This week’s big DVD release, “Alita” proves that even the best filmmakers can miss the mark.
• “Alita: Battle Angel”: The film will never stand upon a massive pile of honors nor will it be tossed into the garbage bin of failed movie attempts. Any effort that has Robert Rodriguez (“El Mariachi”) as director and a screenplay from James Cameron (“Avatar”) and Laeta Kalogridis (“Altered Carbon”) automatically has some shine. But that is not enough in this case as this massive feature film is simply the most underwhelming production to be released in years.
Efforts to bring the manga character to life looks less like an original effort and more like the Frankensteined product of bits and pieces from past TV and film projects including “Rollerball,” “Ready Player One,” “Dark Angel,” “Avatar” and “Star Trek: First Contact” — with a little bit of “Pinocchio” tossed in at the last minute. The biggest flaw is that it all is jumbled together to tell a story that never reaches a finale just to ensure a sequel will be made.
The problem with “Alita: Battle Angel” in a metal nutshell is that there’s no central core of originality. It’s all just a collection of familiar sequences tied at the hip to the unemotional love. Cameron’s connection to the project suggested the visuals would be remarkable after seeing how stunning he used the cameras for “Avatar.” There’s no such quality here and that makes one more thing that causes “Alita: Battle Angel” to look like so many other films that have come and gone before.
Also on DVD
• “Missing Link”: Animated tale of a famous adventurer trying to help the Missing Link find his way to a safe place.
• “Rock, Paper, Scissors”: Man is haunted by memories of childhood abuse and murder victims while being menaced by the cop who put him away.
• “Hellboy”: Latest big-screen version of the character from the Dark Horse comics is filled with monsters and mayhem as directed by Neil Marshall.
• “Manifest: Season 1”: NBC series that follows the 191 passengers on a routine flight that lands after being missing for five years.
• “The Doors”: Oliver Stone’s 1991 film about the rock band is being released in 4K Ultra HD.
• “Universal Horror Collection Volume 2”: Includes the films “Murders in the Zoo,” “Mad Doctor of Market Street,” “The Strange Case of Doctor Rx” and “The Mad Ghoul.”
• “The Fate of Lee Khan”: The 1973 production from director King Hu is being released on Blu-ray.
• “Critters Attack”: Dee Wallace stars in this film based on the films featuring the dangerous critters released in the ’80s and ’90s.
• “Master Z: Ip Man Legacy”: Cheung Tin Chi makes a life with his young son in Hong Kong but it’s not long before he’s drawn once again to the fight.
On digital HD
• “Pokemon Detective Pikachu”: Ryan Reynolds gives voice to Detective Pikachu in this film based on the Pokemon trading card game. Look for it on DVD and Blu-ray on Aug. 6.
• “Tolkien”: Nicholas Hoult stars in this look at the early life of writer J.R.R. Tolkien. Will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on Aug. 6.
• “Poms”: Group of women form a cheerleading squad at a retirement community. Set for Aug. 6 release on DVD and Blu-ray.
• “Big Little Lies: Season 2”: Residents of Monterey struggle to get their lives in order. Reese Witherspoon stars.
