Alita: Battle Angel - 艾莉塔:戰鬥天使

Alita: Battle Angel (艾莉塔:戰鬥天使) is an 2019 film. The movie stars Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Ed Skrein, and Keean Johnson. The movie is based in an 1990s manga called Battle Angel. Battle Angel has also been made into various anime films in the past. This one was produced by James Cameron who couldn't make it due his commitment to do a bazillion more Avatar films.



In 2563, 300 years after Earth was in a massive war, human civilization has merged technology with life forms. You basically have cyborg type beings. Dr. Dyson Ido discovers the remains of an cyborg with its human brain still functional. Ido proceeds to put her together and names her Alita. Alita is immediately curious of the outside world and tries to discover herself. But she gets into danger and finds out that she knows a ancient form of fighting. Which puts a target on her head. Can she navigate the dangers of life and continue to discover herself?



Alita is a classic coming of age story. Even though she's older than all the other characters, she's has the least experience. But she has a naturally "good" heart and is fiercely loyal to those she considers close. The action starts slow but the second half of the film is pretty much all action. Once she has to solve the problem, its non-stop from there.



I don't remember the anime as I watched it back in the 1990s. So I went into this film with only the impression from the trailer. Which showed a compelling story. But the movie itself was a letdown versus what I thought I was getting from the trailer. But the movie itself was still very good due to the CGI, the acting, and the action. There isn't anything particularly unique in their world that would make me clamor back for more. But if they made more, I would surely watch.

Olympus Has Fallen - 全面攻佔:倒數救援

Olympus Has Fallen (全面攻佔:倒數救援) is an 2013 film. The movie stars Gerard Butler. The supporting cast include Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Rick Yune, Dylan McDermott, Ashley Judd, and Malana Lea. The film has garnered some attention after its release. Both for being a success at the box office and fans racist twits against Asians.



Gerard Butler plays a ex-secret service lead that protects the president of the United States, played by Aaron Eckhart. During winter one year, the First Lady, played by Ashley Judd, dies in an accident. The president blames Butler and he's relegated to another post in the DC area. Months after the death, we're in DC and the White House is attacked. Butler sees this from afar and heads to the white house. He eventually gets in tries to fend off the terrorists. Olympus has indeed fallen.



Good fun movie to watch. The sad part is that they choose North Korea as the source of the terror. Although its less like Red Dawn, it still doesn't make sense for North Korea to ever attack the US. Beyond that, the movie was action packed and fun to watch. Oh, the fake Asian accents weren't very good either. If you need a FOB, you need to get a FOB. Period.

The Man With The Iron Fists - 鐵拳

The Man With The Iron Fists (鐵拳) is an 2012 film. The movies stars RZA. With a rather large ensemble cast that include Rick Yune, Jamie Chung, Russel Crow, Lucy Liu, David Bautista, Cung Le, and Byron Mann. With special cameos from Pam Grier, MC Jin, Daniel Wu, Grace Huang, Gordon Liu, Chen Kuan-tai, Bryan Leung, Zhu Zhu, and Terence Yin. Film primarily in Zhong Guo, you'll see a lot of actors based in HK show up in the film with "english speaking" roots.

RZA plays an iron smith that makes weapons for the different clans of Jungle Village. He is trying to save enough to buy the release of his brothel girlfriend, played by Jamie Chung. However, just as he was about to leave, a lot of gold comes through town. Bringing with it outsiders and the locals seeking to steal it. Lots and lots of fighting happens and the man with the iron fists must bring order to the town.

This movie was fun to watch. From both an "Asian American" POV and also from the POV of someone whom watches a lot of stuff from Zhong Guo, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. It had me thinking the whole film. I was looking at all the familiar faces. Wondering whom in the cast grew up or spent time schooling in the USA, Canada, or Australia. Did they come from Singapore? The set pieces also got me thinking a lot. Would this set appear in an wuxia series or movie produced by locals? Lots and lots of thoughts. This is one of the few movies that had me pausing and rewinding alot.

The movie itself as a whole was good. Entertaining. I'd prolly have repeat watches of this if it shows up on cable. I however would not rent or buy this film (I rented this time). Also, all those questions I had were hard to overlook. Which might have caused me to not enjoy the film as much. I don't know if I could have avoided this due to the casting and my personal background.

The movie ends on a cliff hanger for a sequel. With its box office performance dismal, I highly doubt we'll see one. It was a fun ride for RZA, but we'll prolly see him making an "american" film next time around.

Ninja Assassin - 忍者刺客

Ninja Assassin (忍者刺客) is a 2009 film starring Korean pop icon Rain. The movie was highly anticipated due to the involvement of Rain and the Wachowski brothers.

The movie starts off with the destruction of a Yakuza gang lead by potty mouth Sung Kang getting a traditional Yakuza tattoo. When a note is sent to them, the tattoo artist is shocked and tells the gang that their demise is imminent. The gang laughs at such a preposterous concept. But the lone ninja comes and destroys the gang. The ninja comes out of the shadow and you can tell its Rick Yune. Fastfoward to Rain with his flowing locks as Raizo. Flashback to his training as a Ozunu clan ninja proceeds to be scattered threw the first half of the movie. Rain is tracked down by a Forensic Researcher of Europol and they go on a hunt for the leader of the Ozunu, of which Raizo has renegaded from. Lots and lots of fighting happens after this. With a few minor twists.

The movie was pretty bad. From Rain's faux robo voice to the CG fighting. The way Rain wins battles is a very very unbelievable. Because you have to take into account what he does to others and reconcile with why those things don't happen to him in a fight. Maybe Raizo is just that good. Don't ask, just believe.

Rain does get to show off his impeccable body to the masses. Rain is just adding to the reputation of leading Korean men having yolked physics. What's gonna happen to fatty when he comes along?

Lots more issues for me though. I know Rain is a superstar in Asia, but I completely missed that boat. I really have no clue who this guy is other than that he dances very well. I don't know his music nor his k-dramas. So, add that to a ninja role, I really had to suspend belief.

Benefit of the doubt I gave, but the return I got was a jumbled mess. I really wanted to like this movie.