Battle: LA (PG-13)
Battle: LA begins with large blue balls of light shooting down from the sky. Wait, that’s Skyline. Battle: LA begins with large crop circles forming on the outskirts of—wait, no, that’s Signs. It begins when a large spaceship crash lands twenty years ago–no, that’s District 9. So, SO many alien movies have come out that it’s hard to find a difference these days, and though Battle: LA does explore some new ground, its set up and premise do not.
Battle: LA actually begins when meteors suddenly appear in the atmosphere, seen only hours before they hit. These meteors, upon touching ground, turn out to be some sort of mechanical creatures. Scientists speculate what they are, but to no avail. But one thing’s for sure: They aren’t here to make friends. Not wasting any time exploring what these aliens are, we are introduced to Aaron Eckhart, a war-torn soldier just days before retiring. After we learn that the aliens are here for war, the film turns into a movie surprisingly similar to Black Hawk Down. Eckhart and his team are sent in to eradicate the aliens and evacuate any civilians that are left now hiding in the cracks and crevasses of crumbling Los Angeles. But as things go awry (as they always do), the team of soldiers must bond and watch each others backs while they search for rescue.
In the films defense, it does create an interesting sub genre of alien invasion/war film. The soldiers carry their big guns down ally ways, helmets rocking back and forth on their heads, sending orders with hand signs. And don’t get me wrong, there are some very intense moments. But the film falls flat when the melodrama and cliches start pouring in like a rocket to the side of a dam.
The aliens are very well designed, and their weapons and vehicles are fascinating in how they function.
But throughout the film, I couldn’t help but wonder why I was watching it. There’s not much of a point, or plot, but it’s entertaining. A true popcorn movie. All brawn, and no brains, which isn’t always a bad thing, and I don’t believe it is bad with Battle: LA. But when the first real scene of the movie begins with a wide shot coming up over the title city with 2-Pac’s auto-tuned “California Love” playing, your hesitant to watch much more. But if you give it time and focus on the good (and they are good) aspects of the film, I think you’ll find it appealing.
