“Battle: Los Angeles,” directed by Jonathan Liebesman, is a military science fiction war movie. The film is inspired by events that took place in Los Angeles a few months after the United States entered World War II. San Onofre beach
“Battle: Los Angeles,” directed by Jonathan Liebesman, is a military science fiction war movie. The film is inspired by events that took place in Los Angeles a few months after the United States entered World War II.
San Onofre beach glistens with surfers on the water as a team of Marines run the beach for morning PT, physical training. A bit of humor is thrown in when the young group of Marines pass their superior despite his attempt to sprint ahead to catch up.
From start to finish, Aaron Eckhart (Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz) is the best thing “Battle: Los Angeles” has going for it. His brawny build and high-and-tight haircut offer viewers an adequate depiction of a 20 year military veteran ever dedicated to physical fitness and standards in appearance.
The film takes a snail’s pace to get rolling with the much anticipated action scenes portrayed in all the trailers. Regrettably, if you’ve seen the trailers, you’ve seen most of the film’s best moments.
The first part of the film spends more than enough time with character building of each of the Marines who star in the film. Staff Sgt. Nantz is whispered about because he lost a few men in his command during a tour in Iraq. This is done after the film already highlights the same information during a scene when Nantz hands in retirement papers.
Suddenly, the action everyone is waiting for begins to take place when newscasters are shown on television alerting citizens of possible meteors falling from the sky. Pandemonium follows as the city of Los Angeles is shown being attacked by unknown forces.
Staff Sgt. Nantz’ retirement is withdrawn due to the looming situation and he continues to graciously serve as second-in-command under a freshly out-of-college officer with no combat experience.
The action takes flight and though it is exciting, the graphics do not soar with them. The aliens are metal in structure with weapons attached to their limbs. Nantz discovers the way to kill them through stabbing an alien’s gelatinous innards multiple times.
“Battle: LA” succeeds with its human element of Marines protecting a handful of civilians found in an abandoned building. The children are convincing and Eckhart plays the ultimate hero as Staff Sgt. Nantz continues to show his courage, duty and heart throughout the film.
Tsgt. Elena Santos (Michelle Rodriguez) also gives the film a boost with her bravado and quick thinking during critical moments. The handful of the group left after battling aliens and their warcraft succeed in portraying a heightened level of commitment and duty to one another and Nantz after their war experience.
The civilians, minus a brave father who perished, are saved, and Staff Sgt. Nantz and his group are met in the Mojave Desert with applause for the heroism and successful attack on the alien invaders.
It is noteworthy that Eckhart, who broke one of his upper arms during the filming of “Battle: LA” continued to film without a cast.
Perhaps some of the military training he received prior to filming the movie rubbed off on him. Go Marine Corps!
