Astro Boy

Astro Boy has been around for decades. The series started off as a black and white cartoon and has had many different incarnations over the years. I was excited to hear Astro Boy was being made into a CGI movie.  I never got the opportunity to watch it until now.

The movie gives background on the character that I never knew before. Astro Boy comes from a floating island in the sky of technological automated wonders called Metro City. The human inhabitants are serviced by robotic helpers that do every conceivable chore. The creator of Astro Boy, Dr. Tenma (voiced by Nicolas Cage) whose son Toby is vaporized by a run-away "Peacekeeper" robot, decides to create a robot duplicate to replace him. 

He created the robot so that he would be powerful enough to prevent harm from ever befalling him again. This includes outfitting him with rocket boots and arms that transform into powerful blaster cannons. Dr. Tenma successfully brings "Toby" back to life, infused with all the memories of his late son. 

The robot "Toby" even bears a striking resemblance to his deceased son. Tenma bonds with the robot and schools him from home. Everything seems wonderful for a time until Tenma realizes that this robot is not his son--but merely a machine--and rejects him.  

Blaster cannons activated

Tunneling thru the ground was trademark tactic in the cartoon.

After being hunted down so he can be deactivated, Toby ends up getting blown off the floating island and wakes up in scrap heap of robot parts on the surface below. The surface has become a wasteland of refuse cast off from the island above.  There is a civilization of humans and robots existing under less hospitable conditions on the surface as well. It is here that Toby gets the name Astro as he continues his search for acceptance. 

Astro on the surface pretending not to be a robot.

Flying high above Metro City

The voice cast also includes notable actors such as, Kristen Bell, Charlize Theron, Samuel L. Jackson, Nathan Lane, Freddie Highmore and Donald Sutherland.

Astro Boy vs. Peacekeeper

The special effects, the CGI and the battles are nothing short of amazing. Especially the final battle at the end between Astro Boy and the gigantic "Peacekeeper" robot. 

Where the movie falters is its depiction of Astro Boy. To satisfy the delicate sensibilities of the American audience, they decided to give Astro Boy a full set of clothes.  Normally he appears in just a pair of speedos.

Astro Boy from the cartoon series.

Seriously, its just a robot. There's no need for modesty. Fortunately at the end, we get to see Astro Boy in his true form. I think its a great movie for younger audiences but probably not as captivating for an older one. Personally I'd like to have seen a lot more action, but for an origin movie it wasn't bad. For taking me back to my childhood and the spectacular effects, I'll give Astro Boy 3.5 fingers out of 5.

Skyline

Skyline is a theatrical release about a horrific alien invasion in which mankind has utterly no hope of surviving. The trailers seemed spectacular and the special effects top notch with plumes of blue energy plummeting to the Earth heralding the invasion. Then reality sets in.

 

 
I was fortunate to see Skyline at no cost because I don't think the movie is worth paying for. I'm with the reviewers that saw Skyline and thought it should have been a Syfy Channel Original Movie. Yes, the special-effects are better than what you'd see in a made-for-TV production, but the story is exactly what I'd expect from one.

This can't be happening!

Skyline uses a storytelling technique that is a strong indication of a weak story and one that I personally dislike. It starts out in the midst of the alien invasion and then several minutes into the gripping beginning we get a sub-title that says 15 Hours Earlier! (The TV series The Event suddenly came to mind). I suppose its an attempt to help the audience connect with the characters, but at that point, in my opinion, the movie really isn't worth watching. 

Sadly, Skyline features a cast of TV actors which solidifies the argument this should have been a made-for-TV movie. The characters aren't the least bit interesting or even worth delving into their backgrounds which thankfully we're not given much of.

The film stars Eric Balfour (Haven, 24 and Six Feet Under) as Jarrod, Donald Faison (Scrubs) as Terry, Scottie Thompson (Trauma) as Elaine and Brittany Daniel (Kelly Pitts from The Game) as Candice. I want to single out Brittany Daniel's character for a moment. No offense Brittany. I love you as an actress but we really need to see more range. The character of Candice was no different from the character she plays on The Game. A woman who gets by on her gorgeous looks to land a man with money and then the relationship goes sour. They might as well have called her Kelly.

Kelly Pitts, is that you?

I haven't had to do this in a while, but why is this black man in this film?

