November 1, 2009
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Astro Boy
Before I went into the cinema, I had reservation. I feared that too many american elements would be introduced into the movie so that it turned out to be another ideologically-black-and-white, Disney-like cartoon. Astro Boy should be 100% east asian! There should be irony of human life as one of the species on this planet. There should be advocation of peace, harmony and karma in the story.
When I walked out of the theatre, I was contained. The story was after all in an east-asian style. This cartoon is originated by Japanese, but invested by Chinese and drawn by Hongkongers. Japanese manga comic strips are full of irony of the present living attitudes of humans. You may not totally agree with some of the radical advocation. But you cannot deny that many Japanese comic strips do bring out much reflection on humanity. This is the power of Japanese manga comics.
The film has been reinventured with CG and most of the ideologies of East Asian have been conserved. It may not be a blockbuster in the US or the West. East Asian living styles may be very attractive and appealing to many westerners but not many westerners can really appreciate the karmic elements of East Asian thinking. (Like Sharon Stones, “I think it’s Karma” during Sichuan Earthquake only displays to us how deep her understanding of karma was. To her, punishment by external force was karma. SHALLOW Stones! How could she claim herself a follower of Buddhism?) We do not categorise things or people by karma. If so, it is only a disgusting caste system. We get access to self-reflection through karma. The production of Astro Boy is a karma. But once Astro Boy has been made, there must be a destiny for him. This is life.
Derek, Sandra and I all find that the story of Astro Boy is surprisingly good. But at the same time we agree that not many people (on this planet) know how to appreciate the story. I have already accepted that this is karma and this is life.
