Review - Battle: Los Angeles

Aliens, Explosions and Firefights; Oh My!

Aliens have invaded the United States a number of times in the movies. They’ve invaded virtually every major city in the world. The world is under attack from meteorites that are falling from the sky. Protecting the population is a huge responsibility for the American military. But as they arrive on the scene, it’s quickly evident these are not just meteors that are crashing into the world’s biggest bodies of water.

Now the world is under attack, speculation runs rampant on what they are or why they are here, but the last remaining battle for survival is about to take place, in Los Angeles. Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) knows he’s lost a step or two to the new guys. He’s about to step away from the game for good, but this attack has changed things. Now he will join forces with 2nd Lt William Martinez (Ramon Rodriguez) who is fresh out of training and has never seen combat.

Will the two of them be able to work together to keep America safe? Together with a platoon of young Marines, they are off to evacuate the stranded and prepare for America’s military to push the aliens back to the ocean. The battles will be fierce and the strong will survive.

Alien attacks, wars and disasters have been seen on film for as long as you can remember. Battle: Los Angeles brings aspects of all of these films together in one crowd pleasing film. Sure, you need to check your mind at the door, but just do it. Sure, it has a cheesy heartwarming part towards the end of the film, but throw those 10 minutes out. This is meant to explode your senses of sight and sound, and that is what it does.

Aliens all over the scene are visually impressive and even more so in a firefight. Firefights are pretty impressive and reminiscent of some of the solid war movies of the past decade. And the firefights and explosions are the reason you come to this film.

Thankfully the small hiccup at the end with an attempt at a heartwarming moment doesn’t detract from the rest of the film. They try to work in a love story as well, but that takes a real back seat to the action on the screen.

Action is the name of the game here, and there is very little that stands in the way of it. You will never be bored with Battle: Los Angeles. Aliens, explosions and firefights; oh my!

B

Battle: Los Angeles
Columbia Pictures

Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Ramon Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan, Ne-Yo

Rating: PG-13 for sustained and intense sequences of war violence and destruction, and for language.
Runtime: 116 minutes.