Hey gang, Valkor here. I'll admit, before going into “Alita: Battle Angel”, I didn't know no much about the manga or the anime series that the film is based. Even when Jame Cameron announced he'd be directing it so many moons ago, (and now it's Robert Rodriguez at the directorial helm), I still didn't look into it or think the film would eventually happen. But then the trailer dropped and we were flooded more details about the film, which eventually lead up to its release. And after watching the Alita: Battle Angel, I have to say that it's worth it. Because as it stands, the film is a thing of beauty!
Alita: Battle Angel is a journey of discovery as a discarded cyborg given the name “Alita” (Rosa Salazar), is bestowed new life by Dr. Ido (Christopher Waltz); not long ago, Ido lost his daughter, who was also wheelchair bound, in a desperate act that took her life. The body that Ido would have given to her, he ends up giving to Alita. Now, Alita has no memory of who she is but as the film progresses, those memories will start to come to light. Not only that but she also has some sweet fighting skills that will help her in the brutal matches of Motorball (which I love to call “Murder Ball” because... damn). But ultimately, it's her abilities that will help her unlock the truth about her past, find love, and also, what is her connection with the mysterious city of Zalem? For that, you'll have to take a theatrical journey to discover this and so much more.
Throughout this 122 minute journey, we see things through the big, beautiful eyes of Alita from the simplest joys of eating chocolate to finding love and then having it tragically taken away (tiny spoiler). And really there is so much more to take in and process that a second viewing would be in order. I know I'm good to go for a third outing.
The Good:
Alita: Battle Angel is the end result of when you combine a strong cast and crew, a well thought out story that respects the source material and tossing in pure eye-candy backdrops as well as character animation. Going in I had my doubts, and that was mainly from the trailer, which was less than appealing. And I'll admit, it took some getting used to those eyes. But the more and more I saw how the film was coming together, I made it a point to see it as soon as I could. And in the end, it did not disappoint. Once the film starts you're then instantly transported into this gritty yet stunning dystopian future as seen through the eyes of a wide-eyed cyborg. But the true beauty is watching the motion capture of Alita, played perfectly by Rosa Salazar. I loved seeing her awkwardness as she adjusted to her new body. But the real treat is seeing Alita play Motorball. And let me just say, I need more Motorball in my life because that shit was amazing, especially when she gets her new bod. The story itself was solid and very captivating. And performances all around shows how much love went into not just the casting of these marvelous characters, but also how much love they put in with their acting. Overall, Alita: Battle Angel is the perfect combination of great storytelling, stunning visuals, and tons of sweet, sweet action that'll keep you in your seats until the triumphant ending.
The Bad:
Alita's love interest with Hugo wasn't a big hit with me. Talking with friends about how his character develops in the manga and the anime and I was kind of wanting to see THAT version of Hugo – cool, but kind of a dick!
The Ugly:
N/A
I'm leaving a lot out of my review for Alita: Battle Angel. But that's with good intentions because words don't really convey much of what this film is all about - which in and of itself is a cinematic masterpiece! And it's best to experience it in a theatrical setting to get the most from it. I'm sure the home version will be an experience too. But for now, go see Battle Angel pronto! And if you've already seen it then you'd be doing yourself a favor watching again. I highly recommend it. So, out of TOV 5 stars, I'm giving Alita: Battle Angel a perfect 5!
