I think I can add Astro Boy to my official list of fandoms (TM).

We did end up seeing the latest movie incarnation last night. It was actually a nice round of fun. I do agree with the other criticisms that Donald Sutherland's performance fell pretty flat, in that adult-trying-too-hard-to-be-relevant-to-kids sort of way, but the other guys were pretty fine, even if that made Dr. Elefun outrageously British. (And I'm sorry, he'll always been Ochanimizu-hakase to me.) When I heard some of the voice acting crit I went in expecting something along the lines of the Escaflowne dub, though, so my expectations might have been lowered.

In all, it did a competent job of following what I have managed to figure out is the basic Astro Boy sort of mythology. (My only other reference is the 1980's Astro Boy, though. I'm actually considering getting the 2003 animated series now too.) It did have an overlay of pretty stock Hollywood Kid Movie Hero's Journey Plot in there, but it still managed to capture that undertone of alienation and trying to fit in that runs through the anime. Parts are, in fact, about as dark as the series itself got, which is kind of a feat in a US kid's movie. (Though between this and Where the Wild Thing Are I'm kind of seeing a revival of unflinching storytelling reminiscent of the kid's movies of the 1980's-1990's before everything suddenly got sanitized.) Heck, they even managed to do the entire backstory on screen which if you know Astro Boy's origin story might raise your eyebrows.

I was even happy since it did manage to feature one of my two favorite characters after all-- Daddy Mustache got about a zillion minor cameos (they decided to translate him as Mustacio-- or however you spell that). Uran wasn't in it, but I didn't expect her to be as she was a later addition to the anime's cast, at least in the 80's Astro Boy.

It is sad, though, that of most of the stuff out right now or that I want to see in the near future, more of it is PG-G level than not. (Though I totes want to see Avatar now.)

This is also an embedding test for DW.. but damn that's beautiful.

Here's the explanation for what's going on, if you're in to that sort of thing.

Today was a good day. We got lunch at work. :D

My brother and I have worked out our Mother's Day thing. It was going to be a surprise, but we eventually had to spill since our father pointed out that we'd have to be all NO :| otherwise.

Saturday we're going to see Star Trek and then get some dinner.

From everything I've heard, it's going to be freaking awesome and that the storyline will be left open for more movies.

And then after work, The Girl (lostangelssong.. yup, she finally got her DW account set up) came up and we ate Five Guys. She managed to lure me out of the house despite low social tokens because we went to Best Buy and got THIS. There were terrible amounts of fansquee. As in, actual literal squeeing on the way home again to eat delicious burgers and watch old scifi. Even the Obligatory Cat's usual "I can haz cheezburger?" routine was not a hindrance to the squee.

I can't wait until season 2 is released. Then I'll have 'em all.

On the other hand, I realized I have a disturbing lack of Trek and EFC icons. This must be remedied.