I went and saw Battle: Los Angeles last night with my son and my mother - three generations got to watch aliens invade California. I knew many of the reviewers had panned the movie, but my son really wanted to see it, so off we went.
My opinion? It was pretty good. No need for 3d (which every movie seems to be in today), the story never bogged down, and there were a few decent twists. It was nice to see a movie without all the Hollywood stars, as in this case the story and action were more important then the actors.
Most surprising to me is my mother couldn't stop saying great things about it on the way home. She ranked it up there with The Departed (an amazing movie in its own right). When a grandma can enjoy a sic-fyish, shoot-em up action flick, its gotta be good.
As for me, it kept me in my seat for the full length, despite the large soda a devoured during the flick. I felt like the unfreezing scene from Austin Powers when I finally got to the rest room.
Picturing Solo History
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There are many gamers who will tell you that it was *Vampire the Masquerade*
that got them into roleplaying. That was in the 1990s. There are many
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1 hour ago
I am looking forward to this movie, but probably as a rental. I get the feeling that the overall political incorrectness is why the movie isn't being well received by critics, but that is my two cents. I generally don't like to mix my politics with gaming so I'll leave it up to you to explore that thought further.
ReplyDeletePolitically incorrect because it was... pro military? I dunno, the idea of wiping out a large section of LA to stop the aliens isn't pro military IMO. It could be perceived as pro soldier, and I don't have an issue with that (the story, not wiping out part of LA;)
ReplyDeleteI never saw a political angle in this when I watched it.
I'm a cop, and most cop related movies are certainly not pro cop. I assume if they were, they would be politically incorrect. This isn't directed at you John, just an observation that many movie critics tend to be elitist, and know what the public should like, as opposed to what the public actually likes. That is why RottenTomatoes and the critics are often on opposite ends of a movie rating.
Well that's the difference between movies and FILMS.
ReplyDeleteMovies are meant to be enjoyed (even if no one enjoys them).
Films are meant to be viewed and critiqued as works of art. Enjoyment is irrelevant.
I thought it blew hard, and the patriotic part of it was really lame.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it. For me, it was no Departed tho.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even notice the patriotic part. Would have just as well in london, paris, berlin, etc for me
I thought it was okay. The patriotic part didn't bother me. Hollywood makes enough America-bashing movies these days, it's nice to have a patriotic movie once in a while.
ReplyDeleteMy only (small) issue was that much of the dialogue sounded like it was taken out of an old WWII movie, and it hit up just about every war movie cliche in the book. Not terrible faults mind you, I still enjoyed the movie. And such a movie is supposed to be about explosions and killing aliens, not deep character development.
Ed Green
@edowar39 - yeah, not too many shoot-em-ups do heavy character development.
ReplyDeleteA modern day war movie where the soldiers aren't drunks, druggies, rapists or sadists? It seems they left the usual script behind on this one ;)
Heh, that's a good point. I guess I was thinking more of the old WWII movies, rather than modern war movies.
ReplyDeletewait? so, this movie was Old School? heh
ReplyDelete