Today’s quick review: Alita: Battle Angel. Alita (Rosa Salazar), an advanced cyborg, gets a new lease on life when Dr. Dyson Ido (Christoph Waltz) salvages her from a scrapheap beneath the floating city of Zalem. Repairing her body, Ido takes her to lilve with him in Iron City, a poor but bustling city built in the shadow of Zalem. As Alita adjusts to her new life, she begins to search for answers about her old one and why she was created.
Alita: Battle Angel is a sci-fi action adventure based on the manga by Yukito Kishiro. Alita: Battle Angel tells the story of an amnesiac cyborg with the body of a teenage girl and the kind-hearted roboticist who takes her in. The movie features likable characters, a rich world, and inventive, fast-paced action. Slight issues with its story structure keep it from achieving everything it tries to, but the movie remains a strong pick for fans of the genre.
Alita: Battle Angel’s chief appeal is its action. Iron City is home to countless cyborgs designed for battle, from the fearsome bounty hunters known as Hunter-Warriors to the powerful competitors in the brutal sport of Motorball. These foes are the perfect match for Alita, whose small frame belies the incredible combat prowess of her past life. With this promising setup, the film delivers action that’s slick, exciting, and suitably creative.
The film’s raw spectacle is backed by a setting that’s surprisingly immersive. Iron City is a fascinating tangle of ruin and industry built on the discarded scraps of Zalem. The population runs the gamut from honest workers to hardened criminals, and the variety helps flesh out the innocent yet resolute character of Alita. No single aspect of the setting is brilliant or unique, but the world as a whole shows care, cohesion, and sound judgment.
Alita: Battle Angel does have slight issues when it comes to its story. The basics of the plot are fine: Alita must figure out a way to get to Zalem to search for answers about her past. The subplots regarding Dyson Ido and his past, Alita’s love interest Hugo (Keean Johnson), and the sport of Motorball all serve their purpose. But the story has a peculiar structure to it, a mishmash of plot threads leading to an ending that leaves key questions unanswered.
Those looking for a fun, imaginative slice of action should look no further than Alita: Battle Angel. It delivers all the action it promises and more, while its rich world and interesting story make it an appealing pick for sci-fi fans. Some viewers may not like its loose story structure and open ending, but those willing to roll with the punches will find it to be an enjoyable popcorn watch. Steer clear if you were hoping for an understated sci-fi drama.
For a more child-friendly adventure with a similar setting, try Astro Boy or Osamu Tezuka’s version of Metropolis. For another live-action adaptation of a science fiction manga with a similar focus on world-building and action, try Ghost in the Shell. For a pop culture-fueled sci-fi action movie with similar use of CGI, try Ready Player One.
7.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for energetic action and a rich, engaging world.