Alita: Battle Angel

Actors: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Ed Skrein, Jackie Earle Haley, Keean Johnson

Rating: 9 out of 10, I’m completely unaware of the manga series that served as the basis for this sci fi action flick which probably helped. I thoroughly enjoyed this mostly CGI adventure which was so expertly done that I soon forgot who was CGI and who wasn’t. Set in the distant future as a downtrodden city is controlled by another city hovering above and almost everyone seems to have cybernetic limbs. We are quickly introduced to a sprightly teenaged girl seeming cyborg. She figures out she’s an advanced combat model and severed cybernetic limbs are soon flying across the screen. The supporting cast was uniformly awesome led by the incomparable Christophe Walz and Mahersala Ali (who it seems is in every movie lately). The action is non-stop and expertly staged as long as you suspend your disbelief in the computer generated nature. Loved it.

MVP: Salazar, great voice really gave Alita texture

Mr. Right

Actors: Sam Rockwell, Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, James Ransone, Anson Mount, Michael Eklund, RZA

Rating: 9 out of 10, This movie literally snuck up on me. I didn’t see it in the theaters but caught a bit of it on HBO and was hooked. Both Rockwell and Kendrick are personal favorites so that wasn’t a surprise but this quirky dark comedy stands on its own. Rockwell plays a semi-crazed but extremely deadly assassin who’s turned to killing those who try to hire him. He discovers a kindred spirit in Kendrick and love blooms in the most unlikely of situations, such as throwing knives at each other. Kendrick especially shines demonstrating a nice edge when needed. So a pleasant surprise and well worth the watch.

MVP: Kendrick as Martha, not someone you want to take your eyes off of

Shazam

Actors: Asher, Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou

Rating: 8 out of 10, This movie is a lot of simple fun laced with a serious amount of heart. I hadn’t heard much from Zach Levi since his Chuck days and this movie adds to the mystery because he is fantastic as the superhero inhabited by a fourteen year old boy. That’s a funny premise on its own but the filmmakers don’t fall prey to the Hollywood need to mature the character for the climatic scenes. He fights the bad guys armed only with adolescent innocence and motivations, just a lot of fun. This is all a big tribute to Levi who blends the obvious humor the part calls for along with the needed physicality. Mark Strong is along to play the villain and is DC suitable with all the required dourness. He’s also very good but needed to lighten up a bit to make some of the laughs work better. I really liked the message of the everyday heroism of foster parents. In all this was a very fun movie that I would defy anyone seeing not to laugh. If you can’t at least crack a smile at some of the antics, seek help. Loved it.

MVP: Zachary Levi as the adult super-hero – funny and physical