Alita: Battle Angel Review - 7 Ups & 3 Downs

All-around, the action sequences on display in Alita: Battle Angel are incredibly thrilling, mixing practical and digital effects to create the most impactful and well-executed action beats Rodriguez has delivered in years.

Rodriguez has spoken a bit about how thrilling it was to get to play in James Cameron's sandbox, collaborating extensively with Weta to craft the all-digital shots of these sequences and his utter joy translates into the action itself. They even bring Alita's trademark Panzer Kunst fighting style from the manga to life in thrilling fashion, having her bound and leap across the screen.

One of Rodriguez's strongest storytelling skills has always been his ability to craft suspense in his action sequences and that gift is at its most prevalent here, as he takes time to carefully pace his action and heighten the tension. One of the best sequences in the entire film is a bar-set brawl that sees Rodriguez at his absolute best. It's a near-perfect marriage of practical and digital effects and is constantly evolving, Rodriguez ratcheting up the tension and the stakes with each new element introduced.

The 3D implemented in these action sequences is also pretty stunning. Unlike Rodriguez's previous foray into the world of 3D (Spy Kids 3D), the use of it here is nuanced and intricate, pulling you further into the scenes rather than being obtrusive or over the top.