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From Amazon.co.uk
Battle: Los Angeles is a war movie first, science fiction second. It's got it all: a burned-out retiring sergeant who gets drawn back in because, dammit, the Marines need him; the guy who's about to get married; the guy who's still a virgin; the guy suffering from shell shock and who just might crack; the newbie officer with a lot of book learning who you just know is going to freeze under pressure and have to be shepherded by that burned-out sergeant, who learned his lessons on the battlefield… and so much more. There's not a moment in this movie you haven't seen before--the only twist is that the enemy is alien, so whatever shred of concern you might have for raining heavy artillery on a fellow human being can be cheerfully cast aside. But clichés are clichés because they are efficient and effective, and despite the profound familiarity of Battle: Los Angeles, there's no denying the movie rips along (though two-thirds of the way through you may have forgotten who was the virgin and who was the shell-shocked guy--but really, does it matter?). The look owes a debt to District 9, a hand-held, vérité grittiness, with most of the CGI carefully given a dingy, dirty look so that it meshes with the urban landscape. Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight) does an impressive job of spitting out ham-fisted dialogue like he really, really means it, while the rest of the cast is suitably generic. This is an unrepentant love letter to the military; many viewers, faced with the unsettling chaos and moral ambiguities of real wars, will find this mythologizing not only soothing, but even moving. --Bret Fetzer
Special Features
Special Features
- Behind the Battle
- Aliens in L.A.
- Preparing for Battle
- Creating L.A.
Synopsis
Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and his platoon take on an enemy unlike any they’ve ever encountered when hostile alien invaders attack the planet in this epic sci-fi action film.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By SeaWasp
Format:Blu-ray
..and hey, I don't mind cliched action and good dumb alien fun, everything here is totally ruined by the hand-held verite-style filming. Blair Witch has a lot to answer for. The camera constantly shakes, wavers, pans and zooms to the point where it makes me dizzy. No scene ever seems complete. Also mismatched footage (but nowhere as bad as in "Apollo 18") abounds.
So, in essence, what could have been a passable sci-fi actioner is completely ballsed-up by news-reporter-style camerawork.... and it goes on for nearly 2 hours. The story is familiar but still pretty good. The execution of it sucks the big one.
If you don't mind this kind of filming then you may be in your element.... otherwise, try something else.
So, in essence, what could have been a passable sci-fi actioner is completely ballsed-up by news-reporter-style camerawork.... and it goes on for nearly 2 hours. The story is familiar but still pretty good. The execution of it sucks the big one.
If you don't mind this kind of filming then you may be in your element.... otherwise, try something else.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By bizmandan
Format:Blu-ray
So front-loaded with clichés that it initially feels as if it might buckle under the weight of its own derivativeness, Battle: Los Angeles eventually finds its footing during an explosive bridge battle around the midway mark, and subsequently muscles through with the efficiency of a battle-hardened Marine.
Battle: Los Angeles, is a film so chaotic and incoherent that it nearly self-destructs before miraculously gaining enough momentum halfway through to offer a bombastic take on humankind's fight against a technologically advanced, yet not impervious, race of malevolent alien invaders. Presented in a handheld style that gives the impression of a wartime documentary, this unorthodox take on the traditional combat film feels as if the screenwriter simply dusted off an old script in which Nazis invaded a major American city and replaced Hitler's henchmen with bio-mechanical aliens.
From the retiring, battle-scarred military veteran drawn reluctantly back into battle, to the virginal rookie, to the shell-shocked combat vet, to the brave grunt just fighting for citizenship, the screenplay is so saturated in wartime stereotypes that it feels like it might just sink until characterization mercifully takes a back seat to action. Even then, it's difficult to feel as if we're actually witnessing anything new, though by that point the rapid-fire editing at least succeeds in stimulating us enough to create the illusion of excitement. Later, when the purpose of the invasion is finally revealed in a throwaway line, it quickly becomes apparent how uninterested the writer is in flexing any creative muscle.... Read more ›
Battle: Los Angeles, is a film so chaotic and incoherent that it nearly self-destructs before miraculously gaining enough momentum halfway through to offer a bombastic take on humankind's fight against a technologically advanced, yet not impervious, race of malevolent alien invaders. Presented in a handheld style that gives the impression of a wartime documentary, this unorthodox take on the traditional combat film feels as if the screenwriter simply dusted off an old script in which Nazis invaded a major American city and replaced Hitler's henchmen with bio-mechanical aliens.
