“Alita: Battle Angel” (Science-Fiction: 2 hours, 2 minutes)

Starring: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Keean Johnson and Mahershala Ali

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Rated: PG-13 (Sequences of sci-fi action and strong violence, and some language)

 

Movie Review: A common trend seen far too often is dystopia future, usually after some great war or alien invasion. 

“Alita: Battle Angel” has a similar setting, except it is an interesting world that pulls one in for an interesting narrative. It is visually stylish and superbly entertaining, despite its predictable story features.

Alita (Salazar) was a barely alive cyborg when Dr. Dyson Ido (Waltz) found her in a junk pile and gave her a new life. Soon, Alita discovers new foods, falls in loves with Hugo (Johnson) and realizes she is more than just an ordinary cyborg. 

She is a weapon, a superior fighting being. Alita is at peace, but forces led by Vector (Ali) and his boss, Zapan (Ed Skrein), see her as a threat and send their goons after her constantly.

This science-fiction feature is a nice getaway. It easily entices with its affable characters and superb visual effects of an adventurous city. Both serve to make this movie an entertaining treat.

The action is keen, befitting the computer-generated imagery. “Alita” offers plenty. Action, special effects and keen visuals are director Robert Rodriguez specialties as seen in his collaborations “Machete” (2010) and “Sin City” (2005).

The movie’s flaw is its capitalistic producers. This should have been a one-shot movie, but producers want to make money by extending the plot into multiple movies. Thirty more minutes and this movie could have a nice tidy ending. Instead, audiences must wait to get a conclusion.

Grade: B- (She is an inviting persona.)

“Happy Death Day 2U” (Thriller/Science-Fiction: 1 hour, 40 minutes)

Starring: Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard and Phi Vu

Director: Christopher Landon

Rated: PG-13 (Violence and strong language)

 

Movie Review: Sequels are becoming more prevalent. “Happy Death Day 2U” is the sequel to “Happy Death Day.” 

Both movies are directed by Christopher Landon. The first movie was a clever slasher movie exhibited in a method like “Groundhog Day” (1993). This outing “Happy Death Day 2U” turns into “Weird Science” (Director John Hughes, 1985).

Tree Gelbman (Rothe) has died multiple times. She kept reliving her death in multiple ways until she found her killer. Now, others are being killed. Gelbman once again becomes caught in a time loop, where she and her friends must find the killer to correct the timeline.

“Happy Death Day 2U” becomes more of a science-fiction movie than a thriller. The latest version for this franchise is comical. The amusing scenes save it when the science becomes repetitive and the serial killer moments become less thrilling.

Grade: C+ (Another birthday, but age does not mean wiser.)

“Isn’t It Romantic” (Comedy/Romance: 1 hour, 28 minutes)

Starring: Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth and Adam DeVine

Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson

Rated: PG-13 (Profanity, sexual material, violence and a drug reference)

 

Movie Review: “Isn’t It Romantic” combines multiple genre elements into a romantic comedy that caricatures those genres. The result is something unique and enjoyable. Rebel Wilson leads a nice cast with her comical Australian wit.

New York City architect Natalie is a dedicated worker. Yet, most of her colleagues misuse her and only speak to her when they need her to do their work. 

Natalie is single and believes romance movies are dumb. Her cynical perspective changes after her encounter with a mugger leaves her unconscious. When Natalie wakes, she discovers her life has changed.

Her life is now a romantic comedy and she is its main star.

The comedy takes all of the passé bits from multiple romcoms and mocks them. “Isn’t It Romantic” shows how unrealistic and formulaic those romantic comedies are by creating similar patterns and then ridiculing them by playing them as absurd scenes.

The comedy works. This is due to Wilson’s lead and the cast to make this movie entertaining for those who take this movie seriously. It is a popcorn movie, but it has some intellectual weight. It adequately and comically exhibits the ails of romcoms while being one, too.

Grade: B- (It is humorous.)

Adann-Kennn Alexxandar lives and works in Valdosta.