Dermot Keogh looks at the new release that hit the cinemas last week “Battle: Los Angeles”.
A Marine platoon fights to prevent the city of Los Angeles from being overtaken by a race of highly advanced alien invaders in this epic sci-fi action thriller from director Jonathan Liebesman (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning) and producer Neal H. Moritz (I Am Legend, Fast & Furious).
After decades of speculation about life on other planets, the people of Earth discover that extraterrestrials really do exist when destruction rains down from the stars on cities all across the globe. When the alien warships descend upon Los Angeles, however, the ferocious invaders discover that humankind won’t go down without a fight as a gruff Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and his fearless troop of jarheads point their weapons skyward and make one last stand for the entire human race.
Review:
Los Angeles just can’t catch a break. Following in the footsteps of War of the Worlds (1953), Earthquake (1974), Terminator 2 (1991), Independence Day (1996), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), 2012 (2009) and the recent Skyline (2010), L.A. is about to get an overhaul once again. Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) has just brought his military career to a grinding halt. Recent events in his distinguished career have made him realise that it is time for him to move on. Agreeing with his Commander that he will retire after his current platoon is combat ready it seems that all he needs to do is count away the days until he is once again a civilian. Unfortunately for him, an alien invasion force with a penchant for our water wants the earth and as is it pointed out in the movie if you want the natural resources of a country or a planet then you kill everything there until all that is left is that resource.
Rather than focusing on the entire invasion the movie focuses in on a group of marines who are sent on a search and rescue mission to find possible survivors before the air force level the place. The movie grabs you immediately by throwing you straight into an action set piece and then suddenly rewinding back a few hours to create a build up to the main event akin to an episode of the excellent Southland on TV. This is basically done to introduce the clichéd characters that will eventually be part of the search and rescue mission. Fear not as you know from the opening sequence that you are about to see some serious action. Once is starts the action is pretty much nonstop. The first sequence is very impressive as it looks like it is shot handheld documentary style. It is grainy, gripping and gritty just like a sequence from Saving Private Ryan. Unfortunately, after that the wow factor subsides it is business as usual. Every cliché from the alien invasion hand book is thrown at you. Ideas that were used in District 9, Independence Day and War of the Worlds are rehashed and recycled. Outside of Saving Private Ryan inspired action sequence there are also several battles that will give you Déjà vu of the Black Hawk Down variety.
The effects that include the aliens and the destruction of L.A. are impressive and work well to transform the city into a battlefield but it’s nothing you haven’t seen before and the aliens are nothing original. The cast is adequate. Eckhart doesn’t need to do much to stand out but he has a certain je ne sais quoi that makes him stand head and shoulders above the rest of the cast. His last few movies excluding superb The Dark Knight were all heavy dramas and rom coms so outside of the pay cheque I am presuming he wanted to do something that didn’t require him to be as emotionally invested as he had been in his previous few movies. The director Jonathan Liebesman who is probably best known for the Michael Bay produced The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning keeps things plodding along. He obviously likes to blow stuff up as no chance for some boom is left untouched. Bay’s style has obviously rubbed off on him as several Bay-esque heroic shots are littered throughout the action.
It may be overly patriotic and cheesy at times but it is still fun regardless of its shortcomings. There are several exciting set pieces to look forward to throughout this $100 million movie. I’m sure that Sci-Fi aficionados will love this regardless of having the feeling that you are watching one massive level from the Call of Duty video game franchise. Perhaps the video game generation really has that much influence in Hollywood these days. Depending on box office, I’m sure that a plethora of sequels will inevitably follow. Maybe Ireland will get it next as we do get name checked in the movie. I really think the Paddy could do some damage. Here’s hoping
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Michael Peña, Michelle Rodriguez, Ne-Yo, Bridget Moynahan.
Rating: * * *
