SciFiNow__September_2019

FLASHBACK

DISTRICT 9

FLASHBACK
DISTRICT 9

FLASHBACK

DISTRICT 9
OAFCJTOOHRASNHNARELSTBOUJOCRGUORPTNLOEEYTYARTLEOKTUUDRSINSTTSHRITRCOOT UT9HGEHAHLIIESNUNSLLUIKMESLY
WORDS SIMON BLAND

“It was kind of miraculous that I becoming available,” says Copley on his signed on as the film’s producer, ready to guide
ended up being in the film at all,” long-standing friendship with Blomkamp. “We Blomkamp’s vision to the screen. However when
chuckles Sharlto Copley, thinking back were all trying to make our stuff look as cool the time came to capture some rough footage to
to the creation of 2009’s scrappy, as possible with as little money as possible. I provide a flavour of the film’s free-flowing tone,
surprise sci-fi hit District 9. Whenever talk distinctly remember Neill saying: ‘Everyone is everything changed.
turns to how director Neill Blomkamp brought able to make their stuff look really slick – and I
this politically charged tale of alien and human want to do something different.’” “I started to be Wikus and the character came
strife in Johannesburg to life – and how Copley to life,” smiles Copley, recalling his experiences
found himself as its unlikely star – it’s hard for Shortly after they met, Blomkamp emigrated standing in as the lead for Blomkamp’s sizzle-
him to hide a sense of utter disbelief that the from South Africa to Vancouver and identified a reel. “We’d done Alive In Joburg so I was
whole thing actually happened. In retrospect, story inspiration that was oddly close to home. familiar with the world Neill was building. I
we can hardly blame him. An unknown actor “Neill wanted to shoot in the townships because basically just bullshitted about the world, the
headlining a ground-breaking new movie people were so removed from the world that we aliens and everything I knew – and the things
packed with high-end visual effects, with mega- grew up with,” Copley tells us. “He came I didn’t know, I just made up,” he laughs. “We
director Peter Jackson producing? It’s far from up with this idea of shooting very raw footage did an improv session with local residents in
an easy sell. “I have a whole different sense of that looked like shitty corporate video and Soweto. I said ‘pretend I’m from the government
how crazy it was,” he says in retrospect. “The putting in high-end CGI. The first thing he ever and I’m evicting you’. That went a lot better than
way the stars aligned is just astounding.” did was use high-end robots – which became Neill or I were planning and by the time we got
the seed of Chappie,” he reveals, detailing early to the end, we knew something magical had
He’s not wrong. Ten years ago, nobody knew inspirations for Blomkamp’s third feature. “Soon happened – but there was still no thought that I
Copley, who was then a producer with dreams after, he came up with the idea of aliens living was going to play Wikus.”
of creating his own TV channel. Likewise no one in the townships.”
had heard of Blomkamp either, himself a visual After digesting the footage, Blomkamp was
effects whizz with hopes of helming his own What followed was Alive In Joburg, a short convinced of two things: he was definitely on
feature film. When the opportunity finally arose that showed exactly what Blomkamp’s cheap to something with the film’s improvisational
to make their dreams a reality, the pair’s shared and cheerful CGI could do. The film’s success feel – and if he wanted to keep it, he needed
experiences growing up in a country stricken landed Blomkamp on the radar of Peter Jackson, to use Copley’s light-hearted talents. “There
with apartheid led them – and writer Terri who lined him up to helm the long-in-gestation was 60 million bucks on the line and Neill says
Tatchell – to create a new installment to both movie adaptation of the videogame Halo. When he wants to use his buddy? You can imagine
the found-footage and science fiction genres. things ultimately fell apart, the duo’s little aliens- that conversation,” laughs Copley on what
The result was District 9, a film that transported in-the-slums idea suddenly took precedence. happened next. “They were like ‘isn’t Sharlto
us to an alternate timeline where aliens landed producing the movie? Has he done anything
in Johannesburg in 1982 and quickly became “It was never a proper script, it was always in else?’ then ‘wait, he’s not an actor AND he’s
second class citizens. Cut to present day, and a treatment format,” says Copley, remembering going to make up all his lines?’ You just couldn’t
with tensions at an high, company man Wikus the film’s loose development process. “As soon do that deal in Hollywood now. The only reason
(Copley) is sent into the alien encampment as I saw Neill’s idea – that Wikus was going to we were able to was because Peter Jackson
to relocate South Africa’s new neighbours – turn into one of these creatures – I thought we had absolute control in his deal. Pete just said
however as with most sci-fi endeavors, things had structural gold from a story point of view. yes – use Sharlto,” explains the actor. “It wasn’t
don’t quite go according to plan. It was a very solid concept. You’re going to turn intimidating at all, which is weird as I think
into the thing you’re oppressing? Coming from about it now. It just flowed naturally.”
“The early part of our relationship happened South Africa, that resonated very deeply at a
at the point where cheaper technologies were creative and artistic level.” Of course, once he had secured the role,
Copley made time for some on-the-job
With the core of their story set, Copley

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FLASHBACK

DISTRICT 9
Copley had to
dig deep.

