With a badass female superhero at the heart of this action-adventure-romance, Alita: Battle Angel is one of the most visually stunning movies in years.
Combining slick, super realistic visuals with futuristic video-game like action scenes, the cinematography is stunning throughout; best demonstrated in the ‘motorball’ scenes that are high octane, fast paced and a thrill to watch - it’s like Transformers meets Avatar with a hint of Star Wars.
While the world that’s created on screen is eye-popping and endlessly adventurous, it’s the way that Alita (played by Rosa Salazar) is brought to life that’s so impressive.
Though she’s an animated character, the realism is incredible: from her intricately designed facial features and expressions to her complex body movements. Never before has a CGI character looked so lifelike; she’s far from a robot, that’s for sure.
Across two hours, producer James Wan creates an expansive world that allows for a fusion of stunning natural scenery, cyberpunk outfits and countless environments.
Director Robert Rodriguez pulls together an impressive cast of talented actors to convey the story, too: Mahershala Ali is great as power-hungry villain Vector, a character who’s not afraid to kill to stay in control.
Christoph Waltz, who plays Doctor Ido, portrays the protective father role brilliantly, having created Alita, helped bring her back to life and wanting to keep her out of trouble.
There’s a sense of adolescent rebellion in the story, too, as the audience sees Alita begin to rebel and play by her own rules.
The movie cleverly tackles sexism, too, as Alita fights off hordes of scary-looking and misogynistic male hunter warriors during a bar brawl that becomes one of the film’s best scenes; it’s one of many moments that warrants paying a little bit extra for a 3D screening.
More than anything, it’s great to see a powerful woman in the lead role; laying down the law and dominating dozens of ‘cyber junk trash’ in a nasty scrap that descends into chaos. She might be tiny in stature, but Alita’s strength – emotional and physical - is otherworldly.
Alita: Battle Angel is now showing at The Light Cinema in Wisbech. For screening dates, times and tickets visit www.wisbech.lightcinemas.co.uk/alita-battle-angel
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