For all fans of manga, science fiction, and the cyberpunk universe, February 13, 2019, was THE date not to be missed, with the release of Alita: Battle Angel in theaters!
For the occasion, Squad Paris privatized a screening at the Grand Rex for 100 consultants so they wouldn't miss this must-see sci-fi event.
Alita: Battle Angel – The pitch
When she wakes up with amnesia in Dr. Ido's laboratory, Alita has just found a cyborg body. On Earth, in a post-apocalyptic era, Alita gradually recovers her memories as a warrior, grows up and asserts herself as a teenager, and becomes a source of hope for all the inhabitants of Iron City.
It quickly becomes clear that this warrior, whose fighting technique dates back to another era, is a valuable resource coveted by the inhabitants of Zalem, a floating city dedicated to the privileged few, towering above the terrestrial landfill.
Throughout her life, she will have to face other cyborgs and protect her own kind.
Critical analysis: The Wow Effect!
It has been 10 years since James Cameron bought the rights to the manga Gunnm, on which Alita is based, with a fidelity and precision that will delight fans of the paper version. We appreciate the enormous resources put into recreating this cyberpunk universe in detail. It must be said that with a budget of $200 million and a winning duo in James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez, Alita had everything it needed to be the blockbuster its fans had been waiting for.
We appreciate the graphic universe—more colorful than the very dark version of the manga—and the appropriate use of CGI, in addition to the performance capture characters. The twirling fight scenes are exceptional and faithfully reproduce the violence of the manga. There's no feeling of being overwhelmed; on the contrary, we're glued to our seats, eagerly following the Motorball competition scenes. Robert Rodriguez outdoes himself and carries us along with enthusiasm.
With hindsight: a mainstream adaptation of a very dark manga
What strikes us is the impressive feat meticulously achieved by Cameron and Rodriguez: turning a very dark and trashy manga into a mainstream film (albeit for mature audiences).
While some may remember Gunnm, Yukito Kishiro's original comic book, for its violent battles and a very dark world with a clear separation of powers, we appreciate that Alita: Battle Angel emphasizes certain aspects that were only hinted at in the original version.
Alita becomes the story of a teenage cyborg who grows up and asks herself fundamental questions about her humanity. She forms friendships with other characters and has to deal with an impossible love story with Hugo, a human of her own age who lives in the slums of what remains of Earth. (Editor's note: the teenage version of Hugo is still a little hard to swallow for the fan in me.)
More than just a cyborg teenager, she will quickly become a beacon for this part of humanity, left behind in the Zalem landfill, and will single-handedly lead a social struggle between the inhabitants of Earth and the privileged residents of Zalem.
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Atila: Battle Angel bears the hallmarks of James Cameron, who particularly enjoys depicting couples separated by social class (Titanic) or species (Avatar). Here, we sense the blurred line between cyborg and human, at the crossroads between a modern-day Frankenstein and Ghost In The Shell.
In conclusion—a must!
Whether you're a fan of the original Gunnm manga or discovering the cyberpunk universe for the first time, Alita: Battle Angel is set to become a must-see film in the genre and undoubtedly in science fiction. The satisfaction of viewers from all walks of life is proof of this: Cameron and Rodriguez have succeeded in their challenge of drawing us into a chaotic universe, brilliantly immersing us in its societal issues and making us love this cyborg teenager who is searching for herself and finding fulfillment.
This is a must-see film that ranks among the best science fiction movies.