ALIEN NATION

Blomkamp’s story of aliens invading
Johannesburg may be a work of fiction but the
political inspiration behind his dazzling debut
is deeply rooted in fact.

“The preparation for the role was my
life experience in South Africa,” reveals
Copley, discussing his years living alongside
apartheid. “When I was in high school my
best friend was a young black guy and I
would go into Soweto when technically I
wasn’t supposed to be there. I’d be the white
guy in the township so I had a lot of personal,
emotional experiences around the complexities
and humanity and also the tribalism that
everybody has on the surface as well.

“There are times where you were very proud
of the miracle of South Africa and then there
were things that you’d see the government
doing that were very unpleasant and hard to
face. It’s conflicting and agonising so I was
able to bring a lot of that to the role of Wikus.”

homework to ensure Wikus’ transformation The social satire
from human to alien was as authentic as holds up.
possible. “All Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh
had seen me do at that point was Wikus in the
first act of the movie: the fun, bumbling Wikus.
He then has to go through this huge drama and
be in agonising pain and I didn’t even know if
I could do that. I had never cried on camera
– ever,” he laughs. “I was very technical about
us not shooting in sequence so I built a graph
and put numerical values on things like how sick
Wikus was and how angry he was. I basically
plotted the intensity of various emotions because
he gets sick but as he becomes more alien, he
starts to get stronger. I found that extremely
helpful. It was the confidence Neill had in me
too, which honestly I’m so grateful for, because
he saw something in me that even I hadn’t seen.”

Blomkamp and Copley set up production
in Cape Town’s authentic Townships, further
blurring the line between real and fake. It
was a task that came with plenty of visual
benefits – alongside a few challenging and
not exactly hygienic negatives. “We chose to
shoot in the real environments and it really
made a difference,” reasons Copley. “We were
shooting in Cape Town and managed to get
some government housing for the people in the
shacks, which was a cool thing that we were
able to do for the local community. We were
able to buy people’s shacks and use the real
things that they had been living in.”

However when the cameras started rolling,
Copley wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.
“I remember the scene where Wikus goes
underground into a hole,” he says, recalling
a sequence where the military are closing in.
“We dug it in a shack and because we were
on a landfill, there were layers of actual trash
when I climbed into it,” he grins. “It was so old
that it had petrified, so it didn’t stink – but I was
basically inside a landfill of trash.”

As production progressed, Copley became

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FLASHBACK
DISTRICT 9

“N60EILMLISLLAIOYSNHBEUWCKASNOTSNTTOHUE SLEINHEISABNUDDDY?”

