Shanker R

Great movie. At times silly, but never dull. And never loses its underlying tone, even when things get complicated, there's still something to laugh & feel good about. Of course, great music. I might add that as a musical, and at the story-telling level, perhaps even better than Bohemian Rhapsody. Maybe because it had a more talented director in Danny Boyle. Whilst the music forms the framework, the movie never loses touch with the story revolving around its core characters, namely the leads played by Himesh Patel and Lily James. Ditto to the supporting cast, and especially, Joel Fry. Here's a sidekick, who is not only funny, but also plays a relevant part. Most of the sidekick reliefs in movies these days are but a parody; Fry's Rocky on the other hand, is equally a nuisance and a delight. Yesterday's not perfect; but it is totally charming.

This has to be prob the best anime adaptation todate. Plus also the best combo of action/CGI+IMAX/storytelling of recent years. The filmmakers have succeeded in giving life to a character whom audiences could care for & empathize with. As futuristic as Alita is, she's also human enough to make you feel close to her. Considering that the movie combines a few manga volumes in it, I can understand when some complain of feeling 'rushed' thru the plot. But the more I think about it, I feel there are only a few & minor details which are flawed. For eg, I'm beginning to think that the much criticised romance subplot betw Alita & Hugo, maybe isn't so bad after all. First of all, it's a teen crush. Who hasn't had one when they were a teen? It looks awkward, big-eyed (no pun intended), starry, poetic, and like the whole world stops just for you. I think that's exactly what the movie conveys. In that sense, it does feel real enough. But such plot arcs are also the ones that help define Alita's humanity, including (and especially) her relationship with Ido. Having gone thru my own years of growing as a teen, and now as a father, I can understand what Hugo & Ido feel. At the end of the day, Alita Battle Angel is pure movie magic. For how else could we explain the huge global audience rave for it, especially when it succeeds by making us care for a CGI infused character? That's more than what I can say for a lot of wooden performances from real life human actors. Alita Battle Angel is a triumph.