This "brainless" (and I do mean that literally) affair gets even more bizarre when half of the city is laid waste by the alien invaders and hundreds of people are seen being sucked up into the giant mother ship. Yet, during all this mayhem, the building the main characters inhabit, still has electricity, running water and elevator service. It seemed almost an after-thought that the electricity and water was finally cut off near the conclusion of the film. 

Skyline instills a sliver of hope with a preemptive Air Force strike that appears to destroy the mother ship, only to have it resurrect itself minutes later. The aliens are depicted as a mix of insectoid, squid-like creatures (I was reminded of Starship Troopers) and machine. To make the storyline even more absurd, there is another unwelcome plot twist at work where Jarrod becomes some sort of alien-hybrid with super powers.

Don't look into the light!

If you're looking for an alien invasion movie there are much better ones out there, such as Cloverfield (if you can stand the hand-held camera perspective). This one just doesn't make the grade.  Out of 5 fingers I'm giving Skyline 1.5.

Tron Legacy

Tron Legacy is an amazing sequel to the original film filled with dazzling technological special effects and jaw dropping action sequences. Although the movie starts out in 1989, it is important to note that original Tron was released in 1982. Out of all the high tech action and pyrotechnic displays, perhaps the most notable and incredible special effect, is the ability to make Jeff Bridges look the same age he was when the original movie came out. 

Jeff Bridges as the ageless Clu

In fact, the movie goes out of its way to recapture the look and feel of the 1980s with low-res faded flashbacks, a booming techno music score and some 80s lingo. It has been many, many years since I saw the original Tron and the sequel does its best through a series of flashbacks to fill in all the gaps. 

Jeff Bridges as the aged Kevin Flynn

In addition to Jeff Bridges as both a young (Clu) and older version (Kevin Flynn), Tron Legacy also stars Garrett Hedlund as Sam Flynn, Olivia Wilde (the enigmatic 13 from House M.D. who up and disappeared off the show. It's good to see what she's been up to.) as Quorra and Bruce Boxleitner (Babylon 5) reprising his role as Alan Bradley / Tron. 

Olivia Wilde as Quorra

For 21 years, Kevin Flynn has been trapped in a digital universe, unable to return home due to his own creation, Clu. He left behind his young son Sam who for years thought he had been abandoned. Now in his mid-20s and a lone rebel who refuses to take up his father's mantle, he balks at the idea to take control of the Encom empire his father left behind. Sam's mentor and surrogate father figure Alan Bradley comes to his apartment with a message that he received a page from a number at his father's old arcade. It here that Sam discovers a secret lab hidden beneath the arcade.  Unexpectedly digitized by initiating a series of commands on his father computer, he ends up in the digital world where the adventure begins. 

Garrett Hedlund as Sam Flynn

Although there are some slow moments in the movie when the action hits pause and teters on the brink of boredom, for the most part, Tron Legacy is a roller coaster ride. It is especially fulfilling at the end when the elder Flynn shows the true extent of his abilities. What was missing for me was having Sam Flynn be some sort of prodigy where he could manipulate the digital world like his father and perhaps surpass him in that regard. At best he was able to pull off death-defying stunts based on his own misadventures on Earth.  

The Light Cycle match with contemporary CGI tech was astounding.  I marveled at the liquid-like crystalline aspect of the digital life forms. I left the theater thoroughly entertained and I definitely recommend Tron Legacy. Out of 5 fingers I give it 4.5.

Universal Soldier: Regeneration

The original Universal Soldier is back in this straight to DVD release. I found Universal Soldier: Regeneration to be a sleeper movie loaded with brain-blowing out action, devastating gun-fights, ear-splitting explosions, and inhuman hand-to-hand combat. Taking place years after the original movie, Jean-Claude Van Damme reprises his role as Luc Deveraux. An aged and seemingly impotent, decommissioned "Uni-Sol" who's undergone years of therapy and drug treatments, to get him back in touch with his "feelings" so he can live a normal life.

Unfortunately, nothing ever goes as planned. Enter a terrorist group with their own next-generation Uni-Sol, named NGU (Andrei Arlovski). Which is short for (you guessed it) Next Generation Uni-sol. They threaten the world with nuclear catastrophe by seizing a crippled Chernobyl nuclear reactor and plan to unleash a lethal ravaging radioactive cloud. To thicken the plot, they also kidnap the Russian prime minister's son and daughter and hold them hostage. 

Before: Woe is me.

After: Who do I kill?

