Below are Mini Reviews from Cineman Syndicate for two films opening on October 23, 2009.

ASTRO BOY. The cult favorite Japanese cartoon from the 1960s has been transformed for mainstream American audiences into a creepy mechanized minstrel show that gestures at a "robots are people too" theme while failing itself to treat them as such. A genius scientist (the voice of Nicolas Cage) builds a robot boy (voiced by Highmore) to replace his lost son, inexplicably giving him bizarre robotic accoutrements such as jet-powered feet and super-strength, and thereby creating his own reason to reject the "kid" for not being human. Meanwhile, sentient robots that hate their jobs are sent to the android gladiatorial combat ring. It's alternately ick-inducing and drearily dull. (PG) BORING ANIMATED ADVENTURE. Director - David Bowers ; Lead - Freddie Highmore; Running Time - 94 minutes. (Capsule review by MaryAnn Johanson.)

CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT. Twilight for the male tweener crowd, this adaptation of Darren Shan's series of teen-lit novels proves a dreary coming-of-age saga about a goody-two-shoes (Chris Massoglia) who, in order to save his best friend from a deadly spider bite, agrees to become the half-vampire sidekick to an undead count (John C. Reilly) working at the titular carnival freak show. Sub-par special effects, lifeless performances, and a story that lazily borrows bits and pieces of its mythology from Harry Potter all conspire to turn the proceedings leaden. Even Reilly, a seemingly ideal fit for his outsized bloodsucker character, appears downright bored. (PG-13) BORING FANTASY-DRAMA. Director - Paul Weitz; Lead - John C. Reilly;  Running Time - 108 minutes. (Capsule review by Nick Schager.)

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