Movie reel

Astro Boy

Half a century after Astro Boy first popped up in Japan, the manga cartoon character with special powers is set to take Hollywood by storm on his big-screen debut as he embarks on a journey in search of acceptance. Astro Boy makes good use of his X-ray vision, lightening speed and the ability to fly (courtesy of creator Dr Tenma) during his adventures as he encounters a range of colorful characters and experiences the gamut of human emotions to help him transcend his robotic identity. When he finally returns to his hometown Metro City, however, he soon learns that his family and friends are in danger and is called upon to save the day.

Created by Osamu Tezuka in 1952, Astro Boy became an instant star due to his unique charisma and courage. The robot has since appeared in several television animation series and has been repeatedly featured in advertising campaigns selling toys, clothes and other products. The first foreign cartoon imported by China, Astro Boy is popular among Chinese audiences of all ages.

Voiceovers for the new movie are provided by, among others, Freddie Highmore (Astro Boy) and Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage (Dr Tenma).

Other films now screening include:

Stubborn Radish

An illegal fundraising plot leads to trouble for the Luo family. This causes the man behind the fraudulent actions to resort to creative measures to save his family. Starring comedian Huang Bo and actress Huang Yi.

Qiu Xi

Sun Zhou's latest spy movie takes place in southern Guangzhou before the country's liberation by the Communist Party in 1949. A young woman named Qiu Xi (Jiang Yiyan) is a servant to Yan Haiqing (Guo Xiaodong), a secret communist agent who works for the ruling nationalist regime. But Qiu loves a man who is trying to keep the country under Kuomintang rule.

Scandal Makers

This family comedy by rookie Korean filmmaker Kang Hyoung-chul reveals the hilarious trials and tribulations of Hyun-Su (Cha Tae-Hyun), a former television actor-turned-popular disc jockey. His enviable life as a bachelor is turned upside down when he learns he is a grandfather after a young lady (Park Bo-Young) claiming to be his daughter brings her son (Wang Seok-Hyun) to Hyun-su's attention.

(China Daily 10/24/2009 page14)