DVD: Alita Battle Angel
The year is 2563, three hundred years after The Fall. There is but one sky City left floating above the mass of humanity, but Dr. Dyson Ido lives below on earth, scavenging through the garbage dump to find parts to help his clients – he’s a cybersurgeon to the people. But one day he finds a still-functioning head and chest of a cyborg.
Back at his clinic, he finds a body for her and breaths life back into her, naming her Alita.
Alita soon learns that the only way to go to the sky city – which is obviously everyone’s ultimate goal – is to become the champion of Motor Ball – a dangerous cross between extreme roller derby, Mixed Martial Arts, and Quidditch. The more she plays, the more she remembers about her past, eventually learning that she was once the enemy hunting Nova.
Salazar is a natural in the role of the innocent, wide-eyed cyborg Alita who discovers she is a fierce battle angel. She breathes humanity into Alita and you just can’t help but be drawn to her.
Alita Battle Angel ticks just about every box, a coming of age story, a love interest, good vs evil, epic fights, brilliant CGI, but the one thing that does let it down is Cameron’s script, with too much information seemingly crammed into some parts, yet essential information left out. Maybe Cameron envisioned a longer film and in handing it off to Rodriguez some of the intent got lost along the way.
Not that this gets in the way of delivering a solid and entertaining night on the couch mind you.
Rating: M Suitable for mature audiences 16 years and over. NOTE: Violence, offensive language & content that may disturb.
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