Astro Boy

One of the few advantages of having a robot child, as opposed to a human one, is that it can process the concept of divorce faster and with less emotional scarring.

Fortunately, the little boy in this computer-animated adventure doesn't have to worry about parental separation, because he's dead.

When his son Toby (Freddy Highmore) is accidentally killed by a military robot powered by malevolent red energy, Dr. Tenma (Nicholas Cage) re-creates him in a robot form, powered by benevolent blue energy.

But when the military becomes interested in his circuitry, Toby must hideout in the old city, where robots participant in gladiatorial games.

Based on the Japanese anime, Astro Boy falls far short of its Asian influence: the character designs are flawed, the voice acting is patchy and the story is unexciting.

What's more, uptight North American movie makers didn't even bother selling Astro Boy's used underwear in vending machines.