SHARLTO COPLEY

increasingly encased in prosthetics as his “It was the biggest single incident in my life,”
slow metamorphosis from human to alien got says Copley candidly. “To have the opportunity
underway. “On the days where I had to wear to make something that could be so personal
the alien claw, we’d leave it on all day. It’d take and have the impact it had which then changes
about two and a half hours and I couldn’t get everything in my life going forward? You can’t
it off,” he explains. “Eating was always hard quantity it. I feel a deep sense of gratitude for
because I was in a real trash heap and there Neil and that connection. He came into my
were days where I had human faeces and dog life and created that opportunity for me. It’s
shit on the tentacle from crawling around on the enormously humbling,” he says. “Let me put
floor,” he adds with a grimace. “It turns out there it this way – after the movie I thought: ‘I can
are a lot of times where Wikus is on the floor!”
die satisfied!’”
Then there were the film’s cutting-edge action District 9 is available on Blu-ray from
sequences, created with Blomkamp’s keen eye Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
for thrilling DIY visual effects and transforming
his one-time producer into an unlikely gung-ho DISTRICT 10?
hero. “I loved it. It was one of those things where
you get to live your dreams,” says Copley. “I’d Ever since we left alien Wikus in the
wanted to be an actor from the age of about ten Johannesburg slums at the end of District 9
so it was incredible getting to do these action audiences have been wondering whether we’ll
scenes in a proper movie with Peter Jackson one day see a continuation and conclusion to
producing. It was just surreal.” his story. According to Copley we might be
in luck, because a sequel is definitely on the
That surreal feeling intensified when District cards – just as soon as everyone’s schedules
9 hit audiences following a hugely intriguing free up a bit.
(and successful) viral marketing campaign.
Through their gripping visuals, prawn-like aliens “I do think it’s likely,” he tells us. “It’s
and faux-documentary storytelling, Blomkamp, something that myself and Neill have discussed
Copley and Tatchell had created a startling and on and off over the years and it seems to get
attention-grabbing debut that was both intensely closer and closer before something comes up
personal and universally familiar. The film went and throws it out,” he laughs, “but I’m very
on to earn an Academy Award nomination for confident that it will happen at some point.”
Best Picture at 2009’s Oscars – a feat that’s
almost unheard of within the sci-fi genre – and As for whether Copley, now a major
it made two young creatives from South Africa, Hollywood star, is ready to return to the trash
Copley and Blomkamp, household names. landfills of the townships? “Maybe…,” he says
tentatively. “I don’t know if I still have it for the
real trash but I think if we do come back, I’ve
got to get into the real trash and go back to my
roots. I won’t get too precious!”

The film caught | 101
on instantly.
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FLASHBACK

SUPERGIRL

GALLERY
ALIEN

GALLERY

PERFECT
ORGANISM
INSIDE THE MAKING OF ALIEN

WORDS JONATHAN HATFULL

It’s been 40 years since Ridley Scott’s masterpiece of functional design from Ron
Alien burst onto cinema screens and Cobb that established the reality of this band
terrified a generation of audiences. of truckers in deep space, hauling cargo for a
big corporation and bickering about bonuses
While it’s rightfully remembered as and the quality of the food.
arguably the greatest sci-fi horror ever made,
it didn’t just chill us to the bone while pinning It’s the collision of these two elements, the
us to our seats. It also set the visual template oddly familiar and the horrifyingly alien, that
for generations of filmmakers to come. makes Alien such a timeless piece of cinema,
and the new book The Making Of Alien from
We’re not just talking about the iconic author JW Rinzler dives into the creative
creature designs of HR Giger, the perfect process. Packed full of interviews with Scott
killing machine that resembled nothing we had and the production team and loaded with
ever seen before (it’s worth noting that Giger artwork and never-before-seen photographs,
also designed the ‘croissant’ ship and the this is an essential window into a true genre
famous Space Jockey, which would be over- classic and we have a sneak peek right here
explored in Scott’s own Prometheus decades for you…
later). There’s also the Nostromo itself, a
There’s a
wealth of art.

WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK | 103

GALLERY

ALIEN

Giger
nightmares...

Face-Hugger:
Evolution.

All images Alien TM & © 20th Century Fox Film Corp

104 | WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK

GALLERY
ALIEN

The Making Of Alien | 105
by JW Rinzler is

available now from
Titan Books.

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FLASHBACK

SUPERGIRL

FLASHBACK
THE BROOD

FLASHBACK

THE BROOD
FOTDARAKMVEEIDAR CBLOOROODYNKNHEINNOOTBWORERROT4GH0R’ES-YDCHEIRAHAERIRCL-LROTIONOLDWGR’PSIMNRMOAGONDSUSIHFTCEOSPTETICOARKSTNEIOORNNISASSLOTFILIFLLMTTHH. IWES, E
WORDS OLIVER PFEIFFER

