The True Story

Monday Movie Review - BATTLE: LA

Not to be confused with the SyFy version called "Battle: Los Angeles", this is the one showing now in theaters.  And like I mentioned in an earlier post, I did brave seeing it on the big, big screen.  (Note: I went a week after it had opened, so the crowd was smaller.  I also went right around 1 o'clock, so I pretty much had the theater to myself.)

My first impression?  It's "Independence Day" without Will Smith.  Really.  There's so many similarities, I stopped counting, but I noticed them.  However, I did like being with the military unit the whole time, and seeing the battle from their perspective.  I also like the Mike Rowe ("Dirty Jobs") lookalike Aaron Eckhart in the lead.  Unfortunately Michelle Rodriguez plays the same part as she did in "Avatar" and "Resident Evil".

In case you're not familiar with the story line, the coastlines of all the major continents are invaded by aliens seeking our water.  No using us for a food source like they did in other movies.  It takes a band of Marines (HOO-YAW!) to find a way to bring these mechanical-looking creatures down.

There are a lot of explosions and some gore.  The aliens are not that impressive, I'm afraid.  But the destruction they wreak is awesome.  This was definitely a film to see on the silver screen.  And despite its faults, I am advising that if you miss watching it in the theaters, then I hope you have a big screen TV at home when you:

Monday Movie Review - SKYLINE

It's so sad to see a promising movie not live up to its potential.

I braved the theaters to see Skyline in all its extra-wide glory.  In my opinion, films like this need to be viewed in that kind of setting.  But despite how beautiful the movie was shot, no matter how good the acting was, no matter how convincing the CGI effects were, Skyline just didn't deliver.

To summarize: A couple from New York fly out to LA to visit a friend and co-partner in a new business venture.  That night they're awakened by strange blue lights, and the fact that their apartment tower is shaking like its in the center of a major earthquake.  Truth is, Earth is being invaded by aliens, who are sucking up the human inhabitants for consumption.  With really nowhere to go, the four friends are basically sitting ducks waiting for the inevitable to occur.

Halfway through I found myself comparing it Independence Day and Cloverfield, which I'm sure others did as well.  Yes, there were a few scary moments (one of which is in the trailer/commercial, and was totally ruined for us.  Note to filmmakers - Don't Do That!)

Then ending, however, left me completely dumbstruck.  It was a payoff this romance lover never saw coming, but I was struck by its implications.  Which is why I'm going to buy me a copy of this flick (second hand), if nothing more but to re-watch it for those last few minutes.  Otherwise, my suggestion is that you