykoontz wrote in the Arizona Republic, "...stands up just fine on its own, no previous knowledge necessary.... a lot of fun." More Reviews Below...
Astro Boy Positive Reviews (30 Reviews, reviews below)
Leah Rozen, People: MODERATE(cg) "...likable if predictable.... Plucky and apple-cheeked, the computer-animated Astro Boy has the plastic beatitude of a Jeff Koons sculpture."(See all of Leah Rozen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 111 words, 10/22/09
Richard Corliss, Time: GOOD "...has its charms. It's fun, encyclopedically derivative and pretty darned affecting.... The little robot has a strong, generous heart, and so does this movie."(See all of Richard Corliss's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 857 words, 10/23/09
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "There's a little too much lost-boys-and-girls mopiness, but when Astro becomes a robot gladiator, the movie turns happy demolition derby..."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 243 words, 10/23/09
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: MODERATE(cg) "...a shiny hodgepodge... it almost feels like there are too many movies competing simultaneously in what is essentially a pretty standard tale of good versus evil."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 533 words, 10/22/09
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "When young Toby is accidentally killed, his genius father brings him back to life as a human-looking robot in this clever, funny -- and at times touching -- family adventure."(See all of Thelma Adams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 39 words, 10/22/09
Claudia Puig, USA Today: MODERATE(cg) "Borrowing from 'Pinocchio,' 'The Incredibles,' 'Jimmy Neutron,' 'Iron Giant' and even a bit of 'WALL·E'... feels derivative but moderately entertaining..."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 371 words, 10/23/09
we have an app for when you're out and about
get our iPhone app... or get our mobile web app...
movie review intelligence
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (9 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: MODERATE "...designed to function on different levels and serve different audiences, but these multiple meanings and points of address have created a confusion of tone."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 730 words, 10/23/09
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: WEAK(cg) "David Bowers' retro-cool update on the titular icon looks so great, it may take a while to notice it's a clunky political parable wrapped in a tonally confused fairy tale."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 138 words, 10/23/09
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...contains less of its interesting story and more action and battle scenes than I would have preferred.... Still, 'Astro Boy' is better than most of its recent competitors..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 530 words, 10/22/09
Billy Heller, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a sweet and endearing movie.... What's nice about 'Astro Boy,' which clocks in at a just-right 95 minutes, is the little touches of humor sprinkled throughout."(See all of Billy Heller's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 406 words, 10/23/09
Frank Lovece, New York Newsday: MODERATE(cg) "...strictly for small fry. The fleshy, foamy CGI makes characters look like plush toys - giving scenes that should feel exhilarating all the impact of a soft landing."(See all of Frank Lovece's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 342 words, 10/23/09
Jennie Punter, Toronto Globe & Mail: MODERATE(cg) "...it should awaken nostalgia in parents of a certain vintage, who caught the often bizarre adventures of a rocket-powered superhero robot kid way back when."(See all of Jennie Punter's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 602 words, 10/23/09
Aaron Hillis, LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Corny but goodhearted.... tries hard not to annoy parents, with animation more fizzy than frantic and nerdy references to Asimov's law of robotics, Kant and 'Freaks'..."(See all of Aaron Hillis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 225 words, 10/22/09
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: MODERATE(cg) "...humanity is the real story at the heart of 'Astro Boy.' It will put some viewers in mind of yet another story with the same theme: 'Pinocchio.' "(See all of Michael O'Sullivan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 385 words, 10/23/09
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "The kid has guns in his butt. That's all I have to say.... Awesome. Truly. Do you need to know anything else?"(See all of Amy Biancolli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 566 words, 10/23/09
Nancy Churnin, Dallas Morning News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...another transformative tale that will leave your family with much to discuss and ponder in what is shaping up to be a golden era of family films."(See all of Nancy Churnin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 585 words, 10/23/09
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: MODERATE(cg) "...feels totally robotic.... There are tiny glints of humor and intelligence at work... But 'Astro Boy's' namesake lacks even an iota of soul."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 378 words, 10/23/09
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...delivers enough of the action movie goods to make your inner 8-year-old say 'wicked awesome' at least three or four times."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 603 words, 10/23/09
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: MODERATE(cg) "Lovely dollops of wit and warmth float through the movie... [but] the animation bar has been raised, and not just by Pixar. Poor little 'Astro Boy' hasn't a prayer of clearing it."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 404 words, 10/23/09
Marc Mohan, Portland Oregonian: GOOD(cg) "In addition to the slick but generic computer animation, it's also got an A-list voice cast: Nicolas Cage... Donald Sutherland..."(See all of Marc Mohan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 182 words, 10/23/09
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: VERY GOOD(cg) "Cobbled together from trusty old parts, 'Astro Boy' manages to stand on its own feet.... parents can enjoy this 'toon as much as their kids."(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 309 words, 10/23/09
Aaron Hillis, LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Corny but goodhearted.... tries hard not to annoy parents, with animation more fizzy than frantic and nerdy references to Asimov's law of robotics, Kant and 'Freaks'..."(See all of Aaron Hillis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 225 words, 10/22/09
Chris Faraone, Boston Phoenix: MODERATE(cg) "Serious Tezuka fans will likely appreciate the sharp multi-dimensional presentation, even as they resent Osamu's being pimped out for Obama."(See all of Chris Faraone's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 143 words, 10/22/09
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: MODERATE "...designed to function on different levels and serve different audiences, but these multiple meanings and points of address have created a confusion of tone."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 730 words, 10/23/09
Andrew Barker, Daily Variety: GOOD "...efficiency is the primary virtue of 'Astro Boy,' a well-oiled CG-animated superhero pic that makes up in competence and vitality what it lacks in originality."(See all of Andrew Barker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 788 words, 10/15/09
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: MODERATE "...designed to function on different levels and serve different audiences, but these multiple meanings and points of address have created a confusion of tone."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 730 words, 10/23/09
15.6 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Astro Boy's reviews are separated by an average 15.6 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Astro Boy (30 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Astro Boy's reviews cover 68.6% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 12,123 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 404 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Astro Boy Coverage, Volume & Length (30 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 8.8 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Astro Boy's reviews on average broke 8.8 hours before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Astro Boy's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Mobile Web App version 1.2 shows a list of all current movies and review information. You can click through to the cast, director, synopsis, release date and rating on page two, plus individual reviews on page three. The information is updated on a live/real-time basis. You can also search our database of films. Designed for when you're on the move and want the latest info, this app will work on any mobile web browser. From your mobile device -- only from a mobile device -- open our Mobile Web App here...
