Time to e x p a n d
Full disclosure, I haven't finished the manga, but I have read up to and past where the film ends, and I know how it should go and the important story beats.
But before I take it apart as an adaptation, let's take it apart as a film in its own right. Getting some positives out the way, the film looks pretty good for the most part, I think some of the casting was particularly good when the script allowed them to shine, which isn't often. Er... That's it.
So, yeah. Uhm. I don't get it. This doesn't feel like a Cameron movie, or a Rodriguez film, it feels like a very forgettable Sci fi action movie, which is exactly what it would be if it wasn't dragged into shit territory by one of the worst on screen romances I've seen in fucking years. It starts of slightly creepy with Alita in her young teenage body, and it's not really alleviated by getting her more... developed body later in the film, as it doesn't change her naivety and childishness. Hugo just feels too old for her for most of the film.
But it's not just the ick factor, it's so appallingly acted by both Alita and Hugo, and so badly scripted, that it's like watching Hallmark try and make an edgy Sci fi romance (the romance in the manga isn't great to be fair, but at least it's not the focus).
The action lacks any force and weight, partly because its all CGI, but the scenes just aren't storyboarded very well, so when Alita is supposed to be fucking shit up, the only reason she seems to win is because the exposition tells us she should, the physical blows themselves don't feel particularly hard. They do, however, make a very good job of making her seem like the world's greatest gymnast.
I hated the fighting style they gave her, like some bullshit cross between wing chun and some other mystic Chinese kung fu that has never been practical in the history of mankind, it's also another reason the blows lack weight when she's spinning every where when she should be hitting shit really hard.
The plot is only slightly changed from the manga, which is to say it's there, but passionless and cold. Some of the events are conflated together, Hugos character is the biggest change, trying to make him sympathetic rather than the goal driven, conniving asshat he is in the manga. It doesn't work though, because the actor is dreadful and I hated every minute he was on screen.
The lack of blood and extreme 90s violence hurt it. I don't usually care for it unless it's done really well, but taking out completely felt really fucking wrong.
Also a dog dies and I ain't good with that shit.
1.5/5