Director Robert Rodriguez and writer / producer James Cameron (Terminator: Genisys) team up to bring us another look into a possible future, a world of amazement, a movie based on Yukito Kishiro’s manga series Gunnm. This is the story of Alita (Rosa Salazar – Maze Runner: The Death Cure, CHIPS). She is a deactivated female cyborg, found on the scrapheap by Dr. Dyson Ido (Christoph Waltz – The Legend of Tarzan). But she does not remember anything about her past life, who she is, what she is, or where she comes from. So begins Alita’s quest, in this cyberpunk action film, to learn of her past.
Set in the year 2563, after a terrible war known as “The Fall”, survivors on a devastated Earth all make their way to the sprawling metropolis known as Iron City, situated partly in the shadow of Zalem, a city in the sky. This is a place policed by the Hunter-Warriors, mercenaries who chase down marks for money. And a place where the highly competitive sport of Motorball gives the best player passage to Zalem.
Alita: Battle Angel portrays its story with a wonderful balance of science fiction, action that has choreography akin to ballad, and a story layer about love, acceptance, and family. Yet, just when one things the story is going to sway too far to any one genre, the characters acknowledge the plight of the viewer, and promptly switch gear, at times with much amusement.
Visually, this world of Alita is stunning. From the subtle architectural layout of the city, to the robots, cyborgs, and even Zalem itself. This is certainly best seen on the larger format screen of IMAX, where the 3D visuals can excel, rather than having one squint in the dark at the poor projection of so many other cinemas in South Africa.
While the film is a live action feature, it pays homage to its anime beginnings, with just the most subtle of nods towards the anime look of Alita, its fast paced fight scenes, and subtle lighting colours. A pumping soundtrack rounds off this mix of movie musts, making this a totally immersive, and incredibly enjoyable film. One that will appeal to fans of any of the genres, and those merely looking for a few hours of escape from life in the twenty first century.
For those who shy away from science fiction, hope is not lost. The story is one that many can relate to. The plot is not overly complex, the twists in the tale do not bombard one at a rate too rapid to endure. This is a story of one’s self, finding purpose, and pursuing that with all of one’s being.
A film that is sure to appeal to many audiences, this is one of those that could surely be called a must-see.
Alita: Battle Angel opens 14 February 2019 in South African cinemas.
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