Flicks, Luke Buckmaster
A cyborg in the form of a teenage girl attempts to find her purpose in a confusing future world. Alita: Battle Angel lightens the heavy heart of Japanese apocalyptic fiction with some Hollywood spectacle.
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Alita: Battle Angel
Producer James Cameron teams up with helmer Robert Rodriguez for this feature adaptation of Yukito Kishiro's classic manga starring Rosa Salazar.
In the twenty-sixth century, a female cyborg is rescued from the scrap heap by Ido (Christoph Waltz), a scientist. With no memory of who she is or any recognition of the world around her, Alita sets out on a journey that will lead her to take on the injustices of the world and find out who she really is.
Producer Cameron has stated that "What I’m going to do is take the spine story and use elements from the first four books. So, the Motorball from books three and four, and parts of the story of one and two will all be in the movie."
Less2018Rating: M, Violence, offensive language & content that may disturb122 minsUSA, Canada, Argentina
ActionScience FictionThrillerBlockbuster
- Director:
- Robert Rodriguez ('Planet Terror', 'Sin City', 'Once Upon a Time in Mexico')
- Writer:
- James CameronLaeta Kalogridis
- Cast:
- Rosa SalazarChristoph WaltzEd SkreinMahershala AliJennifer ConnellyKeean JohnsonMichelle RodriguezLana Condor
Alita: Battle Angel | Reviews
Variety
A pretty zappy effects showcase, weighed down by a protracted, soul-challenged Frankenstory that short-circuits every time it gets moving.
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Total Film
Impressive VFX and bursts of action can't mask the fact that this is a tonally confused start for a sci-fi franchise hopeful, made up of scrap parts you've seen put to better use elsewhere.
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Time Out
It's a rare thing to say about a James Cameron project, but you come out feeling like you've seen it all before.
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The Guardian
It doesn't have the grownup, challenging, complicated ideas of Ghost in the Shell. A vanilla dystopian romance.
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Stuff
Throw in an impressive supporting cast that includes Jennifer Connolly, Mahershala Ali, Jack Earle Hayley and Michelle Rodriguez and the result is an absorbing, entertaining rollercoaster ride that - fingers-crossed - may allow Alita to fight another day.
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Hollywood Reporter
Their chutzpah is admirable, but perhaps, on this occasion, a little misplaced.
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Alita: Battle Angel | Release Details
Alita: Battle Angel is available to stream in New Zealand now on Google Play and Apple TV.