Thursday marked the release of the highly anticipated film “Alita: Battle Angel,” and it has opened new possibilities in the entertainment industry as a technological masterpiece and modern remake of a classic comic.

The film, directed by Robert Rodriguez, is based on the Japanese manga created by Yukito Kishiro called “Battle Angel Alita,” which was first published in 1990 and labeled an original “Cyberpunk Classic.” In 1993, the manga was made into an animated television show called “Battle Angel,” also known as “Gunnm” in Japan.

The film takes place in the 26th century, 300 years after an apocalyptic war called “The Fall,” and civilization has become reliant on robotic technology. Many parts of the film are accurate to the manga, for example, in the beginning when Dr. Ido, played by Christoph Waltz, finds the remains of a female cyborg, played by Rosa Salazar, who he repairs and names Alita.

Salazar delivers an incredible performance and demonstrates her ability to visually embody an almost entirely digitally animated character while adorned in a complex suit used to digitize physical movement and appearance. Her interaction with the non-digital and digitized characters in the film is seamless, and although many scenes rely on animated technology, they still create an exciting and engaging experience for the audience.

The budget for “Alita: Battle Angel” was estimated at $200 million, according to IMDb, and it reflected the quality of work put into the film’s creation. The digital effects were a spectacular combination of live action and CGI, and the film was packed with exciting fight sequences.

An impressive feature about the film’s initial announcement was there wasn’t much core content revealed in the trailers, leaving those who aren’t familiar with the manga curious and unaware of what to expect, but still offered plenty of explanation regarding the plot.

Overall, the film was a great revitalization of an old concept and, with excellent directing, the current advancements in technology helped create a thrilling experience for viewers, leaving them hopeful for a sequel in the near future.