Reviewed by: Harrison Cheung
BATTLE: LOS ANGELES is an entertaining if formulaic sci-fi alien invasion movie. Starring Aaron Eckhart as the tough-as-nails Marine staff sargent Nantz, the movie is fast paced and the visual heir to the hand-held reality look of DISTRICT 9, CLOVERFIELD, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA or the ABC alien invasion show, V.
Directed by Jonathan Liebesman (THE KILLING ROOM, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING), BATTLE: LOS ANGELES is surprisingly good – much better than SyFy channel fare – thanks to its strong ensemble cast and very economical way of storytelling. You feel like you’re a reporter embedded with the troops.
The storyline is classic sci-fi: every major seaside city on Earth experiences a meteor bombardment. But when those meteors turn out to be alien ships, it’s time to send in the Marines to hold the line while the city of Los Angeles is evacuated inland.
Nantz leads a platoon of Marines whose mission is to get to a West LA police station to rescue stranded civilians before the entire Westside is carpet bombed by the Air Force. The first half of the movie is a breathless race against time as the grunts engage an enemy they know nothing about. It’s truly the worst form of first contact as they fight an enemy armed with unknown weapons, vehicles and communications.
Aaron Eckhart delivers a gritty, determined performance. This is not SAVING PRIVATE RYAN – it’s an all out action movie with little time to explore back stories. Still, Eckhart’s Nantz gets to face off with a green and inept Lieutenant (Ramon Rodriguez) who freezes up under pressure. And the under-utilized Michelle Rodriguez (AVATAR) adds the strong female character as a Tech officer trying to break the alien comm network.
The second half of BATTLE: LOS ANGELES takes a page from INDEPENDENCE DAY. The platoon has to take out a mother ship. Suffice it to say that there are plenty of homages to other sci-fi movies, including ALIENS, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, WAR OF THE WORLDS and most amusingly, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS.
What’s important to sci fi fans? The special effects are very believable. There is a disappointing lack of gore except for a very fast alien autopsy. No probes, nothing kinky like V is doing on national television. And we don’t have a Jeff Goldblum delivering snarky witticisms about the end of the world. But BATTTLE: LOS ANGELES delivers the goods as a balls-to-the-wall popcorn movie – an early summer treat!
Battle: Los Angeles official site: http://www.battlela.com/ 