The Brood is the brainchild of writer- other horror masterpieces like Scanners, functioning alcoholic) had its challenges, not
director David Cronenberg. Forty years Videodrome, The Dead Zone and The Fly. least for the actor himself, who was tackling
on it arguably remains the former body horror his own demons at the time.
director’s most personal movie. It concerns Adding a touch of gravitas (and indeed
the struggles of a divorced father to protect notoriety) was legendary British actor Oliver “He had a bodyguard, who was also
his six-year-old daughter, by uncovering the Reed as renegade psychologist Dr Raglan, his stand-in and he would help him with his
unorthodox treatments being administered who practices the controversial metaphysical lines very closely – working back and forth,”
upon his institutionalised ex-wife and how therapy of ‘psychoplasmics’ on his patients, continues Irwin. “Whenever David would
this could all be connected to a series of which involves the physical manifestation have [script changes] Ollie would get very
gruesome murders. of rage. “[He] played the perfect overbearing ‘RADA’ on everyone. It turned out that Ollie
kind of domineering master of all and David was dyslexic, so his smokescreen and that
It was written during a particularly turbulent really investigated a lot in him and his kind of bluff that he would call when there
time for the filmmaker, whom had himself performance,” continues Irwin. “Ollie was not were script changes on the spot, was to call
recently gone through a harrowing divorce the kind of guy who would listen necessarily everyone an amateur.”
and subsequent custody battle for his own but he respected David very much as he had
daughter, after she was abducted and placed written the screenplay.” Reed’s scenes with British actress Samantha
into a cult by his ex-wife. Cronenberg claimed Eggar, who played his patient Lola, the
The Brood was his more truthful take on Indeed, it’s a typically commanding troubled wife of Frank Carveth (Art Hindle),
Kramer Vs Kramer – the Oscar-winning divorce performance from Reed, yet working with remain some of the most powerful. Irwin
drama that he viewed as a comparatively the notoriously temperamental actor (and suggests this intense chemistry was enhanced
lifeless commentary on the subject.
There’s such
Following experimental curios Stereo and raw power.
Crimes Of The Future, along with eyebrow-
raising body horror exploitation flicks Shivers
and Rabid, 1979’s The Brood, (Cronenberg’s
first bonafide studio film) also marked a
distinct turning point for the reigning ‘king of
venereal horror’.

“David seemed to be hitting a new stride
because up until then it had been kind of
gooey horror films,” director-of-photography
Mark Irwin tells SciFiNow. “This was the first
stand up one, which was more dramatically-
based and not so special effects based. I think
he was coming-of-age like the rest of us.”

Indeed, following drag-racing drama Fast
Company, this was the first of five bonafide
director-cinematographer collaborations
between Irwin and Cronenberg – a successful
partnership that subsequently encompassed

WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK | 107

FLASHBACK

THE BROOD

The violence is worse was these [masks] they had on would
truly shocking. not come off easily and so they had to eat
lunch with these masks on, so they were all
“THESE KIDWS WITHAONTLIEVDERNROETEHDI!N” G TO DO bent out of shape.”
MARK IRWIN
The scene in question sees Dr Raglan go
by a romantic history the two British actors experience any trauma from it.” to the bunkhouse in an attempt to safely
had shared. “He had worked with Eggar Equally unsettling to watch is an earlier retrieve Frank’s daughter Candice from the
when they were both much younger and they clutches of the titular brood. However, they
had had somewhat of a jilted romance so daytime kitchen murder scene straight out of begin to get agitated by his presence and
Ollie, late at night would be knocking on her the Hitchcock rulebook of suspense. The scene progressively start hissing and lashing out.
door… it was good in a way that they were carefully builds tension through a succession of “These kids wanted nothing to do with Oliver
uncomfortable onset.” omniscient shots, then, teasingly refuses to fully Reed! He smelt like a distillery and was
reveal the looming antagonistic threat, before yelling, so these kids were not going to jump
Lead actor Art Hindle, who was involved in spilling into a brutal murder montage attack on him, much less attack or go near him!”
some of the most distressing scenes depicted, that keeps audiences on tenterhooks. reveals Irwin.
recalls The Brood as being a particularly
tough shoot. “Every scene I was in was just However, it could have all turned out quite The production team attempted to address
gruesome and very intense,” he tells SciFiNow. differently: “The scene was very structured and the problem by darkening the set with
“You have the kindergarten murder with the the reason it was cut so selectively was due shadows and panels that carefully concealed
[killer brood] and working with a little girl to the same problem Spielberg had on ET, the kids’ parents, who were in fact hidden
who played my daughter Candice, and all the which was that the on-camera talent didn’t off-screen, behind the bunk beds in order to
acting things that she had to go through – she give what [the director] wanted,” continues assist their children. “There was a kid on the
was terrific but working with children is very Irwin. “In retrospect it’s a lot better cut top bunk shaking in fear as Ollie would come
‘duck and dodge’.” together like this; if you save up the thrill you down this aisle,” continues Irwin. “The kids’
can build people’s expectations, so it ended parents were very helpful and they kind of
Hindle’s reference to the brutal teacher up being much more dramatic than it would launched their children at Ollie, who would
attack scene is particularly pertinent, as its have been if something was running, jumping grab them, use them as living dolls and attack
shocking power remains intact four decades and smashing people to pieces!” himself. So, when you look at the scene now
on – especially as the kids appear to be it’s very [choppily edited] because it was hard
witnessing the violently staged murder before We eventually learn that the deformed to get things to flow.”
their very eyes. children who are undertaking these violent
murders are actually motivated by Nola’s Art Hindle had sound reason to get the
Irwin assures us, however, that it was all anger – being manifestations from her
shot under purposely-jovial circumstances. subconscious. The climatic scene where Oliver A monster
“David had a light touch when it came to that Reed has to contend with the brood hauled born of rage.
scene – not that it was a frivolous scene but up in an isolated bunkhouse, proved equally
he was aware of Candice’s age, who was intense – not just for viewers. What becomes
the same age as his own daughter, and so he of Candice?
was very light and playful with these kids,” “It was very uncomfortable for the kids
he offers. “David and the first AD really went [who played the brood]. They were a young
out of their way to ensure it wasn’t portrayed gymnastic team of girls aged five to eight
as something lethal at all. When it’s all cut and they had never been on a film set before.
together of course it is, but the kids didn’t Ollie was quite loud and they were quite
frightened,” remembers Irwin. “What made it