From the retiring, battle-scarred military veteran drawn reluctantly back into battle, to the virginal rookie, to the shell-shocked combat vet, to the brave grunt just fighting for citizenship, the screenplay is so saturated in wartime stereotypes that it feels like it might just sink until characterization mercifully takes a back seat to action. Even then, it's difficult to feel as if we're actually witnessing anything new, though by that point the rapid-fire editing at least succeeds in stimulating us enough to create the illusion of excitement. Later, when the purpose of the invasion is finally revealed in a throwaway line, it quickly becomes apparent how uninterested the writer is in flexing any creative muscle.... Read more ›
117 of 145 people found the following review helpful
By Kentspur
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
I never do this - write a review for a film that I've seen at the cinema long before it comes out on DVD - but I felt everyone, some of whom might be put off by the sniffy negative reviews in the press, should know - when deciding on purchasing - this simple fact: Battle: Los Angeles is great!
It's Independence Day meets Saving Private Ryan - aliens v grunts in a joggly-camera, whirling ordnance, big explosion, LA-set Nirvana of shooting mayhem. The aliens are curiously limited - all that space travel and no decent AWACs or infra-red detection systems or ray guns - but that makes it a (reasonably) fair fight and allows Staff Sergeant Aaron Eckhart, Hoyt out of 'True Blood' and some other less familiar faces to actually trade fire to some effect with these extra-terrestrial scavengers.
Once the 'introduce the characters' bit is over, the film becomes a series of military cliff-hangers leavened by the odd 'come on guys' speech. A bus chase (like in Speed) gets chucked in too. There are also 'borrowings' from 'Aliens,' but it feels more like homage than plagiarism.
Crucially, it's played straight. There is no 'I know this is ridiculous' winking at the camera asides - just action. I think it's far more honest as a result. Some critics called it boorish and lacking in irony, but I think it does exactly what it says on the tin: massive shoot 'em up; Marines v Aliens; ludicrously exciting.
What's not to like?
If you know what films you like, you'll probably already know whether you want to see/own this film. It's not going to disappoint unlike some other 'actioners' I could name.
Recommended.
It's Independence Day meets Saving Private Ryan - aliens v grunts in a joggly-camera, whirling ordnance, big explosion, LA-set Nirvana of shooting mayhem. The aliens are curiously limited - all that space travel and no decent AWACs or infra-red detection systems or ray guns - but that makes it a (reasonably) fair fight and allows Staff Sergeant Aaron Eckhart, Hoyt out of 'True Blood' and some other less familiar faces to actually trade fire to some effect with these extra-terrestrial scavengers.
Once the 'introduce the characters' bit is over, the film becomes a series of military cliff-hangers leavened by the odd 'come on guys' speech. A bus chase (like in Speed) gets chucked in too. There are also 'borrowings' from 'Aliens,' but it feels more like homage than plagiarism.
Crucially, it's played straight. There is no 'I know this is ridiculous' winking at the camera asides - just action. I think it's far more honest as a result. Some critics called it boorish and lacking in irony, but I think it does exactly what it says on the tin: massive shoot 'em up; Marines v Aliens; ludicrously exciting.
What's not to like?
If you know what films you like, you'll probably already know whether you want to see/own this film. It's not going to disappoint unlike some other 'actioners' I could name.
Recommended.
44 of 57 people found the following review helpful
By BDI
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
the claims made by actors, directors etc (in 'Special Features') shows that their knowledge of the 'War' and 'Sci-Fi' genres is limited.
There is nothing really unique in the movie, sorry.
The 'drama-doc' type filming was done (much better) in Saving Private Ryan. The aliens here are a mix of several previous fims (including the exo-skeleton from Independence Day), as are their craft (Independence Day again).
Yes, it's a 100mph all-action US 'ain't we great' offering, and I suspect the target audience is US Redneck - too much 'Hoo-hah', 'Go Marines', 'Retreat Hell no'. As a result the plot is weak.
