A Review of Battle Los Angeles

I saw Battle Los Angeles last weekend. I am a big science fiction fan and it is my favorite genre to write in. I generally don't count fast paced action movies in my top ten but this movie was well done. There were a few things that I would consider tactical errors but they weren't big enough to spoil the movie for me.

The story puts its focus on a squad of Marines and a Tech Sergeant from the Air Force. First they fight to save a group of trapped civilians from an alien invasion of Los Angeles and then they risk everything to discover and target the alien's command and control center.

The action was fast paced and, in my opinion, it looked like scenes of live fire fights I have seen on war related new magazines. They avoided the super hero type character that runs through fire and comes out without a scratch. The soldiers were all beat up and hurting. They looked more like soldiers determined to protect their country that like action heroes winning the day. They seem to go for realism over art and I thought that was good. It was a tribute to the strength, grit, and courage of the United States Marines and I thought that was great.

Aaron Eckhart plays Marine Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz. Sergeant Nantz lost his squad in Iraq. He received a silver star for his action, but rumors started about how his people died. He was about to retire from the Corps when the emergency happens. He is assigned to a squad that was missing its sergeant. The squad is led by a new second lieutenant played by Ramon Rodriguez. I was happy to see that they didn't make Lieutenant William Martinez a total loser. He is smart and brave, but he does need the seasoned support of his sergeant. When Martinez sacrifices himself to save his squad and the civilians, the squad wonders if the Nanatz left him to die. Nantz takes the squad and he forges a bond with them in the fire of battle.

The aliens reminded me of the aliens from Independence Day but the viewers never get a clear look at one without its battle armor. The movie clearly wanted to keep the focus on the marines, their tactics and their sacrifice, and that was just fine with me.

I recognized several of the supporting actors. Michelle Rodriguez plays Tech Sergeant Santos. Ms. Rodriguez was excellent as the pilot in “Avatar.” Micheal Pena played a civilian that sacrifices himself to protect his son and the others. Mr. Pena has done many things but I will always remember his role in “Crash.” Bridget Moynahan plays a civilian veterinarian that helps analyze a captured alien. Ms. Moynahan plays an A.D.A and the sister in the Reagan family in the CBS series “Blue Bloods.”

I would say this is a science fiction movie that a lot of people that aren't into science fiction would enjoy. Anyone that enjoys action movies and movies that show the fight that our men and women in uniform have in them would enjoy this movie. I believe it is the best action type movie that I've seen in a long time.