'We're happy with it,' say makers of big budget 'Alita: Battle Angel'
Big-budget action film “Alita: Battle Angel” may have garnered lukewarm reviews, but the filmmakers behind the manga-inspired movie envisioned by James Cameron say they are delighted with how it has turned out.
The movie from 21st Century Fox about a cyborg heroine in a post-apocalyptic world has been more than 15 years in the making with a budget of between 150 million U.S. dollars and 200 million U.S. dollars.
Cast member Rosa Salazar poses at the premiere for the movie "Alita: Battle Angel" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2019. /VCG Photo
Co-producer Jon Landau said the makers would not judge its success by box-office numbers and felt they had delivered the movie they wanted.
“We are our biggest critics,” Landau told Reuters. “If we're happy with the movie, we've done our job. I think not only are we happy with it, but James Cameron is happy with it and (manga creator) Yukito Kishiro, who could be our biggest critic of all, is thrilled with it.”
Cameron, the director of Hollywood's 2-billion-U.S.-dollar blockbusters “Avatar” and “Titanic,” first wrote a script for “Alita” in 2004 but handed the movie over to director Robert Rodriguez in order to focus on three long-delayed sequels to “Avatar.”
James Cameron attends the "Alita: Battle Angel" Los Angeles Premiere held at Regency Village Theater, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2019. /VCG Photo
Hollywood entertainment website The Wrap reported last week that “Alita: Battle Angel” was expected to take in a modest 25 million U.S. dollars over five days when it opens in North America on February 14.
Cameron said two more “Alita” movies based on Japanese writer Kishiro's graphic novels were mapped out if the first film does well.
Rodriguez said the biggest challenge in making the movie was finding the right actress to play the lead part of Alita, a wide-eyed young angel of death played by Rosa Salazar, with CGI effects.
Yukito Kishiro at the "Alita: Battle Angel" Los Angeles Premiere held at Regency Village Theater, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 5, 2019. /VCG Photo
“We can put up all the scale and spectacle on the screen, but if we don't have somebody to carry the heart and empathy of the movie? Rosa was the shining light that showed us the way,” Rodriguez said.
“Alita: Battle Angel” also stars Oscar winners Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, and Mahershala Ali.
(Cover: Signage is displayed during the premiere of 20th Century Fox's "Alita: Battle Angel" at Westwood Regency Theater on February 5, 2019 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. /VCG Photo)