The latest big sci-fi project from Weta Digital has topped the Kiwi box office this week, and it's another collaboration with Avatar filmmaker James Cameron.
A passion project for Cameron, he has passed on directing duties to Robert Rodriguez, who in turn enlisted the genius of Weta to realise his vision.
Alita was born as a Japanese manga character and is now making the jump to Hollywood.
Found by Christolph Waltz's character on a rubbish heap - broken and with no memory - he restores Alita, and loves her like the daughter he lost.
The world they live in is dominated by the dangerous sport of motorball, and Alita soon uncovers her own impressive skills as a competitor.
But those who control it, including the omnipresence of Mahershala Ali's Vector, can see Alita is so much more than even she can remember.
This futuristic Matrix idea of being "The One" clearly is nothing new, and neither is the love story within this. But the kinetic energy it's delivered with and the accessibility of Alita herself and those around her I found very easily engaging.
What Alita lacked in freshness for me, she made up for in kick-arse.
The science fiction of CGI humanity is sci-fi no longer - visually embodying her story to give her heart and soul.
I enjoyed this far more than I predicted and it's most certainly a big screen experience.
Four stars.
Newshub.
