stormhawk2021

B-movie production company Troma Entertainment is known in the low-budget world and The Toxic Avenger is arguably the most iconic film from this production company, bringing it to greater fame. Many times the mistake is made of classifying this film as a product of horror cinema or gore cinema, despite having some elements of these. This film is rather a comedy that parodies the superhero genre and presents us with a monster that takes the role of the hero when in the world of superheroes a monster is rarely the hero of the story. The work is quite admirable for having basic elements of an exploitation film that help make the film very enjoyable to watch. It is not a film with an excellent plot and the acting is clearly exaggerated according to the humor of the film. The Toxic Avenger manages to be a film that can be enjoyed for its death scenes and the humor that manages to offer funny moments. It is for all of that that The Toxic Avenger is the definitive masterpiece from Troma that defines what this production company is. My final rating for this movie is a 9/10.

I had no expectations for this film, and I was pleasantly surprised.

It's true that there is nothing genuinely new in the design of the sets and characters, nor in the story, nor in the visuals, but everything is certainly represented at a great level. It's also true that more than a Robert Rodriguez film, the film feels visually more like a James Cameron film (which is not bad per se). Without a doubt, the influence of the American director is palpable throughout the production (not in vain is he the driving force behind this project and one of the two main scriptwriters).

The sensations that the film conveys are that of watching a Japanese anime brought to the screen literally. Alita leaves us with totally iconic and unforgettable images, unbridled and constant action in which the viewer finds out everything (very well shot) and with a story seen a thousand times, but wonderfully told.

The actors are great, especially the main character, who despite being completely CGI, has a depth rarely seen and is a step further (if that is possible) in the use of motion capture and realism. Her enormous and controversial eyes have turned out to be a characteristic that gives the film a unique image that does not look out of place at all.

If you can, I would go to the largest room I could (in my case, an IMAX 3D room), in 3D if possible, and I would let myself be carried away for 2 hours by the best cyberpunk action film that cinema has given us in many, many years.

The best thing that can be said about this film is that when it ends, one is left wanting more. And that isn't usual.

Positive: Visually it is a delight. We have already seen what it tells, but it is so well done that it does not matter. Amazing designs. 3D gives the film a depth and spectacularity rarely seen. The fight scene in the cantina (and in its basement).

Negative: It doesn't tell anything particularly original. It ends a bit abruptly, in view of a sequel that we don't know if it will be made (hopefully it will).

What was the reason for the sequel!? The first was bad enough, but well scripted; for other hand, this sequel was abysmal, leaving gaping holes in the connected storyline from the first to this one, and the unlikely action scenes are unbelievably stupid, not to mention the kiddy style used by the bad guys. A spray that knocks you out is the kind of thing I'm talking about. What happened to Natalie Connors from the first film? Well, she is now replaced by Emily (ex-SClub7 member, Hannah Spearritt). The chemistry between Emily and Cody was poor: he is 18-year-old and still in high school, while she's 23 and in college. And Anthony Anderson as Cody's mentor was more distracting than funny. The end of this sequel was very bad: when Derek says goodbye to Cody, leaves an open ending for a possible third sequel that never happened. Way-too Hollywood. Come to think of it, way-too stupid as well. The fact that this sequel it is a film exclusive for kids is no excuse for it being so bad.

P. S.: If anyone thinks that Emily was better than Natalie because her actress has 23-year-old, go to prefer instead a better heroine of the same age: Kazumi Hoshikawa/Five Pink, from the Japanese TV show "Chikyu Sentai Fiveman" (1990). WARNING: This series was the worst in the Super Sentai franchise.