3 stars (out of 5)
Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Ramon Rodriguez, Cory Hardrict, Gino Anthony Pesi, Ne-Yo, James Hiroyuki, Michelle Rodriguez, Noel Fisher, Adetokumboh M'Cormack, Bridget Moynahan, Bryce Cass
Rating: (M)
Battle: Los Angeles (Rialto and Hoyts) starts with meteorites landing off Tokyo and before you can ask "did Ken Ring predict that? " it becomes clear the world is under attack.
Yet fear not; the US marines are at hand to save the day. So while we hear that Tokyo and Paris are among those targeted, we stay firmly in downtown Santa Monica.
A platoon of marines is sent to rescue a pod of civilians before the protective carpet bombing starts. This ragged crew has a new lieutenant, Martinez (Ramon Rodriguez) straight out of officer training; a staff sergeant with a murky past, Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) who is just filling in before retirement and a host of other clichéd back-stories with which to burden the remaining soldiers.
In between working out how to combat the aliens they bicker among themselves but mostly they suck it up because that is what a marine does.
In the one piece of fun we get the marine version of Speed when they commandeer a bus. Otherwise, it is John Wayne-style grit and valour all the way.
Best thing: Aaron Eckhart has some of the worst dialogue and he just about makes it work. It does not hurt that he looks big enough and fit enough to be a soldier.
Worst thing: Out here on the edge of empire we do not buy that the marines are the greatest fighting force ever, so all the "go marines" cheerleading seems comical.
See it with: Alien invasion connoisseurs.
- Christine Powley
