Alita: Battle Angel is a brilliant space adventure film that has had fans waiting on tenter-hooks for six years for a follow-up film.
08:00, 18 Nov 2025Updated 08:28, 18 Nov 2025
The film won a host of awards for its special effects(Image: SUNDAY MIRROR)
A “near-perfect” sci-fi film boasting rave reviews and devoted fans clamouring for a sequel airs on Film 4 tonight at 10.55pm.
Alita: Battle Angel stands as a superb space adventure story that has left enthusiasts on tenterhooks for six years awaiting a follow-up. Based on a series of Manga books and adapted by James Cameron, this animated masterpiece boasts an impressive cast featuring Jennifer Connolly, Christopher Waltz, and Rosa Salazar voicing Alita.
The story follows Alita, a dormant cyborg brought back to life with no memory of her past, as she embarks on a journey to discover her true identity and origins. Set centuries into the future, the action unfolds in Iron City’s scrapyard where a compassionate cyber-doctor takes pity on Alita and repairs her, reports the Express.
Rosa Salazar voices Atila(Image: Sunday Mirror)
Dr Ido assists her in navigating Iron City’s harsh streets whilst protecting her from her mysterious past. Boasting a 91% popcorn meter score on Rotten Tomatoes, this picture remains a beloved choice amongst sci-fi aficionados.
One fan said: “Loved the film, just been kept waiting a very long time for the next installment. It’s a spectacle of a sci-fi film that deserves it long awaited sequel. Bring it on.” Precious T concurred: “Amazing movie, amazing CGI before the movie industry downfall. Still waiting for the sequel.”
However another suggested the filmmakers had bitten off more than they could chew. They wrote: “A near perfect example of an ambition being bigger than budget and capabilities, yet despite this and it’s many, many flaws, it’s an enjoyable film, though the story is messy and the cgi can’t keep up.”
Scooping a host of awards for visual effects, IMDb users raved about the film’s effects with one user describing them as “mind-blowing.”
They wrote: “This was a fantastic movie with mind-blowing special effects. Of course, Alita was directed by Robert Rodriguez and produced by James Cameron who lent Rodriquez the tech he used to create Avatar, and it shows.
“There are CGI films and then there is THIS, which surpasses many recent films in both quality and style. This film could have never been possible 20 years ago. There is just no way. The bad: while film was great, mainly for its special effects and visuals, and set up a world that is so rich with life and wonderment that it demands further exploration.”
Another reviewer who is a “longtime fan” of the source material – Gunnm – added: “I am satisfied. I appreciate the production team took their time to do the research of the original serials. The adaptation is great, they filtered out few “acquire taste” and swapped in elements that would make much more appeal to general public. The film really kept true to the original manga and reassembled almost everything from the manga the scenes, mechanical bodies, characters and the world they lived in.
“They did a great job on capturing Alita’s slightly naïve stubbornness, the “all in or all out” euthanasic, and the pursuit of who she is. Story wise, the film ingeniously weaved the first 11 books of manga together, brought up few events that was happening in the 2nd chapter of Alita’s adventure to the 1st movie. Which is nice since I bet they’re already thinking of the next Alita movie.”