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FLASHBACK
THE BROOD

heebie-jeebies too during the filming of an and bond that they had.” 5 STANDOUT
earlier autopsy scene: “We actually shot in Mark Irwin believes The Brood was quite SCENES FROM
an actual autopsy room in a real hospital – THE BROOD
where we look at the dead fetus of one of a therapeutic experience for the director at
these things. the time, who was perhaps venting a lot of KITCHEN MURDER
his own demons on-screen. “David has a This unsettling scene sees Nola’s mother
“We had finished what we intended to do, bachelor of science in medicine and is one (Nuala Fitzgerald) unwisely wander off to
then David said to me: ‘Why don’t we grab of the few directors I know who has a degree the kitchen. After surveying the mess made
a shot where [you’re] coming through the in something other than filmmaking,” he says. by the brood, her eyes catch a glimpse of the
door? Just go out that door and we’ll frame it “So, the gooey things about medicine, life hideous tormentor. What ensues is the stuff of
and then you come in.’ So, I went out there, and about death are things that sort of appeal Hitchcock-induced nightmare.
closed the door and I’m waiting and waiting to him and I’m glad he was working on his KINDERGARTEN CALAMITY
for action… then suddenly I felt funny, turned demons on the films that I did with him. Any In a scene perhaps even more unsettling than
around and realised this was kind of a storage inner trauma he had he put in the script and the kitchen attack, a couple of the brood
room for corpses! So, then I was waiting for then in the movie. There’s nothing better than casually enter Candice’s kindergarten room
action and for some reason there was a delay, that kind of therapy!” and abduct the poor girl. Their attention then
tweaking a light or something like that and it turns to her teacher, (Susan Hogan) as they
seemed like I was in there for hours!” The Brood remains a chillingly atmospheric pick up some wooden mallets and pound the
achievement; masterfully maintaining a woman to death in front of the other kids.
However, the actor was able to make light melancholic mood that carefully builds to IT’S UNDER THE BED!
of his experiences working on a Cronenberg an extraordinary climatic crescendo. All the In a state of drink-fuelled depression following
movie. “I always joke that the most directing elements that we have come to expect from the murder of his ex-wife, Barton Kelly (Henry
that I heard David do on The Brood was after a classic Cronenberg body horror pic are Beckman) decides to stay in the house of his
he looked at a scene, his only comment would in place: from a brooding score courtesy former love. Things take a turn for the worse
be ‘more blood!’” laughs the actor. “In fact of Howard Shore (in his film composing when he sneaks upstairs and hits the bed…
I had a special T-shirt made at the end as a debut), master class cinematography from before hands emerge from beneath and
wrap gift with the words: ‘More Blood!’ with Mark Irwin, an eclectic cast of actors giving ultimately put him to rest with a paperweight.
blood dripping on it!” exceptional performances, along with a NEWBORN LOVE
strong psychological theme that manifests into During their final confrontation, Nola
Cindy Hinds, the brave child actor who something grotesquely external and is realised (Samantha Eggar) reveals the grotesque
portrayed his tormented daughter Candice, by explicit make up and body horror effects. brood birth sac to Frank (Art Hindle), before
was also fortunately left unscathed by the All of this results in a movie that is deeply biting open the sac and licking the bloody
experience working on The Brood. “David cerebral, utterly disturbing and thus a truly newborn. It was a scene that was edited by
found a way for her to channel fear. Once unforgettable viewing experience. American censors upon theatrical release but
she’s screaming I don’t think he did any tricks The Brood is available on Blu-ray from remained intact for UK audiences.
like not telling her what was going to happen,” Second Sight. HEREDITARY
assures Irwin. “He really went the distance Traditionally, Cronenberg doesn’t believe in
with her and it was a really close partnership happy endings. When father and daughter
drive off into the night at the end, the final shot
WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK has the camera pan down to Candice’s arm
to reveal the formation of small pimply bumps:
the tell-tale signs of her late mother’s anger-
induced condition being passed on…