The only hope is to reactivate Luc Deveraux. Fortunately his original programming was so deep and ingrained that it doesn't take long to bring him back to his former fearsome self. Infused with all manner of drugs and injections, he is rearmed and reprogrammed. 

Andrew Scott

NGU

Deveraux must not only take on his old nemesis Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren) from the original Universal Soldier but also NGU. The thing that really stands out in this film is the music score when the fighting takes place. African drums rise to an inevitable crescendo heightening the action in an adrenaline pumping way.

Someone is about to die.

My recollection of the original Universal Soldier is a bit hazy, but this movie stands on it's own without having to go back to the 1992 movie to refresh your memory. Universal Soldier: Regeneration isn't a low-budget offering. The film was released theatrically in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, but not in the United States, which it should have been. As an action movie that delivers, I'm giving Universal Soldier: Regeneration 4 out of 5 fingers.

Young Justice

Young Justice is a new superhero animated series set to premiere on Cartoon Network in January 2011. To wet your appetite a one-hour premiere movie was shown on the aforementioned channel November 26th. My reaction to the upcoming series is a bit mixed. To begin with the Young Justice core group consists of  the "side-kicks" of prominent DC Comics characters:  Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Speedy. Sounds an awful lot like the Teen Titans. But the team differs with the addition of Superboy (a clone of Superman), Miss Martian and Artemis.

 

It also differs in that its not silly like Teen Titans was. There is humor, but it doesn't get in the way of the story or the action. It seems like the intended audience for this series is more mature.

Here is were things get weird when it comes to the characters. Aqualad is now black with blond hair and gills in his neck. After all the years Aqualad has existed as a DC character, why do they feel the need to change the race and appearance of the character? With the shameful lack of black characters in the DC Universe I think it would have been more appropriate to create a new black superhero. But this aside, Aqualad is now a much more formidable character with some sort of contraption on his back that allows him to focus his hard water powers. Unexplained, is how this contraption also generates electricity that can be used as a weapon. An origin story is really needed here.

Miss Martian is introduced at the end of the movie as the cousin of the Martian Manhunter. I've always known Jonn Jonzz to be the last surviving Martian. How is it that he now has a cousin?

  

Artemis? Never heard of her. She doesn't appear in the movie, but is featured in the promos. Apparently she'll be replacing Speedy in this series. I understand there is a comic book called Young Justice that I've never read.  Perhaps the answers to many of my questions are there. 

But throwing continuity out the window aside, the premiere movie wasn't bad.  The story involves Project Cadmus a secret facility 52 floors below street level where secret and questionable genetic research is done. Here is where the clone of Superman is discovered along with a host of other genetic monstrosities. There is chilling foreshadowing of an evil force or group called The Light which is sure to play a recurring role in upcoming episodes. I'm hopeful that the questions I have about the series and the characters will be answered in subsequent stories.  I think it's worth giving Young Justice a shot.  For the premiere I'm giving it 3 fingers out of 5.

Superman/Shazam--The Return Of Black Adam

I read a couple of reviews on Superman/Shazam--The Return Of Black Adam. Most were glowing and endorsing a live-action Shazam movie based on the portrayal of Captain Marvel in this 23 minute animated feature. While I'm all in favor of seeing a live-action Captain Marvel movie, I was unimpressed with this straight to DVD feature for 4 reasons. 

1. For an origin story it fell far short of explaining Captain Marvel's abilities.  As much as I don't like superhero origin stories because they often become too long, drawn out and ultimately boring, there are certain things that just shouldn't be left out in the telling of Captain Marvel's origin. For example it is important to know what the wizard's name S.H.A.Z.A.M. actually stands for.  Having Captain Marvel (upon first transformation) saying that he's fast, strong and can fly just doesn't cut it. It should also be made just a bit clearer who the seemingly homeless "green-eyed" black man is in this animated adventure. I was was even thrown off by his green eyes until I saw him transform into his tiger form. It isn't often that this character is shown outside of comic books. Allow me to properly introduce Mr. Talky Tawny, talking tiger and shape-shifter who works for the wizard Shazam.

Mr. Talky Tawny I presume...

So to correct this glaring over-sight in the film, here is the meaning of SHAZAM and the nature of Captain Marvel's powers:

In times of need, call on me...

