BATTLE: LOS ANGELES (Directed By Jonathan Liesbesan-2011)

Making a film as hysterically overblown as Independence Day look almost unpatriotic and quaint may seem like a difficult task but somehow director Jonathan Liesbesman has achieved just that with his blockbuster explosion of an alien invasion disaster move Battle: Los Angeles. It's fairly obvious from the start that there's nothing particularly daring or original on display here and even the most open minded of cinema goer will be cringing at the film makers apparent lack of knowledge that not only has this idea been approached more than once before but that of course even the toughest and most daring of marine platoons CAN in fact be beaten when placed on the firing line against a ruthless and better equipped alien race. The film's weaknesses and carefree excitement can at times however be it's strengths. It's surprisingly inoffensive and the ever endearing presence of Aaron Eckhart leaves you feeling confident that you're in safe hands for the duration of the film. Such is the power of casting a familiar face in the lead role and the ever so predictable world of Hollywood cinema. It would of course be a pleasant surprise to see the entire cast wiped out and the alien race succeed for once but sadly that's not likely to happen any time soon. As entertaining as they are, films of this ilk never come close to any sense of realism.
The line between cinema and ultra violent home video games has got so thin over recent years that viewing a film such as Battle: Los Angeles can seem so artificial and animated it's easy to drift off and lose interest, especially when the invading alien race looks so bland.
All in all, the premise and plot of Battle: Los Angeles is way too generic to rate as any type of classic, yet it is enjoyable and certainly does achieve what it sets out to do. However, most audiences will find the action sequences fail to live up to the doomsday-esque invasion the poster and title promise and will simply lap it up as a sunday afternoon popcorn film. It has got a bit of a warm hearted edge but ultimately demands nothing from it's viewer.