Battle Angel Alita

[number six]

To prepare for this film I re-watched the anime last week. It's an OVA that's only 2 episodes.. so about a 40 minute runtime altogether. There were some cool action sequences and a few good ideas but it was mostly shallow with no real character development or plot really. One of those 90s animes that looked great but was short on story. I was hoping the live-action movie would be deeper perhaps incorporating more of the manga -- which I haven't read but have heard is really good.

Alas.. no. The Live-action film is literally the anime with a sub-plot about a Mars Faction (?) and Rollerball thrown in. Neither sub-plot actually goes anywhere.

Make no mistake the movie looks great, the action sequences are good albeit neutered from the anime with a PG-13 rating.. The CGI is solid even Alita was for the most part believable which is good, her anime googly eyes made me think uncanny valley but it works. A few of the other cyborgs in the movie don't fair quite so well as there are a few shots that look well goofy.. but overall a good looking film.

Just like the anime though there's no real character development. They try to build up Alita but every other character just exists to do whatever the plot needs them to do and no more. There's also the big problem of not really having much of a story. Things are hinted at but nothing ever really gels and the end result is like watching the cut scenes to a Final Fantasy but quitting before the final act leaving for an abrupt ending.

I know this has been a long time in the making from James Cameron and I generally like Robert Rodriguez movies but there's not a lot here besides the visuals. So unfortunately you can file this with an alarming number of modern films in that 'eh OK but not great' bin. If you are curious worth a Redbox but can't say this one is worth a $20 night out at the movies.

[PinPup]

I agree, pretty to look at but souless for me, just a meh experience. The tentatcle scene reminded me of the very first Spiderman dodging Green Goblin fire, this just seemed like a superhero rehash to me. Great visuals, loved look of Alita, but rollerball? I think the first movie did it much better.

[Niloc]

I was curious about this one, some of the action in the trailer looked good, but then I heard bad things and they put off releasing it until a less competitive time of year, never a great sign.

Flashy visuals + little-to-no story seems to be the formula for making money in China. Easy to understand (or there's nothing to understand) and nice to look at.

Does anime ever need a live-action version? Doesn't seem like mainstream audiences care, and people who like anime would rather just watch the anime original.

I saw the Netflix version of "Death Note", having never seen the anime, and it was OK at best. Watched it with a friend who had seen the anime and he also thought it was decent but not great, and he mentioned it was very abridged - not surprising going from a series to a single movie.

Then there was the Dragonball debacle... who the fuck was that for? I'm not really into the Dragonball anime but holy shit the live action version was execrable.

Ghost in the Shell... I just remember the live action version being kind of dull and bland.

Hopefully Keanu realizes he's too old to play Spike. Haven't heard anything about Cowboy Bebop for a while, which is probably for the best.


Speaking of anime, did anyone watch the new FLCL series? The original series was among my favorites, but I couldn't get into the first "sequel series", Progresive, at all. Was the second one, I think it was called Alternative, any good?

[number six]

There's a few problems adapting Anime.

First, the Japanese have a different way of telling stories. They like to exposition dump (if there is a story at all) and many times they go for the 'well it looks cool' over even bothering to have a narrative. Given how Anime looks it's understandable but when you divorce that from the artwork the weak plot just gets magnified. So many of the 'classic' Anime series is classic because of the format not so much the content.

For example I can think of nothing more horrible than a live action Akira. They keep threatening it but I can't imagine it will be anything but a bad curiosity that's going to cost someone a lot of money if it get's made.

There are a few that might work. Like there's the off chance Cowboy Bebop could work on some level.. but then you think about a live action version of Faye (not going to be wearing that outfit or anything close) or Ed (that's going to be horrible) and you think Naaah better not. In many ways John Wick is like the Bebop movie they were trying to make.. especially when you consider they were going to drop all the SCI-FI elements (yeah I know)

To date I'd say the only adaptation that has been good in a it's worth seeking out.. was the live-action Space Battleship Yamato (Star Blazers). That was done by the Japanese and is awesome in many ways and the story translates well enough. I was hoping that would spur on a new era of good Anime adaptations but then they made that pretty bad Gatchaman live action movie showing that even the Japanese can't get it right.

As I'm typing this I remembered that there is one western example that was good.. Speed Racer. Yeah I know it bombed but it's a good film. It's definitely what's on the tin.. it's a live action Speed Racer.. but I'm pretty sure that's why people hated it.. so you just can't win on these. I understand the China appeal but I don't think China can make Alita break-even given it's production budget but I guess we'll see.

