Opinions of the CGI 09 Movie

[Alittleacorn]

just quickly, Jeffbert Toby and Astro are 13, i got the offical artbook from the Japanese box set of the movie (which i really gotta post picture of sometime) and it noted Astro was 13, so likewise Toby is 13. XD Even mentioned in a David Bowers interview he'd made Astro that age because that's when you're becoming your own person and not just a kid anymore.

I didn't notice it first time round but once I knew the series, I laughed when they'd made it look like Hamegg was this tall man like he was in the series by wearing that long coat, and then he takes off and is a short tubby man. I can guess they made him shorter is because most the cast around him are kids so he needs to be at that level to interact and maybe to have him come off more friendly. That could be why Elefun was made shorter too, as for his nose, that was supposed to be bigger but when animating they realised the mouth got hidden by the nose so to have emotions more clear they changed it.

And I gotta agree, I would've liked Kenichi and the gang in there. Zane, Widget and Sludge looked too side character looking, Grace was the most interesting orphan, I would've liked it instead if she'd been in the group along with that tubby blond kid (named Sam in the novel)

I do wonder though if making Toby so trouble making was such a good idea. I mean he was a sweetheart in the 2003 and 1880 anime. But since he did drive that car crazy in the B&W that makes sense.

Eck I gotta go MATHS! O.O

[Androids101]

Astro is anime while the others are CGI, I laughed he was like a standout

[Astronomical girl]

I agree to all stated hmy:

[Fairlane12]

the 2003 and 1880 anime. But since he did drive that car crazy in the B&W that makes sense.

Eck I gotta go MATHS! O.O

Don't you mean 1980?,Astro is not 200 years old

[Astronomical girl]

we'd wish we was though

[Alittleacorn]

Ah! omg yes I meant 1980. Sorry I was rushing out for my class ^_^;

And Androids101 you're right he is a stand out. I mean did anybody notice Astro's eyes and head are huge compared to everybody else. He's got a football head and when you see him from the side he's got this flat face. XD

[Astronomical girl]

but at least he's cute ;p

[Alittleacorn]

Yeah lol.

Now I have a question, what makes Astro westernized in the film?

[dannavy85]

I have to agree with the poor advertising campaign and the poor timing of events like the Swine Flu outbreak that kept theater numbers in the U.S. low.

There was the President Stone angle that I didn't like. I think a President with a behind the back scheming military chief would have worked. We saw how Skunk was used in the Metropolis AMV, could have worked well in the 09 production.

And Toby's death? Way lacking in emotional content, should have kept the car crash angle.

Then there's the arm cannons. Traditionally Astro didn't need brute force weapons to defeat opponants, he used his whits. I guess the arm cannon thing was "needed" to "sex em up" in the video games arms race.

Cora? Absolutely cute.

Zane? Absolutely annoying.

Doctor Elifun? Way too short.

The blue core/red core?....sigh.

All in all the movie sits about middle ground...not a great success but not exactly a total flop.

[Fauna]

My brother and I went to it on opening night, and it took me until after the DVD release to finally realize, "No, that movie wasn't as good as I wanted it to be."

Like Dannavy mentioned, there was way too much politics in it. Stone was a charicature of a stereotypical Republican, which really alienated a huge chunk of the viewers. Toby should have had the all-traditional car crash, but his death was altered to include the coloured cores and the Peacekeeper robot.

And really, if they wanted some sort of menacing villain who doesn't easily die, why couldn't they go with someone classic like Skunk? Tezuka has so many characters that it's unnecessary to make more; you can just find one with the personality you need and alter their appearance a little.