| 109

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CODMOPLYEOTEULYBADSIFICFEARLELNY TLIVWEOYROLDURTOLIFYEOINU?WFOINNDDOERULTAWNDIT,HOORUISR IQT UAIZ!

THE BOOK Holloway (the voice of the Cheshire Cat) Frabjous Day?
also voice? 15. What name is given to the White Rabbit
1. What is the real name of Alice In 9. What are the Mad Hatter and the March voiced by Michael Sheen?
Wonderland’s author Lewis Carroll? Hare celebrating at the mad tea party?
2. What kind of animal is Alice’s pet Dinah? 10. What is the name of the tale recounted by OTHER ADAPTATIONS
3. In what year was Alice’s Adventures In Tweedledum and Tweedledee?
Wonderland first published? 16. What is the title of the sequel to Tim
4. What is the title of the book’s first chapter? TIM BURTON’S ALICE Burton’s adaptation?
5. Who does the White Rabbit mistake Alice IN WONDERLAND 17. In what year was Nick Willing’s made-for-
for when he first meets her? TV Alice In Wonderland film released?
11. Who plays Iracebeth in Tim Burton’s Alice 18. Who plays Alice’s equivalent in fairy tale-
THE ANIMATED FILM In Wonderland? inspired TV series Once Upon A Time?
12. What is the first name of the Caterpillar 19. Who wrote the dark fantasy novel series
6. When was the animated Disney version of voiced by Alan Rickman? The Looking Glass Wars?
Alice In Wonderland released? 13. Who composed the music for the film? 20. Which publishing house first published
7. Who voiced the Mad Hatter? 14. What creature does Alice fight on Alice In Wonderland?
8. Which famous Disney bear did Sterling

DIDN’T HE/SHE DO WELL! sSceoerihnogwsyysoteumdid with our arbitrary

16-20 11-15 6-10 0-5
THE CHESHIRE CAT CATERPILLAR ALICE THE MAD HATTER

Is there anyone in Wonderland You might not be all-knowing, but You don’t always know what’s No one ever knows what you’re
who knows as much about people think you are. Your head going on, but you’re happy to go talking about, but that doesn’t
is filled knowledge (even if your
everything as you do? We think with the flow and see where stop you from talking. You might
not. You are everywhere, all the lungs are filled with clouds), it takes you. But your curious be a terrible person to consult
which is why you always give nature could have been your when it comes to quizzes, but
time, but no one knows how strong suit if your head wasn’t at least you throw the best tea
you do it. Just keep smiling and your input whether people parties around.
want it or not. always in the clouds.
carry on.

1. CHARLES LUTWIDGE DODGSON 2. A CAT 3. 1865 4. DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE 5. HIS MAIDSERVANT, MARY ANN 6. 1951 7. ED WYNN 8. WINNIE THE POOHANSWERS:

9. THEIR ‘UNBIRTHDAY’ 10. ‘THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER’ 11. HELENA BONHAM CARTER 12. ABSOLEM 13. DANNY ELFMAN 14. THE JABBERWOCKY

15. NIVENS MCTWISP 16. ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS 17. 1999 18. ROSE REYNOLDS 19. FRANK BEDDOR 20. MACMILLAN

110 | WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK

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memory of who she is in a future world she does not recognize, she is taken in by Ido (Christoph Waltz),
a compassionate doctor who realizes that somewhere in this abandoned cyborg shell is the heart and soul
of a young woman with an extraordinary past. As Alita learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous
streets of Iron City, Ido tries to shield her from her mysterious history while her street-smart new friend

Hugo (Keean Johnson) offers instead to help trigger her memories. But it is only when the deadly and
corrupt forces that run the city come after Alita that she discovers a clue to her past – she has unique
fighting abilities that those in power will stop at nothing to control. If she can stay out of their grasp, she

could be the key to saving her friends, her family and the world she’s grown to love.

ON BLU-RAYTM & DVD NOW

© 2019 TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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