I'm a sci-fi fan (although I prefer books), and the 'sci' is worse than non-existent. Worse because we hear statements from 'a scientist' like : 'It's the composition of our water that's unique' - a statement that would have any 12 year-old here laughing, and : '... no other locations in our know universe have liquid H2O (that's the science bit) anywhere near their surface ...' - a statement that would have anyone with even a basic knowledge of the Universe weeping in despair. Our own Milky Way is just a miniscule part of the Universe, and there are tens of thousands of Earth-like planets in it (see The Drake Equation for more info)
.
Perhaps that's just too much for the average US citizen (or even our own) to comprehend.
But for all that Hollywood dumbness, it's worth watching - for a laugh. If you're being pursued by better armed, better equipped, more technically advanced killing machines, it's best to stay quiet. Not this lot. They spend all their time shouting, screaming, yelling, and banging into things. All actions guaranteed to attract the pursuers.... Read more ›
There is nothing really unique in the movie, sorry.
The 'drama-doc' type filming was done (much better) in Saving Private Ryan. The aliens here are a mix of several previous fims (including the exo-skeleton from Independence Day), as are their craft (Independence Day again).
Yes, it's a 100mph all-action US 'ain't we great' offering, and I suspect the target audience is US Redneck - too much 'Hoo-hah', 'Go Marines', 'Retreat Hell no'. As a result the plot is weak.
I'm a sci-fi fan (although I prefer books), and the 'sci' is worse than non-existent. Worse because we hear statements from 'a scientist' like : 'It's the composition of our water that's unique' - a statement that would have any 12 year-old here laughing, and : '... no other locations in our know universe have liquid H2O (that's the science bit) anywhere near their surface ...' - a statement that would have anyone with even a basic knowledge of the Universe weeping in despair. Our own Milky Way is just a miniscule part of the Universe, and there are tens of thousands of Earth-like planets in it (see The Drake Equation for more info)
.
Perhaps that's just too much for the average US citizen (or even our own) to comprehend.
But for all that Hollywood dumbness, it's worth watching - for a laugh. If you're being pursued by better armed, better equipped, more technically advanced killing machines, it's best to stay quiet. Not this lot. They spend all their time shouting, screaming, yelling, and banging into things. All actions guaranteed to attract the pursuers.... Read more ›
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3.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
great movie
A great movie good storyline and realistic I must say . For any one who likes war, scifi check this out its worth watching, As you get to see the aliens are quite clever and teh... Read more
Published 19 days ago by Mr. G. J. Hawes
5.0 out of 5 stars
One to Watch Again and Again!
This is a film that my husband and I never tire of watching.
It is very realistic, more like a camera following the Marines around than a scripted film which is part of... Read more
It is very realistic, more like a camera following the Marines around than a scripted film which is part of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. L. Evans
1.0 out of 5 stars
Terrible Dialogue, Very Cliche.
The Dialogue in this film went from a bit silly to just cliched ridiculousness.
It was a bit like of Independence Day but without A good storyline, decent plot, good... Read more
It was a bit like of Independence Day but without A good storyline, decent plot, good... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Harvey
2.0 out of 5 stars
boring
i didnt like it, was proper boring and no action! i suppose its worth a watch but for me i wish i didnt buy it
Published 3 months ago by Daniel Taylor
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good
This is about America saving the world again! It is well acted and well directed. The script is naff!
The CGI is excellent.
As usual no film jargon. Read more
The CGI is excellent.
As usual no film jargon. Read more
Published 3 months ago by R. J. Chippendale
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
E x c e l l e n t C h e a p Fast d e l I v e r y
Published 3 months ago by Shane
5.0 out of 5 stars
An amazing sci-fi movie
I was on the edge of my seat all the way through this film, with Matt Harold, ex-Shrewsbury Town footballer, suitting up in uniform and getting the american accent for this genius... Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. Bloggs
5.0 out of 5 stars
DVD
Excellent. I would recommend this firm to any of my family and friends. Quick posting, and cheap at the price.
Published 4 months ago by Mr G. D. Pash
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Film
this film is a cross between "Black Hawk Down" and "Independence day". did not expect too much and was pleasently surprised.
Published 4 months ago by A. Kiousopoulos
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really Enjoyed this
I have seen reviews slating this movie, but i really don't know why. I found it very enjoyable. There is plenty of action and the story is engaging. Read more
Published 4 months ago by nardy
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