"I'm with her."

Trailer Review 019 & Movie Preview 038b

Alita:
Battle Angel

20th Century Fox

[December 21st, 2018]

Trailer(s) Effectiveness =

85% for introducing a dose of excitement that is more appealing to the masses.

I've covered this ambitious ambition time and time again because of how high the original manga series I hold up (I haven't seen the anime television shows though ...), how much I believe in the talented people and visionaries behind this project and how risky the ambitious approach they are taking in tackling this very tricky adaptation would pay off indefinitely in the end. The first debut trailer introduces the premise first and how the robot/android and humans are playing off of each other in this strange new world, showing us the human side of an artificial being and how far they need to go to be accepted as a full sentient, while teasing her origin and the conflict brought with it. While the uncanny valley effect caused by fully Computer-Generated characters with human characters would be a bit bothersome or too much for some, this second trailer just get right into the action by moving past the grounded and emotional plot points of the titular heroin and focuses on the signature action sequences that the franchise is mostly known for. I love how the original mangaka, xyz, frame the action and how mobile and kinetic they feel even in the constraints of two-dimensional drawings and now seeing it being 'brought to life' in its full CGI glory with the backing of big studio budgets is like a dream come true for me! Don't you see how awesome that action sequences between Alita and the cyborgs?! If you're not gravitating towards her personal journey, then I'm sure the full-fledged action would appeal to you even more! If nothing that you've seen so far doesn't interest you at all, well there's many other features out there to choose from. You do you, I won't force you to watch something that you won't choose yourself. I am just counting the days until Christmas to watch this ... that's so far away! I might do a double feature with Mary Poppins then, that would be something!

Chance of Success =  75% with the typical CGI action blockbuster in a unique world while the crutch of another anime to movie adaptation still exist as the casual moviegoers would not be as attracted to it.

Rescued from the scrapyard ...

... with an impending threat just on the periphery ...

The main protagonist presents the uncanny valley in question from the larger-than-life eyes and fully CGI creation reacting with human characters. This film would make or break based on it I believe.

The city provides an interesting backdrop to the storyline. If this is successful, I can't wait for them go up into the sky! If you've the manga, you'll be looking forward to it too.

I love she actually puts on her signature marks under the eyes! I believe that's blood though ...

Well, he learned of what she is actually capable of in the time of need ...

Finally unlocking that ability within her, her curiosity gets the best of her.

That abandoned vessel holds a lot more than just a intriguing place of teenagers to play in.

This is her original body, or rather her signature form in the manga ... build purely for combat!

The real antagonists that are hell bent on destroying Alita ...

... with their own custom-made killing machines.

Well, she is ready for anything.

> my previous post on the project and the first trailer <

a case for the action futuristic franchise:

+ Highlights +

such a unique world that is effectively realised with unique characters and arguably second to none action sequences .

? Main contention ?

as other manga series, there is always a strong ideals at the heart of it and Battle Angel Alita (this is the original name ... I don't why the studio would change it. Is it easier to market that way?) and I don't know how well it would translate into the motion picture, considering how poor last year's Ghost in the Shell did with their own.

- Lowlights -

when the sub-genre of anime movies finally takes off, people would be more inclined to venture into this unique Japanese market but until then, it would still be considered as a niche materials, at least for now.

-

a case for the ambitious adaptation of another anime IP:

+ Highlights +

fully realised sci-fi world full of cyborgs with deadly appendages with state-of-the-art CGI and quite a cast.

? Main contention ?

I'm not sure how popular this film would be considering Ghost in the Shell wasn't as popular as expected (maybe the whitewashing controversy did more damage than first thought) ... here's hoping the visual and action would attract casual moviegoers into the cinema without prior knowledge of the franchise!

- Lowlights -

maybe the vocal detractors of the uncanny valley are amplified to an unfortunate degree that we see it as a direct representative of all the public instead of the vocal minority. that's what I hope anyway.

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! Spoiler ! - Synopsis - ! Spoiler !
Alita is a creation from an age of despair. Found by the mysterious Dr. Ido while trolling for cyborg parts, Alita becomes a lethal, dangerous being. She cannot remember who she is, or where she came from. But to Dr. Ido, the truth is all too clear. She is the one being who can break the cycle of death and destruction left behind from Tiphares. But to accomplish her true purpose, she must fight and kill. And that is where Alita's true significance comes to bear. She is an angel from heaven. She is an angel of death.

Cast

Rosa Salazar as Alita, Eiza González as Nyssiana, Jennifer Connelly as Chiren, Ed Skrein as Zapan, Michelle Rodriguez as Gelda, Christoph Waltz as Dr. Dyson Ido, Casper Van Dien as Amok, Mahershala Ali as Vector, Jackie Earle Haley, Lana Condor as Koyomi Elle LaMont as Screwhead, Jeff Fahey as McTeague, Keean Johnson as Hugo, Derek Mears as Romo, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. ...

(Robert Rodriguez [Desperado, from Dusk till Dawn, Machete, Planet Terror, Sin City, Spy Kids], Budget: $200 Millions, Genre - Action, Adventure, Drama, Robotic, Science Fiction)

- IMDb - official - wiki [manga] - wiki [movie] -

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