Battle Los Angeles: Blu Ray review

Battle Los Angeles: Blu Ray review

Battle Los Angeles
Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Entertainment

Do you like alien invasion films?

Do you like plenty of shooting?

Do you like a minimal plot which sees a leader looking for redemption after the loss of troops in former combat?

Do you like stuff blowing up?

If you've answered yes, then move along, this review won't matter to you. Because right after you've read the title, you'll be firing up the DVD.

It's about a platoon of marines recently returned from combat, who've suffered the loss of their own thanks to the decisions of Aaron Eckhart's staff sergeant.

24 hours later this crew of gung-ho grunts (including one who's about to marry, one who's got post-traumatic stress, one who's a marine on the brink of retirement - just the regular collection of cliches) is heading into battle when a series of meteors land at strategic points around the world.

Pretty soon, it's clear this is an invasion force - and the marines are one of the last lines of defence in the war against this unnamed extra terrestrial army.
It's got the tenets of a B movie, a war film and an FX spectacular thrown in - as well as the predictable Iraq allegory (the aliens are after our resources; they use water for fuel ... subtle it may not be).

But visually, its style is impressive - it looks like a war film with its handheld cameras, verite style following the marines as they try to save civilians from behind enemy lines (which resemble war-torn streets of Iraq). It really gets you into the heart, paranoia and uncomfortable nature of battle.

If you're after an adrenalin-filled spectacle for two hours, full of bullets, bangs and boys (and slightly dodgy alien FX), then it's for you - ultimately, it's not adding anything new to the genre but is distracting enough.

Extras: Behind the battle, Aliens in LA, Creating LA - reasonable pieces

Rating: 6/10