Support NeoGAF

[cj_iwakura]

I'm trying to understand how someone can criticize Avatar for being predictable and trope-laden while simultaneously talking up the director of Machete films for being consistent. I'm also not sure how being on budget affects the audience in any way.

The Machete films were fun? He knew exactly what he set out to make and did it. Avatar was just boring. Pretty, but boring.


And budget doesn't affect it, it's just something I respect about him. I love his 10 minute film schools.

 

[pseudocaesar]

At least he's consistent. Avatar was the most predictable film ever. I expect better from Cameron.
And I love nearly every film Rodriguez has done. He knows how to keep on budget.

You love nearly every film someone has done because he knows how to keep on budget?

 

[Jaguar Victory]

Battle Angel was the second anime to grab me after Akira. It's great.

 

[Zero315]

Avatar should have stopped at one film. I'm not optimistic it can carry one sequel, much less three.

Four, there will be four Avatar sequels.

I will not be convinced that Avatar 2 isn't just vaporware until actual human beings sit in a theater and tell me they watched it.

 

[cj_iwakura]

You love nearly every film someone has done because he knows how to keep on budget?

I respect that about him, watch his documentaries sometime. He's a very clever filmmaker.

 

[duckroll]

I respect that about him, watch his documentaries sometime. He's a very clever filmmaker.

By the same token there's a lot to respect about how Cameron dares to put technology and the boundaries of how a film can be made. He doesn't just think about new toys, he goes out to make them, use them, puts his money where his mouth is, and then manages to make all that money back and more. That's pretty crazy!

 

[cj_iwakura]

By the same token there's a lot to respect about how Cameron dares to put technology and the boundaries of how a film can be made. He doesn't just think about new toys, he goes out to make them, use them, puts his money where his mouth is, and then manages to make all that money back and more. That's pretty crazy!

I agree... but if he bases it all around a boring script, what's the point? Machete is incredibly, incredibly stupid, but damn if it's not entertaining. The sequel even more so on both counts.

It's really hard to stay mad at a film where Danny Trejo disembowels someone then uses their innards as an escape rope.

 

[duckroll]

I agree... but if he bases it all around a boring script, what's the point? Machete is incredibly, incredibly stupid, but damn if it's not entertaining. The sequel even more so on both counts.

It's really hard to stay mad at a film where Danny Trejo disembowels someone then uses their innards as an escape rope.

My issue with Rodriguez is that he doesn't really bring anything new to sequels and often he loses sight of why the first film was good to begin with. I -love- Spy Kids. I liked Machete. I didn't like Sin City because of the subject matter but I appreciated his passion in the adaptation. And in every single one of these cases, I feel he showed his lack of finesse in iteration as a filmmaker. He didn't improve on anything, he just provided more, and in some ways less. They were sequels for the sake of sequels.

Cameron on the other hand is the complete opposite. He never makes sequels unless he really has something new to offer, and each of his films are very different from the last. Even if you think one of his films are boring or generic or whatever, I think it's really silly to look at his filmography and think that the next one he makes, even (especially?) if it is a sequel to that film, would be more of the same for the sake of it.

 

[cj_iwakura]

My issue with Rodriguez is that he doesn't really bring anything new to sequels and often he loses sight of why the first film was good to begin with. I -love- Spy Kids. I liked Machete. I didn't like Sin City because of the subject matter but I appreciated his passion in the adaptation. And in every single one of these cases, I feel he showed his lack of finesse in iteration as a filmmaker. He didn't improve on anything, he just provided more, and in some ways less. They were sequels for the sake of sequels.

Cameron on the other hand is the complete opposite. He never makes sequels unless he really has something new to offer, and each of his films are very different from the last. Even if you think one of his films are boring or generic or whatever, I think it's really silly to look at his filmography and think that the next one he makes, even (especially?) if it is a sequel to that film, would be more of the same for the sake of it.

You're not wrong, but I was just really disappointed in Avatar's story. Maybe the sequels will improve, he'll at least get a fair shake from me.

Rodriguez has enough hits that I'm optimistic for Alita.

 

[Madao]

i want this project to be successful only because we need to start getting manga-to-film adaptations that are good. like videogames, there's still not a good adaptation around.

