Battleship

BATTLESHIP

Battleship is a hit and sinks its audience into summer blockbuster excitement.

Getting better at posing. Photo by my sister Heather, also seeing Battleship.

2012, Action/Science Fiction, Rated PG-13

Distributed by Universal Pictures

          Taylor Kitsch is really getting the short end of the blockbuster stick these days. His previous starring role, as the title character of the underrated John Carter, opened in the shadow of the overrated mega-hit The Hunger Games. His newest big-budget sci-fi actioner, Battleship, opened in the even larger shadow of The Avengers. This guy's films can't catch a break. Without the star power of Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and about a dozen others, how can the unknown Taylor Kitsch carry a franchise-wannabe like Battleship? He does his best and fulfills his duty.

          Battleship's premise is just as ridiculous as it sounds. It's over-the-top alien and military action at its finest and loudest. It is, in essence, the perfect summer blockbuster. It is action-packed, funny, has romance, and extraterrestrials and sci-fi around every corner. It's a unique vision of an alien invasion which is hard to come by these days. There are gaping holes in the plot and science of it all, but it's a thrilling roller coaster ride nonetheless.

          Let's start with funny. Taylor Kitsch is climbing the ranks of my favorite young action stars. He saves John Carter from being terrible. Battleship is much better than John Carter so it doesn't need to be saved, but Kitsch does an excellent job, making it even more enjoyable. He's hilarious in many scenes, especially the opening sequence before his character even joins the Navy. It's a classic scene that characterizes him as the anti-authority-but-still-very-charming hero of the film.

          He's an anti-hero, though. He is on the verge of being kicked out of the Navy as the story begins. While at sea, and once the alien vessels emerge from the Pacific Ocean, Kitsch saves the day with his quick thinking and nontraditional ways of fighting the enemy. That enemy is an alien race from "Planet G", an Earth-like planet far away that we contacted. Planet G's response to our calls was to attack us. That's pretty much the plot. Explosions and epic battles at sea fill the rest of the run time. The digital effects in this movie were particularly impressive, some of the best to date. The water effects were so realistic, and there were many, many different sequences that showcased how far we've come in this digital picture age.

          The effects did not just look real, they were used in fresh and creative ways. I really like this new style of slick action films using harsh glare to enhance a shot. J.J. Abrams utilized the technique to gorgeous effect in his excellent Star Trek update. Slow motion was used only fleetingly, but when it was, it was perfect for the action unfolding. There is one sustained shot which must have been at least three or four minutes long that, although not practically done and thus digitally put together, was just awesome and exhilerating. My blood was pumping, my adrenaline was surging, and I must say that I was really into this movie.

          I know it's just a big-budget, explosion-filled, digital-effects-laden money maker, but I totally dug every minute of it. There was an odd sense of patriotism rising within me watching those ships careen across the Pacific. Not just patriotism for my country, but for the planet as well. We may not win the war of the worlds, but we could deal some serious damage. This movie showed that with a military sheen which just rocked.

          Side note: Many people were wondering how this movie had anything to do with the military board game of the same name. There is a great scene that shows why this film does in fact deserve that title. The classic game is integrated into the movie so seamlessly  and it is really rewarding to see it actually show up. Skip your third trip to The Avengers and check out Battleship.