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Battle: Los Angeles - Blu-ray Sony Pictures Home Entertainment - 2011 Directed by Jonathan Liebesman
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So, I left any expectation and even my brain (so to speak) at the door and honestly just went with the movie and actually enjoyed it for what it is. Marine Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) is on his final day of active duty, when a cluster of meteors fall from space, scattering near major cities across the globe. One of these lands in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Santa Monica. Sgt. Nantz is called back to help defend Los Angeles, our country and truthfully the world from alien invasion. A war of survival ensues on an epic level with Los Angeles getting attacked by a force this world has never seen. The movie is focused on one Marine platoon's mission to go into the war zone and save anyone who's still alive and bring them out of the designated B-52 drop zone. The platoon scrambles and scurries through battle torn neighborhoods and city streets getting into deadly skirmishes with the alien invaders all along the way. Director Jonathan Liebesman smartly uses smoke, distorted camera imagery, bullets, missiles and explosions of all sorts to conceal the aliens. This keeps them mysterious and fortifies their power for as long as possible. Cinematographer Lukas Ettlin, Production Designer Peter Wenham, all physical FX team and I'm sure the visual FX artists produce some gritty, grimy (ala SAVING PRIVATE RYAN) action to make the movie look like a convincing war movie. Brian Tyler's music score and the wide array of sound effects certainly heighten the battle encrusted film. There's a surplus of testosterone flowing through he film's veins and military camaraderie is achieved, which as an Army veteran, made the experience that much more enjoyable. The hand held cinema vérité approach is way over used in films today, but works for this movie. Aaron Eckhart is believable as an expereinced military man ready to get his honorable discharge. He does a good job of transforming back into a Sergeant who must lead his troops into battle and fight the seemingly undefeatable foe. The surprising supporting cast round out the other soldiers with; Ramon Rodriguez as the green officer 2nd Lt. William Martinez suddenly in charge, Michelle Rodriguez as the skilled communications expert TSgt. Elena Santos, musician Ne-Yo makes an impression as a soldier who uses his brain over just muscle and TRUE BLOOD actor Jim Parrack as one of the sharp shooters LCpl. Peter Kerns. The wonderful supplements on this Blu-ray are exactly what I hope for in a movie I enjoy. I like how Sony Pictures organized all the behind the scenes featurettes. The are broken down into chapters so you can watch parts of the behind the scenes breakdown in sections. Behind the Battle, Aliens in L.A., Preparing for Battle, Creating L.A. in LA. and Blu-ray exclusives Directing the Battle, Boot Camp and The Freeway Battle. If you are into finding out how movies were made, these informative behind the scenes features will give you what you want. Plus you get Command Central which allows you to command and control you r viewing experience by watching Picture-in-Picture, Storyboard Comparisons and Battle Points within the context of the movie. Also you get the ever informative movieIQ also. I really enjoyed the top notch production BATTLE: LOS ANGELES is and the Blu-ray totally enhances the experience this movie will give you. |
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