Gaby’s thoughts: These kind of movies aren’t for me. So it’s hard for me to sit here and review this movie without bias. Action movies aren’t my forte. The explosions, gun fire, etc just doesn’t grip me. I knew that Battle: LA is that kind of movie, but I’m a fan of Aaron Eckhart so I decided to give it a chance.
I wish there was more story to it. It had some corny dialogue and cliche character back-stories, just hardly any depth. A lot of the emotional depth comes toward the end of the movie and is my favorite part of it, despite the corny dialogue. I understand that they were going for story that was all “right in the moment.” You only get the Marines’ point of view of how things happen. That means much was filmed using a handheld. I’m not a fan of handheld shooting, only because I find that the shakiness is distracting and gives me a headache. But it is effective way to make it look like you’re running from aliens with the Marines.
If you love pure action movies, this movie is perfect for you. If you like a good mix of both action and story, Battle: LA will leave you disappointed. It’s not a terrible movie, but it could’ve been so much better.
Lucy’s thoughts:
First of all, I’m not a huge fan of action movies. I can sit through them, I would look at my phone, talk, etc. They don’t have the power to keep me glued to the screen and entertained. All changed with Battle:LA.
In my opinion, Battle:LA has been one of the few action movies that I have enjoyed. Could that may be because of the shaky camera effect? Possibly. Even though I hate it, it made me feel like I was there with the Marines.
The movie does have its flaws: the clichés being the main one. Oh! Here it is the rookie soldier taking charge of the platoon, the soldier with the dead brother, the civilian sacrificing himself, the staff sargeant finding the time to develop a “relationship” with one of the civilians he’s saving, and more that you will notice as you see the film.
Nevertheless, Battle:LA has some sense of reality to it. If you think about it, if there’s meteors hitting the Earth all the way in the coast of China, Americans are more likely not to care about it unless it hits us. In Battle:LA we see how the Marines might react in the case that extraterrestrial creatures decide to attack, if this ever happens.
The film needed more dialogue, but the action and the special effects I feel chopped that one off. It felt as if I was playing a videogame, and even though there wasn’t as much talk, you could feel the Marines fear in every battle. I liked the fact that main characters died, not everyone is saved unlike other apocalypse-like movies *cough* 2012 *cough* where there’s a meteor shower and the car never gets hit.
If you’re up to watch an action movie with great effects, Battle:Los Angeles is for you, if not don’t even bother going in.
Battle: Los Angeles is now playing in theaters.
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