Review by RCR entertainment reporter, Eric Szymanski, follow him on Twitter at @ecmanski

I know it’s early and I’m sure this will change as the year goes on but Alita: Battle Angel is my favorite movie of 2019. It’s easily director Robert Rodriguez’s best film since 2010’s Machete. Visually the film is stunning with action sequences and set pieces that will blow you away.

I was lucky enough to see this in 3D and for the first time in a long time, I felt it actually enhanced the viewing experience and wasn’t just inserted in post-production as a cash grab. James Cameron acts as a producer and it truly shows that he and Rodriquez cared a lot about the details. The CGI blended in nicely and the world where the story mostly takes place, Iron City, felt lived in and familiar much like a desert planet in Star Wars.

The story itself borrows ingredients from Total Recall with a side of Terminator 2 and a hint of Ready Player One. Christophe Waltz plays Dr. Dyson Ido who specializes in cyborg surgical repair. He stumbles upon an old robot shell in a scrapyard and is essentially a futuristic Geppetto building her back to life and naming her after someone dear to his heart. Alita becomes activated and starts to remember things from her past while quickly realizing her fighting ability. But where did she come from? How does she know certain things? What secrets do the people around her hold?

Rosa Salazar is phenomenal as the title role. Her performance gives Alita a soul and makes her into a character the audience can really get behind. From her time spent playing motorball, the sport of choice in the 26th century, to her kicking ass and taking names in a barroom brawl you’ll find yourself cheering her on like Rocky Balboa in the 12th round. I can’t stress enough the attention to detail they put into this character with every expression and movement she makes. The rest of the cast is solid as well.

Mahershala Ali, who I feel can do no wrong, plays Vector. He’s portrayed as the villain here but really he’s just a puppet under the watchful eye of Nova who resides in the utopian world which floats above Iron City. And by puppet, I mean Nova actually takes over his body. You thought the Emperor had a tight grip on Darth Vader? Nova says “oh yeah, hold my beer”. Jennifer Connelly shows up as a doctor linked to Christophe Waltz’s past. Seeing her in this movie has reignited my crush on J Conn I’ve had since the 80’s. I know J Conn is not a thing but if J Lo can do it, I figured I’d give it a shot. Her character was a bit underutilized I will say.

Now I went into this with little expectation and no knowledge of the source material. There may be some die-hards that will take issue with certain things or maybe they will think Cameron and company nailed it. As someone entirely new to this world, I can tell you I had a blast in it. The action is fast and plentiful. Whatever may be lacking in story is made up for with eye-popping visuals. For all of its minor flaws, Alita does not disappoint. It’s a highly entertaining movie that demands to be viewed on a big screen in 3D much as Avatar did 10 years ago. The ending totally sets up a sequel. Some may be annoyed by this but I for one loved it and look forward to a follow-up. I think a majority of you will agree.

Yeah, it’s early in the year but Alita is THE kick-ass female action hero of 2019. Your move, Captain Marvel.

Grade: B+

About Alita: Battle Angel
From visionary filmmakers James Cameron (AVATAR) and Robert Rodriguez (SIN CITY), comes ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, an epic adventure of hope and empowerment. When Alita (Rosa Salazar) awakens with no memory of who she is in a future world she does not recognize, she is taken in by Ido (Christoph Waltz), a compassionate doctor who realizes that somewhere in this abandoned cyborg shell is the heart and soul of a young woman with an extraordinary past. As Alita learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous streets of Iron City, Ido tries to shield her from her mysterious history while her street-smart new friend Hugo (Keean Johnson) offers instead to help trigger her memories. But it is only when the deadly and corrupt forces that run the city come after Alita that she discovers a clue to her past – she has unique fighting abilities that those in power will stop at nothing to control. If she can stay out of their grasp, she could be the key to saving her friends, her family and the world she’s grown to love.

Alita: Battle Angel will be in Theaters February 14, 2019

• Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
• Screenplay by: James Cameron and Laeta Kalogridis
• Based on the Graphic Novel (“Manga”) Series: “Gunnm” By Yukito Kishiro
• Produced by: James Cameron and Jon Landau
• Cast: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Ed Skrein, Jackie Earle Haley, Keean Johnson

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