Alita Battle Angel

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Alita Battle Angel!

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd February 2019

My interest in anime truly blossomed during the nineties when my impressionable teenage mind became aware of these Japanese cartoons and how they did things differently to western animation. At the time, watching this breed of animation seemed 'badass' and 'not for the faint-hearted' and far from the 'nerdy' stigmata that anime tends to attract. It was also during this time that i managed to see the likes of Ghost in the Shell, Ninja Scroll and Akira. And in amongst this clutch of titles was one Battle Angel Alita.

I did think highly of the title at the time - and still do years later, especially when quite a few anime seen in this period now come across as puerile (although not the afore-mentioned titles). So when i heard, years ago, that James Cameron was keen on adapting it, i was all for it. Little did I know however was I would have to wait for nearly two decades to see the final product.

It would be cynical of me to decree that nearly two decades of waiting couldn't hope to match the result - not to mention realistic - but somehow, this movie still manages to impress. The big eyes of Alita took some getting used to but the motion capture and the movements were certainly eye-catching. Rosa Salazar does a superb job carrying the movie and a lot of the cast managed to hold their own even when competing against a green screen of special effects (Christoph Waltz especially). And speaking of the green screen, what a special effects bonanza it is. Well choreographed action scenes, inventive designs and some truly mind-blowing action sequences.
Furthermore, clearly this adaptation follows the anime closely, as i recognized certain scenes and plot details. So this is indeed an adaptation of anime that gets the source material and proves that there is indeed an audience outside, what is ultimately, a niche interest.

One question though: Does this adaptation owe more to the anime or the original manga? Because the anime only covers the first two volumes of a nine volume series. In any case, i sincerely hope there is a sequel coming out of this adaptation because hey, why stop at the end of volume two?

The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened?

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened?!

Original image located here. Accessed 15th February 2019

For the uninitiated, this is a crowd-funded documentary discussing the unmade Superman movie Superman Lives, circa sometime in the late nineties. The trails and tribulations of this unmade movie are well-documented but this iteration offers unseen imagery, of designs, footage of costume tests and the experiences of those involved.

Prior to seeing this documentary i had read up on the troubled production of Superman Lives. And whilst it is fascinating to see the unseen material, the most interesting part is the involvement of producer Jon Peters. Previous accounts on Superman Lives have painted Peters as the bad guy with stories of him being incompetent, a bully, throwing in ideas with no rhyme or reason and not taking Superman seriously beyond him being a meal ticket. So it is fascinating, especially in the wake of the odd stories of him as told by Kevin Smith, to hear his voice. Granted he comes across as arrogant, of questionable honesty, spinning the narrative in his favour and a jerk, but he has a say at least.
All in all, a fascinating documentary and indeed, a glimpse at some truly lost potential

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....How to Train Your Dragon: the Hidden World!

Original image located here. Accessed 8th February 2019

Well here we are: the endpoint of a saga that was nearly a decade in the making. A journey that may have taken years for some but was only two weeks for me - therefore, one would say that I had a different journey compared to those who've been following these movies for as long as they have - and, some might say, a less rewarding journey. Nevertheless, I too have followed these characters, I've seen them grow and change and I've come to connect with them (HICCSTRID!!!). So I have got to the destination quicker but each step was far from dishonest.

As for the movie itself, well it has been said that Toothless has been a major selling point in these movies so of course they would bring in a second Night Fury. I suppose these is some inevitability that the second Night Fury would be a romantic interest for Toothless (especially seeing as the trailer talked it up) But i am willing to forgive such predictability as the scenes with Toothless and the Light Fury working off one another was a delight
The rest of the movie? Well it;s more of the same but that's not bad thing. Lot's of action, flying sequences, laughs, and another step in the evolution of these characters and the world in which they inhabit. But in a way, perhaps it is best the movies stop now, out of fear that it may settle into the complacency that is predictability.
And I will admit: that last portion of the movie did touch my cold, jaded heart - proof that if I made the journey quicker than other people, the outcome was still no different.

How to Train Your Dragon 2

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....How to Train Your Dragon 2!

Original image located here. Accessed 1st February 2019

So how do you deliver a sequel? Well you take that which is already established and present it in a new light while simultaneously take into unexplored territory. And to this end How to Train Your Dragon 2 succeeds with flying colours.

There's not much i can add to that statement: the animation is better, the stakes are higher, Hiccups' journey continues with some interesting developments, the flying sequences are astonishing, Toothless is still a delight, there's a welcome subtext of a handicapped character doing awesome feats, there's lots of laughs, moments of a kick to the guts variety and Valka is an interesting character, helped by the voice talents of the ever-wonderful Cate Blanchett
Also pleasing is the presence of Kit Harrington, who sounds like he's relishing the chance to not play a mopey git.