 

[HitchcockInTheZiplock]

I like the guys movies, but I dunno about Robert Rodriguez for this one. I was really hoping Cameron would get around to this sometime soon.

Fuckin' Avatar man...

 

[flaxknuckles]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooo, cancel it!

James Cameron just has to get those damn Avatar movies done, just drop them bitches yearly and then make Battle Angel please.

 

[99Luffy]

Edit: They're not white washing...but they are changing everyone to be hispanic. I don't have a problem with it personally, still works that way. I am sure this isn't surprising to most people considering Rodriguez is directing.

Battle Angel with Hispanics.. so, Elysium?

 

[duckroll]

Battle Angel with Hispanics.. so, Elysium?

Matt Damon is Hispanic?

 

[meltingparappa]

Cyborgs aside, there wouldn't be much of a whitewashing issue with this IP anyway considering it takes place in the states and the main character

Spoiler

is from Mars

Yeah. Of all the properties to claim white-washing on, this would be a baffling one to be outraged by. Plus all racial bets are off when trying to cast an actress with lips that do Alita justice.

Amazing supporting cast.

Poor Cameron though. Passion project for almost two decades only to concedes to giving it to a campy director with an penchant for extremely fast and loose special effects.

 

[JimmyRustler]

WAs really looking forward to the film when Cameron was about to make it but now... meh, not much faith in Rodriguez. Hope the best, fear the worst.

Would have loved to see an R-rated flick from Cameron again. Well, I guess this won't be happening any more.

 

[munchie64]

Well at least it's happening...

I guess.

 

[Randam]

Was the Manga called "Alita: Battle Angle" in the US too?
Know it under "Battle Angle Alita".

 

[SJRB]

When was the last time Robert Rodruigez dit a proper good movie? Sin City in 2005 or something? His track record is questionable at best.

Stupid Cameron and his stupid Avatar.

 

[spekkeh]

I can kind of see it. Jessica Alba was a better fit at the time with totally-not-Battle-Angel Dark Angel, but she's too old now.

As someone said above me, at least it's getting made. Hopefully Cameron has tight reign over Rodriguez.

 

[ZeoVGM]

At least Cameron had a hand in the script and preproduction. My hopes lie entirely in that.

Didn't he write the script for Avatar though?

 

[Master Of Illusion]

I could see Rodriguez do an anime adaptation (primarily an Outlaw Star or Trigun movie)...

...Just not this one. Alita's a little more downbeat than what he's used to doing.

 

[JimmyRustler]

Didn't he write the script for Avatar though?

So one mediocre script makes us forget all the other amazing scripts he wrote, rite?

 

[nelsonroyale]

Even with Cameron directing, I would be cautious on this. I am hoping it will surprise...

 

[Sgt. Kabukiman]

I'm glad this is actually happening even though I'm not super confident in Rodriguez. Hopefully Cameron will be more than just an executive producer on this. Do we know if this has any chance of being R-rated?

 

[FoxSpirit]

I could see Rodriguez do an anime adaptation (primarily an Outlaw Star or Trigun movie)...

...Just not this one. Alita's a little more downbeat than what he's used to doing.

And mich more fucked up than what Cameron usually does.

If this is high budget, watch it became some "13 years and above" soft wash.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

So this finished filming last week and Michelle Rodriguez is also part of the cast.

http://ew.com/movies/2017/02/22/michelle-rodriguez-alita-battle-angel/

 

[Akuun]

I thought Cameron kept saying that filming technology wasn't at the point where he could film it?

 

[Anton Sugar]

So this finished filming last week and Michelle Rodriguez is also part of the cast.

http://ew.com/movies/2017/02/22/michelle-rodriguez-alita-battle-angel/

wut

Wouldn't that mean only 14 days of shooting? Did it actually start shooting on 2/7 or before that?

 

[Nappuccino]

wut

Wouldn't that mean only 14 days of shooting? Did it actually start shooting on 2/7 or before that?

I'm guessing there's a lot of CGI, or maybe just some hand drawn stills created by his kids.

 

[Hilbert]

Personally I think Rodriguez is a good fit.

Cautiously excited.

 

[Malyse]

Fuck yeah more anime adaptations

WHAT.

