Based on the series Manga by Yukito Kishiro, which was adapted into a short OVA (Original Video Anime) back in the 90s, the story takes place in a far off cyberpunk style future. War has ravaged most of the planet leaving only two places to live: one where the rich and powerful live in a floating city, and the town just below for the lower class (metaphor much?). We follow a young cyborg teenaged girl with a human brain named Alita (Rosa Salazar) who was discovered in a scrap yard by a robotics doctor named Dyson Ido (Christoph Waltz), who gives her a brand new body and takes her under his wing. Which is lucky for her since she can't remember who she was before. As Alita adjusts to her new life by making friends and discovering some of the smaller joys (like chocolate), she begins to see the more ugly aspects of the city. Like bandits who will yank robotic body parts off of unsuspecting victims to sell on the black market hoping to buy their way into a better life. Choosing to take on such evils, Alita begins to discover her remarkable ability as a fighter, and in doing so, regains some of her lost memories. Soon she will have to make a choice: will she embrace this violent side and accept the harsh world around her, or will she become a hero and fight for love and a better future?
There is a bit more to the story than what I just described, but this is arguably the central focus of the narrative.
What makes this movie so amazing to me is the number of risks that it takes. Namely, casting a relatively unknown Latina actress in the lead role. Who, by the way, carries the movie on her shoulders with absolute ease. This young lady is a powerhouse of an actress. She succeeds in selling everything she does and says in this movie, even when she has to occasionally deliver some of James Cameron's clunky dialogue (more on that in a moment). Every action scene, every quiet moment, and everything in between is played with incredible conviction and heart by Rosa Salazar. She alone makes this movie worth the admission price, and I can't wait to see what she will do next.
Furthermore, this is a kind of movie that I have not seen out of the Hollywood system in a long time besides those from Marvel Studios. A larger-than-life concept with an abundant of mysterious places, people, and technology the likes of which had only been seen in films like Blade Runner or even Star Wars. All of which is spectacularly brought to life by WETA Digital. The effects team behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes to name a few. The effects used to create the world and render the cyborg population therein is phenomenal. Never at any point of the film did I see the cracks of the special effects at play. Even better, the action scenes are all coherent and entertaining. Unlike the action scenes in any given Michael Bay Transformers movie, you can actually make out what is happening on screen and even care about it. That alone provides this movie with a ton of bonus points in my book.
The film was co-written and produced by James Cameron whom you may remember as the guy who did Avatar and Terminator. A filmmaker who is known for perfectionism but always seems to have a talent for creating amazing works (most of the time). Not to mention, while he does have great ideas for stories, he's never really been perfect with his dialogue. As he has a tendency to lean towards the adolescent and clunky every so often, especially in recent years. Even so, it's not as noticeable here. This has apparently been a long time passion project of his and had intended to direct it himself. However, as other projects kept taking priority, he handed directing over to Robert Rodriguez, late of El Mariachi, Sin City, and From Dusk 'Till Dawn. A filmmaker who is generally at his best working on shoestring budgets and usually going with the flow to get his movies made. A stark contrast with a personality like James Cameron to be sure, but it somehow works. Robert Rodriguez, who is also used to doing just about everything himself on set, steps into the directors chair exclusively for the first time in his career, and he proves himself a tour de force when given the right material. While I have never liked most of his own films, I have always admired the man himself for his enthusiasm and ability to just make stuff happen. Cameron would be wise to being Robert on board again with future projects.
Now, as much as I did genuinely enjoy this film, and although I loved the amount of heart and passion that went into making it, this movie is not without its flaws.
For one thing, the film is just too long. I get the impression that the writers wanted to include as much of the stuff from the source material as they could, and that meant spending a good chunk of the running time explaining things and building the world, but I'm pretty sure some aspects could have stayed on the cutting room floor. I'm not sure what at the moment as the experience is still fresh in my mind, but I'm sure that upon the next viewing I can pick a few things that could have been shorter, changed, or taken out entirely. Because at two hours, it sometimes overstays its welcome.
Another issue with the movie is its ending. Without spoiling anything, it kind of has the same problem as Return of the King, where it has multiple spots in the story that could have been the ending only for the plot to pick itself back up again and keep on rolling. Then, when we get to the actual end, it's reasonably cool but isn't quite as satisfying as I would have liked it to be. If they make a few more of these movies, and I hope they do, then maybe it will make a little more sense. As it is now, it's not awful nor is it great, it's just...there.
Despite these flaws, I still very much enjoyed my time with this movie. This is the kind of stuff I want to see more of. Fantastical out-of-this-world concepts made by people who wholeheartedly embrace the insanity and silliness of it all. In the hands of any other group of filmmakers, this would have likely been turned into another safe and calculated "reimagining" of itself, where it's made to be more "realistic" and "modern." I say screw that! Take a risk with storytelling, take a chance with world creation, and make a leap of faith in seeing this film. It may not be quite what you're expecting, but as it turns out, that's part of its charm.
Is this movie worth seeing?
Yes.
Is it worth seeing in theaters?
Yes.
Why?
While it may be a little hard to follow in some areas, it still succeeds in becoming a charming and entertaining time at the movies. If for no other reason than how awesome it is to have a larger-than-life science fiction film helmed by a kick-ass young lady in Alita. This may very well be the first step into a new and delightful era.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm, thank you all for reading.
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