The Director of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” Presents: An Alien Invasion in Los Angeles
The director of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” has unleashed an alien invasion film upon Los Angeles – a senseless and merciless spectacle, but one that features Michelle Rodriguez.
Sergeant Nantz (Aaron Eckhart), a seasoned Marine, is weary of his years of service and contemplates retirement. Meanwhile, his fellow Marines are busy living up to their stereotypical image: chugging beer, losing their virginity, and diligently fulfilling other genre clichés. This idyllic scene is shattered by water-hungry aliens who descend upon the Los Angeles coastline in a meteor shower.
By the time the Marines and aliens finally clash, the constantly shaky camera will have already induced a headache, making you yearn for the end. In a style that would make Tony Scott proud, “Battle: Los Angeles” feels as if the camera operator was suffering from a prolonged epileptic seizure during filming. However, the real discomfort sets in after your inner ear finally synchronizes with the on-screen chaos. Any attempt to make sense of the events leads to an existential dizziness, raising a host of unnecessary questions. For example, why didn’t the creators of “Skyline,” who allegedly stole effects from “Battle: Los Angeles,” warn us?
Initially, the filmmakers had the raw materials for a potentially decent sci-fi film. The screenwriters adequately fulfilled the obligatory requirements, weaving in a tale of tough male bonding, weeping blonde girls, and even a few jokes. The cast also delivers: Aaron Eckhart’s square-jawed face and Michelle Rodriguez’s fierce scowl, as if she were born in body armor, are definite highlights. Finally, the $100 million budget, some of which was rightfully spent on the graphic designers who created the impressive alien cyborgs – half-robot, half-animal creatures – should have amounted to something.
When Things Go Wrong
However, something went awry in the final execution. Perhaps the gamer within director Jonathan Liebesman triumphed over the filmmaker. In any case, the result is so loud, senseless, and ugly that by the end of the film, even the most pressing question – why Los Angeles is the aliens’ last stand – loses its relevance. What difference does it make? The main thing is to survive until the “Game Over” screen.