Battle: Los Angeles: Coming across as a mixture of “Blackhawk Down” and “Independence Day”, the plot of this film is nothing new - aliens travel all the way across the galaxy to invade southern California. Through American ingenuity and derring-do, America manages to save the whole world. Jingoistic and manipulative? Just a touch. Staff Sgt. Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) is preparing to retire from the military after 20 years and a disastrous tour in Iraq. But before he can muster out, objects resembling meteors crash into the ocean and shortly thereafter, alien baddies emerge from the sea to conquer Los Angeles and several other large global metro areas of no consequence. So Nantz is pressed back into service with a platoon of Marines to rescue civilians stuck in a police station behind alien enemy lines. The marines find themselves outgunned, outmanned, and cut off, so through the miraculous power of firepower, high explosives, and personal sacrifice, they manage to turn the tide. Michelle Rodriguez, Ne-Yo, and Michael Pena co-star. This movie feels like so many other movies (“Starship Troopers”. “Saving Private Ryan” to name a few more), and brings nothing new to the table. It‘s hardly the first time LA has been destroyed in violent fashion. There‘s almost a sub-genre for that. But that being said, the action set pieces for the most part are well done, as the marines move from neighborhood to neighborhood, dodging ETs. And I appreciate that they took the time to at least attempt a cursory explanation of why the aliens showed up and how they can be brought. Is every member of the platoon imbued with personality and a compelling back story? Nope, but I wasn‘t expecting that. So mindless, yes, but a fine time-waster. Check your brain at the door and you’ll probably enjoy it. Woodchuck sez, “Worth a look.”
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