Episode 136 - Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

Dec 30, 2025
1h 46m

Episode Description

A new year is almost upon us, but you know what they say: the holiday season isn't officially over until you've listened to part two of "Failure to Franchise presents Trev & Chris-tmas." This time, Trev gifts Chris the long-in-the-works passion project of legendary filmmaker James Cameron, the cyberpunk manga adaptation Alita: Battle Angel. But, wait...if this was Cameron's passion project, why the heck is it directed by Robert Rodriguez? We discuss that and more, including the unique marriage of Cameron and Rodriguez's sensibilities, the eclectic but sometimes wasted cast, and the strengths and weaknesses of the film's worldbuilding. It's a movie that James Cameron still insists will get a sequel, and as the recent Avatar: Fire & Ash box office proves once again, you can never count Big Jim out. But do we really believe him about this one? And do we even want a sequel? Listen on and find out.

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