 

[Jarmel]

So this finished filming last week and Michelle Rodriguez is also part of the cast.

http://ew.com/movies/2017/02/22/michelle-rodriguez-alita-battle-angel/

Damn, that's a quick turnaround.

 

[Kain-Nosgoth]

Like always, i except a bad adaptations! But it would be nice if one time we can have a surprise and get something unexceptedly good! I love guunm since my childhood

Also i'm reading the third part that's being released in french right now (only 3 volume in japan currently)

 

[jett]

So this finished filming last week and Michelle Rodriguez is also part of the cast.

http://ew.com/movies/2017/02/22/michelle-rodriguez-alita-battle-angel/

Good ol Rodriguez working fast.

And shitty, probably.

 

[Robot Carnival]

is whoever playing Alita going to be pouting throughout the whole film?

 

[Dan]

I'm guessing Rodriguez shot this mostly on his little digital stage, which is just... ugh.

This deserved so much better... like the Wachowskis employing all their Speed Racer skills.

 

[Erigu]

wut

Wouldn't that mean only 14 days of shooting? Did it actually start shooting on 2/7 or before that?

Pretty sure it started before that. Kishiro was on the set back in January.

 

[Sectorseven]

wut

Wouldn't that mean only 14 days of shooting? Did it actually start shooting on 2/7 or before that?

Rodriguez probably wanted to move his car back in the garage.

 

[bengraven]

Excited for this. Alita was my first manga - bought the digest at a Barnes and Noble in Duluth back when "the manga section" was four manga collections shoved between Ben Bova and a Star Trek book in the scifi novel section.

I traced that cover for years and thought it was a one shotnuntil a friend picked up the other digests years later.

 

[Aselith]

I'm also not sure how being on budget affects the audience in any way.

His craft services are amazing too

So one mediocre script makes us forget all the other amazing scripts he wrote, rite?

I wouldnt even say it was a mediocre script just people poking fun it for being like Fern Gully and shit. If anyone else made that movie, I think most people would have been much kinder to it.

 

[jett]

I still don't get how you can call the script bad after saying you love all of Rodriguez' films.

Sin City 2, Spy Kids, his shitty grindhouse wankfest. Dude hasn't made anything good since the original Sin City.

Cameron's Avatar script is a trope-laden script that is well written in every capacity except for the tropes you're concerned with.

 

[HStallion]

Personally I think Rodriguez is a good fit.

Cautiously excited.

Honestly this feels like a film really out of Rodriguez's wheel house. The manga is not at all something I would have thought,"You know who would be great at adapting this? Robert Rodriguez!". Rodriguez would have been a better fit for something like Baki the Grappler

 

[ErichWK]

I read the entire Mainline manga and on issue 3 of the Last Order.


And my god...i cant imagine this being great without a huge budget. I hope they use a lot of practical effects

 

[SchrodingerC]

So this finished filming last week and Michelle Rodriguez is also part of the cast.

http://ew.com/movies/2017/02/22/michelle-rodriguez-alita-battle-angel/

I don't have a great feeling for the movie.

 

[Korigama]

I still don't get how you can call the script bad after saying you love all of Rodriguez' films.

Sin City 2, Spy Kids, his shitty grindhouse wankfest. Dude hasn't made anything good since the original Sin City.

Cameron's Avatar script is a trope-laden script that is well written in every capacity except for the tropes you're concerned with.

I'd go further and say Rodriguez hasn't made anything good since From Dusk till Dawn.

 

[HStallion]

I'd go further and say Rodriguez hasn't made anything good since From Dusk till Dawn.

His bbq is pretty fiendish apparently

 

[Fevaweva]

So one mediocre script makes us forget all the other amazing scripts he wrote, rite?

2. Titanic.

He is on a downward trend when it comes to scripts IMO.

 

[TDLink]

wut

Wouldn't that mean only 14 days of shooting? Did it actually start shooting on 2/7 or before that?

It started shooting in October. And they built like a whole 6 block city. It's not all CG. Though the antagonist will be (Avatar style), and Alita is also having CG applied to her.

 

[s_mirage]

If this has the $200 million budget that is rumoured, I'll put money on it being a bomb. The manga/anime doesn't have a big enough following, Cameron's no longer directing, and Rodriguez isn't exactly a money making machine. I wonder if the performance of GitS could be a guide to how this will do, as that's based on a more well known property.