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[REVIEW] ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ Is A Cyberpunk Epic

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It’s a world of despair and lawlessness. A world of human-mechanical hybrids. A world where the elite live in the sky while the rest wither below. It is the world of Alita: Battle Angel.

Image via IMDB

Cyber-doctor Dyson Ido (Christoph Waltz) discovers the broken frame of an amnesiac cyborg girl he dubs Alita (Rosa Salazar) in the scrap heap of Iron City, below the floating utopia of Zalem that dumps its refuse on the peasantry below. Ido vows to care for Alita, but she is drawn to discovering her past, bits and pieces flashing to her in the heat of fighting and possibly rooted in the dystopic history of the sad state of the planet. She befriends a local scrapper named Hugo (Keean Johnson) and draws the attention of the corrupt factory boss, Vector (Mahershala Ali) and mysterious scientist Chiren (Jennifer Connelly) leading her into further conflict.

After years and years of false-starts, James Cameron has finally brought the big screen adaptation of Alita to life, bestowing directing duties to the ever talented and imaginative Robert Rodriguez. A perfect fit considering his adaptation of Frank Miller’s Sin City that felt like it brought the pages to life. As a fan of the original manga and anime by Yukito Kishiro, also known as Battle Angel Alita or Gunnm (Gun Dream), it is simply astounding seeing the characters and scenes realized.

While rooted in the first couple volumes, and heavily from the anime original video animation, it does a great job in blending elements together and even setting up arcs and characters from later volumes for potential sequels that I sincerely hope we get. While there will certainly be some controversies as other characters and elements were combined or left out in the process, it did well by distilling such an expansive story into just one film. A couple of plotlines get a little muddled, but considering the scale of such an adaptation, it is impressive to say the least.

Image via IMDB

As for the characters, Rosa Salazar truly becomes Alita on screen. She captures all the facet of the character, from an amnesiac girl trying to find her place in a harsh world, to an unforgiving warrior who will fight to the death to protect those around her. The decision to make her an entirely CG character is one with its share of controversy, but once you get past the large eyes it doesn’t diminish anything and only adds to her uncanny nature as a cyborg. An entirely artificial body with a human brain. The rest of the cast stand out, from Christoph Waltz as the father Ido to Mahershala Ali’s cool and cruel Vector. The ensemble cast from the original series is realized.

Image via IMDB

Of course, being a James Cameron produced film it is a visual feat for the eyes. Iron City representing a dystopic but diverse city with a melting pot of people, cyborgs, and cultures from an Earth that has since been mostly ruined. The fight choreography between cyborgs and martial artists are stunning to behold. This is a movie that must be seen in Imax, 3D, a combination thereof, or at least the largest and most impressive screen you can find. Imax allowing 26% more action to be shown in frame. This is especially cool during the scenes of the cyborg sport known as Motorball, a transhuman extension of deathsports like Rollerball.

Alita won’t be for everyone of course. But for what it does, it does amazingly. A story of what it truly means to be human and what our dreams mean in a society that seems built solely for crushing them. Alita is one for the dreamers, past, present, and future.

Alita: Battle Angel opens in theater Feburary 14th, 2019.

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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