Alita is special, she just does not know it. On the other hand, 20th Century Fox, the studio behind Alita: Battle Angel, is keenly aware that its latest effort is something special as it has been masterfully marketing it for months now. The film, from director Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Desperado) and producer James Cameron (Titanic, The Terminator, Avatar), is based on the wildly popular graphic novel series entitled Gunnm.
It follows the titular character, who is a teenage cyborg, as she is resuscitated by Dr. Dyson Ido. Alita does not remember a thing about her life, her past… nada. One thing is apparent and pretty darn quickly too—she is a fierce fighter and one who does not shy away from a battle when it comes to helping those who are in the right fend off folks who are firmly in the wrong.
Rosa Salazar (The Maze Runner movies) dazzles as Alita. Her doe-eyed innocence is played as a stark contrast to the entity that is her as vastly skilled weapon. What is so mesmerizing about her performance as well is the fact that she is our eyes and ears heading into this dark, dank world that takes place hundreds of years from now. As she has events that trigger memories, the audience is clued into an education about this world that Rodriguez and Cameron have thankfully unleashed on us all. It is a universe that is deeply layered and riddled with things that has us wanting to learn more about this world. Alita and audience are kindred spirits in that aspect. Because of Salazar’s titanic talents, the history, politics and business of the day is slowly but surely revealed. It is no utopia, but it’s not dystopia either.
Christoph Waltz gives us lusciously layered turn as Dr. Ido. He has a whole backstory that explains much about his affinity for his creation. Ido is an expert in all things cyborg, robotics and of course—and most importantly—human anatomy and psychology. Alita becomes like a daughter to her and as such, his paternal instincts wants to protect her from the big, dark world out there. Given that after The Fall—some mysteriously alluded to war that has left those on the ground of Earth living like rats or even better, ants in an anthill—much of the landscape of the earth was decimated. Cities that sit in the sky over grounded locales is something all who live down on earth aspire to relocate to.
Soon after the story commences, Alita meets Hugo (Keean Johnson)—a dashingly handsome and world-weary teen and there is an immediate attraction that grounds this epically produced science fiction film in the longing that is teen romance. So many have for so long done things for love, as a storytelling tool, it is a priceless means for raising the stakes and explaining why characters do what they do. The chemistry between Alita and Hugo is electric and their relationship will provide the former with an emotive driving force beyond her innate desire to see evil and seek to crush it.
Oscar winner (and currently nominee for Green Book) Mahershala Ali is our antagonist. His character is complicated. On one hand, he is the owner of a viciously violent and furiously fast sport called Motor Ball—and therefore one of the most influential and powerful people in Iron City. Yet, on the other hand, Ali’s Vector is a political and heavy-handed connection to the sole remaining city in the air that lies above Iron City. Ali is having a moment. The guy is everywhere. Just as he basks in the glow of being an Oscar nominee once again (winning the last time!), the nominee is also permeating TV screens with the highly anticipated return of True Detective. His talents seem to know no bounds and witnessing him embrace evil for his role that is integral to the rich story arc of Alita: Battle Angel is a lesson in nuanced villainy. There is much more there than meets the eye (pun intended—you’ll get it once you experience the film!).
Rodriguez must have felt like a kid in a candy store while making his latest. The tandem of Cameron and Rodriguez has resulted in some serious movie magic that feels as fresh, original and even ornate as anything out there on the movie landscape in 2019. That could explain why this triumphant tale of good versus evil (that we’ve seen a million times) has garnered such buzz and excitement surrounding its release. It is easy to think that everything the director has done prior to Alita has led him to this moment—professionally and artistically.
The pacing of the film is impeccable. The production design is divine. The score is sensational and above all else, the ensemble gels together like the richest layer cake out there. I’ve never thought of Rodriguez as an actor’s director—more of a visual artist who captures scenes that are a thing of stunning beauty. Seeing his command of his cast, while still enlivening the beauty of this bombastic world through his camera lens, is utterly sublime. Here’s hoping the film is a success because I want to head back to Alita’s world sooner than later as we are so primed for another adventure with the Battle Angel.
The electric eye candy that is the look of the film is something to behold. The joining of the visual aptitude of both Rodriguez and Cameron results in a mesmerizing visual vacation from the painful real world outside that is earth 2019. Cannot encourage viewers enough to go all-out for this film and see it on 3D and in the finest audio-equipped theaters available. It’s so worth the extra money it costs because the payoff is immense.
There are a few, minute, plot issues with the film. At times the overall explanation of how this world came to be and its “politics,” for lack of a better world, feels unnecessary and weighs down the powerful forward momentum of the action and dramatic reveals. There are even a few moments where what seems obvious to the audience appears to be beyond mysterious to the players up on the screen. As is the case in all films, the suspension of disbelief is a must to effectively engage an audience and never let them go until the bitter end. Those couple of miscues are nowhere near anything to cause a kink in the armor that is the astronomical visual and dramatic marvel that is Alita: Battle Angel.
Grade: A-