S - Solomon  (wisdom) As Captain Marvel, Billy has instant access to a vast amount of scholarly knowledge, including most known languages and sciences. The wisdom of Solomon also provides him with counsel and advice in times of need. In early Captain Marvel stories, Solomon's power also gave Marvel the ability to hypnotize people. Captain Marvel has exceptional photographic recall and mental acuity allowing him to read and decipher hieroglyphics, recall everything he has ever learned and solve long mathematical equations. Instantaneously, he can make intuitive guesses based on limited data; to the point his guesses are almost always correct; also he has a great understanding of divine phenomenon in the mortal world. Captain Marvel possesses an uncanny awareness of his circumstances that allows him to turn disadvantages into advantages. Through sheer power and magic he can hypnotize people for a length of time (undetermined). Only those of great willpower can overcome this ability. He can speak every language known to humans as well as ancient or dead languages and is able to understand aliens.

H - Hercules (strength) Hercules' power grants Captain Marvel immense superhuman strength, making him one of DC Comics' most physically powerful characters; he is able to easily bend steel, punch through walls, and lift massive objects, (including whole continents like South America). In the comics, this strength has evolved in parallel to that of Superman.

A - Atlas (stamina) Using Atlas' stamina, Captain Marvel can withstand and survive most types of extreme physical assaults, and heal from them. Additionally, he does not need to eat, sleep, or breathe and can survive unaided in space when in Captain Marvel form.

Z - Zeus (power) Zeus' power, besides fueling the magic thunderbolt that transforms Captain Marvel, also enhances Marvel's other physical and mental abilities, and grants him resistance against all magic spells and attacks. Marvel can use the lightning bolt as a weapon by dodging it and allowing it to strike an opponent or target. The magic lightning has several uses, such as creating apparatus, restoring damage done to Marvel, and acting as fuel for magic spells. It can also turn other Marvels back by striking them. It aids inter-dimensional travel at the Rock of Eternity.

A - Achilles (courage) This aspect gives Captain Marvel the courage of Achilles. It also aids Captain Marvel's mental fortitude against most mental attacks.

M - Mercury (speed) By channeling Mercury's speed, Captain Marvel can move at superhuman speeds and fly. This also gives Marvel the ability to fly to the Rock of Eternity by flying faster than the speed of light.

While this level of detail isn't needed in the film, mentioning the Gods and what traits Captain Marvel gets from them would have been appreciated.

They're Seven Deadly Sins, not Enemies!

2. The Seven Deadly Enemies of Man: Pride, Envy, Greed, Hatred, Selfishness, Laziness and Injustice.  When did it become a "sin" to call them what they really are: The Seven Deadly Sins of Man? In the comics they were always called sins. I've seen several animated versions of Captain Marvel where "sin" has been replaced by "enemy". In this version the sin Sloth was even replaced by Laziness. I'm not sure what the reasoning is in watering down the critical part of the Captain Marvel mythos. Kids can't pick up a dictionary and learn the meaning of sloth? Is it considered too religious to mention the word sin? I've always applauded animated movies for staying true to their source material. I'm not sure what happened here.

3. This is the first version of Black Adam I've ever seen where he was able to cast magic lightning bolts and use them as weapons. Black Adam has always had the same abilities as Captain Marvel. This is something he shouldn't be able to do.

Somebody got their *beep* whipped

4. This story has been told before as recently as last year on Cartoon Network. Batman: The Brave and The Bold, season 2 episode 10--The Power of Shazam! Again Black Adam finds his way back to Earth after being banished for 5,000 years. The plot line is slightly different, Billy Batson already has the ability to transform into Captain Marvel and Dr. Thaddeus Savannah is the mastermind behind drawing Black Adam back to Earth. Sloth is named as a Deadly "Enemy" of Man as it should be, instead of laziness. Similar in both stories, Black Adam has remained in his super-human form for 5,000 years and when he speaks the wizard's name and transforms back to his mortal form of Teth Adam...well, you'll have to see for yourself.

Aside from these major things and a little bit of predictability with the magic lightning, the fight scenes (which comprise most of this 23 minute feature) are quite good. If you're wondering why this adventure was only 23 minutes, there are several other mini-features on the DVD as well, The Spectre and Green Arrow, which sadly my free viewing privileges did not include.

Do I recommend that you watch Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam? Surprisingly yes, but only if you're looking for a mindless action-packed battle and are willing to overlook all the other flaws and omissions. Out of 5 fingers I rate this feature 2.