“Alita: Battle Angel” is the newest film from director Robert Rodriguez (“Sin City: A Dame to Kill For”) and is without question his most ambitious film yet. Not only does this feature carry a staggering $170 million budget, but it is also an adaptation of a Japanese manga, a genre that does not fare well in Western markets. Regardless, the film’s source material does have its fair share of passionate fans. “Alita: Battle Angel” would never have been made if not for the determination of James Cameron (“Avatar”). After being introduced to the manga, “Gunnm” (or “Battle Angel Alita” in the West), by fellow filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water”), Cameron became enamored with the manga’s concept and spent decades trying to make “Alita” come to fruition. After Cameron became engulfed in development for his “Avatar” sequels, Cameron passed the reins to Rodriguez, and the results are nothing short of exciting.
In the distant future, society has split after a catastrophic war ravages the Earth. The rich and powerful live on the floating city of Zalem while the lower classes fight for survival in the broken metropolis of Iron City. It is a setting that sounds cliché, but the environments of Iron City are absolutely mesmerizing and showcase a living, breathing world that feels distinct and lived in. Unlike the stock cyberpunk city found in 2017’s “Ghost in the Shell,” Iron City has a personality and pulse that makes everything feel energetic and organic.
Our main protagonist is the female cyborg Alita (Rosa Salazar, “Bird Box”). After being found in a junkyard by Dr. Dyson Ido (Christoph Waltz, “Downsizing”), our mechanic heroine is rebuilt but is unable to recollect her past life. Alita is a great character. She is curious, strong and kind but also a fierce warrior who is prone to many mistakes. She is the kind of heroine audience’s want to root for during the 122-minute runtime. She is the heart and soul of the movie.
The rest of the impressive cast leaves much to be desired. Alita’s love interest, Hugo (Keean Johnson, “Heritage Falls”), feels like a wasted character, and his chemistry with our metal maiden is not only rushed but also just not believable. Academy Award winners Mahershala Ali (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”) and Jennifer Connelly (“Only the Brave”) are also underutilized as the film’s antagonists. Their motivations are acceptable, but they appear more like pawns in a game than actual threats toward our gang of heroes.
The impressiveness of the visuals and action sequences found in “Alita: Battle Angel” cannot be overstated. This is one of the best-looking films in recent memory. Cybernetic enhancements emit illustrious sheens, suits of armor gleam with bursts of electricity, and a sports stadium explodes with the radiance of shimmering lights. Action scenes are visceral and well choreographed with the collision of bullets and fists carrying certain degrees of impact and rawness.
Enjoyment of “Alita: Battle Angel” will come down to this one question: Does one value story over action or action over story? The film’s strengths lie in its title character, insane visuals and white-knuckle action sequences. Everything else is either OK or vastly underwhelming. Needless to say, “Alita: Battle Angel” is pure fun, and if you hunger for something different from the standard Marvel superhero fare, this cyborg romp may be for you.
Image from 20th Century Fox UK via YouTube
