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Battle: Los Angeles
| Released |
11 March 2011 |
| Director |
Jonathan Liebesman |
Starring
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Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan, Michael Pena |
| Writer(s) |
Christopher Bertolini |
| Producer(s) |
Neil H. Moritz |
| Origin |
United States |
| Running Time |
117 minutes |
| Genre |
War, sci-fi |
| Rating |
12A |
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America, f**k yeah!
I remember watching the trailer for Zack Snyder’s 300 for the first time and being in awe of how beautiful it looked. Off the back of that trailer alone, the film was a must-see and understandably hopes were high entering the cinema. Of course I left disappointed. Nearly every outstanding visual contained in Snyder’s second feature was contained in his film’s trailer and to be honest outside of its visual aesthetic and glorious abs, there wasn't a whole lot more going on. I had a similar feeling having watched the trailer for Battle: Los Angeles. Beautiful action shots slowly played out to Johann Johannsson's 'The Sun’s Gone Dim and The Sky’s Turned Black'; Aaron Eckhart and co staring to the skies as all types of epic mayhem unfolds. It's both compelling and intense, and works extremely well as an advert for the film. If you haven't seen it you should check it out and then having done so you can also hold onto the admission fee you would have spent going to a movie theatre to see the remaining two and a half hours. There's no point spending you're hard earned cash, you've already seen all you need to.
Fantastic trailer aside, my 300 experience is something that stays with me to this day so Battle: LA expectations remained steadfast. Actually they (my expectations) took a little dent the more I researched the people behind Battle: Los Angeles. Director Jonathan Liebesman’s theatrical efforts to date have been an extremely poor Texas Chainsaw Massacre origin story and a horror movie about a demented tooth fairy. Did I say little dent before? I meant massive. In the special effects department I discovered that the Strause brothers take the reigns. Having brought us 2010's other invasion romp Skyline my heart sank further, but to be fair that movies effects were its only positive and seeing as they weren't directing Battle: LA I momentarily shelved my concerns. Then I had a look at who was going to aid Aaron Eckhart in his quest to quash our unwelcome guests. Michelle Rodriguez– Hollywood's go to 'looks good in a jump suit' tough girl and Ne-Yo. Make that a crevasse sized dent.
Funnily having watched the film -and sadly all my worst fears came true- the biggest criminal here is Christopher Bertolini, the man credited with writing Battle: LA. Some lines are so cringe-worthy corny that they may have actually been taken from Team America: World Police. His script is gushing with the classic band of brothers, leave no man behind bravado and as cliché after cliché emerges so did my disinterest in unfolding events. There is also a real sense of déja vu as the action moves from one set piece to the next.
Battle: LA basically consists of the following; special effects, bad dialogue and a plot you've already seen numerous of times. It's only strength –special effects– is so overused that by the time the last repeated action sequences has ended, you'd happily watch any Sandra Bullock rom-com as an alternative to further man vs. alien combat.
Any comparisons to Independence Day should be quickly and unceremoniously 'kicked to touch'. We're talking Starship Troopers here people and in saying that I feel like I’m doing Starship Troopers a disservice.
- David Prendergast |
