retreat?

combine Independence Day with any other war movie inbred with War of the Worlds and you get Battle: Los Angeles.  aaron eckhart plays a Marine staff sergeant who fights demons from his past to lead a platoon dead set against him and follow orders only because of rank.  while i must praise eckhart for stepping out of his usual role as the male protagonist in stereotypical chick flicks to star in this action film, i must question the motives of director jonathan liebesman and writer christopher bertolini what was going through their heads when they planned this film. 

the film is great eye candy if you're a pyromaniac - however, the movie doesn't have much narration besides "survival" and taking back los angeles.  i think that if there was a relationship developing between staff sergeant nantz (who recently had his retirement approved and was forced back into the line of duty) and veterinarian michelle (played by bridget moynahan) the film would have been much better.  Battle: Los Angeles flirts with the idea but it didn't develop enough into a meaningful relationship other than a great admiration from michelle toward staff sergeant nantz. 

eckart exceptionally plays a character who we all hope every Marine is, a Marine through and through.  i have a cousin who is in the US Marine Corps and pray for his safety. 

Battle: Los Angeles is a movie worth watching once.  it is not worth the full price of a recently released dvd.  i'd wait until it is on sale for five bucks at wal-mart or target before purchasing it. 

hoorah! semper fi!

i give this film 3 out of 5 stars.