[Niloc]

I think Speed Racer was a great movie visually. A great movie overall though... is pushing it. They had very little to go on though, I mean the original cartoons were terrible, they fall firmly into the category of "fondly remembered only because there was nothing else on". Right up there with Scooby Doo.

[PinPup]

Never cared for Scooby tunes that much, saw one you saw 'em all. Did like the live actor movie though which surprised me. Thought Thelma looked good!

[Steve O]

I think Speed Racer was a great movie visually. A great movie overall though... is pushing it. They had very little to go on though, I mean the original cartoons were terrible, they fall firmly into the category of "fondly remembered only because there was nothing else on". Right up there with Scooby Doo.

I could not finish watching the Speed Racer movie it was so bad.  I think you are right about remembering the cartoon with rose colored glasses.  Didn't all the other racers die in crashes in each episode (except for Racer X of course)?

[PinFever]

To date I'd say the only adaptation that has been good in a it's worth seeking out.. was the live-action Space Battleship Yamato (Star Blazers). That was done by the Japanese and is awesome in many ways and the story translates well enough. I was hoping that would spur on a new era of good Anime adaptations but then they made that pretty bad Gatchaman live action movie showing that even the Japanese can't get it right.

 I agree with you that Space Battleship yamato was good.
Did see a lot of coming attractions for Battle of the Planets but never could find the actual movie .
I will look for it again.. and won't have my hopes up for Gatchaman but being a long time fan that has every Gatchaman episode and there is bunch  .
Speaking of which , even they are somewhat better than a lot of the new toons of today .
Thanks for the info

[Niloc]

For example I can think of nothing more horrible than a live action Akira. They keep threatening it but I can't imagine it will be anything but a bad curiosity that's going to cost someone a lot of money if it gets made.

https://io9.gizmodo.com/apparently-taika-waititis-akira-is-actually-happening-1835010954

Apparently this is happening now. No really for real this time we swear to god...

Taika Waititi is great, but I don't think anyone can pull this off. I hope to be proven wrong, but without some really major changes (and would it still be Akira at that point?) I don't think it's possible.

Akira is still one of the movies, probably the very top movie, that anyone would point to as both an all-time classic of Anime, one of the best ever, and also a "New to Anime? Start here." and that's after several decades. A lot of other 80s & 90s Anime looks dated as hell these days, but not Akira.

[Niloc]

Finally saw Alita. Took much longer than average for that one to make it out onto the net.

Hugo seems incredibly chill with the prospect of his new girlfriend having a completely sealed undercarriage.

It was pretty violent for a PG-13. I mean they left out torrents of blood, but it's easily explained away by "most everyone is a cyborg".

I agree that it's all visual, not much substance. What sort-of works in some anime doesn't work in live action. "We've known each other 2 weeks tops. I love you so much I'd die for you!".

Did the anime end at the same point or continue on with her going to the floating city? The movie is definitely set up for a sequel that's never gonna happen.

If you're the rolleball champ they HAVE to let you into floatytown. Even though every other method of getting in there turned out to be a lie.

Shame about Jenifer Connolly these days. She looks like a cancer patient.

[number six]

It is what it is, looks great but don't think about it too hard. Visuals were nice but a lot of it was let down by relying too much on the Anime which is also very plot thin.  And yes the Anime is pretty much the same sans all the rollerball stuff including the abrupt ending.

As far as the movie it did that slow-burn money generation that Cameron's projects seem to excel at so overall it did well enough for them to go ahead with a sequel.. or at least last I heard that's still on. Not sure I'm exactly sitting on the edge of my seat for more or anything but whatever..

[Niloc]

https://io9.gizmodo.com/apparently-taika-waititis-akira-is-actually-happening-1835010954

Apparently this is happening now. No really for real this time we swear to god...

Taika Waititi is great, but I don't think anyone can pull this off. I hope to be proven wrong, but without some really major changes (and would it still be Akira at that point?) I don't think it's possible.

Akira is still one of the movies, probably the very top movie, that anyone would point to as both an all-time classic of Anime, one of the best ever, and also a "New to Anime? Start here." and that's after several decades. A lot of other 80s & 90s Anime looks dated as hell these days, but not Akira.

Taika Waititi is now directing Thor 4 (he also directed Ragnarok) and the live-action Akira is "on hold indefinitely". Good news all around.