Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

[Morris Schæffer]

http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/CC10battlela.jpg

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1217613/fullcredits

[Winston*]

Okay, I'm legitimately curious who it is in that cast and crew that has you excited about this film a year before its release.

[Dukefrukem]

Okay, I'm legitimately curious who it is in that cast and crew that has you excited about this film a year before its release.

Michelle Rodriguez! no...?

Bridget Moynahan!! no...?

Aaron Eckhart!!! yes!

[Morris Schæffer]

Okay, I'm legitimately curious who it is in that cast and crew that has you excited about this film a year before its release.

I wanted to start a new thread.:)

[megladon8]

So...apparently this is about aliens?

From the few photos I'm getting a distinct District 9 vibe.

[number8]

The footage we saw, it was basically BLACK HAWK DOWN with aliens instead of Somalians. It's an alien invasion movie told entirely from the perspective of a marine platoon trekking through LA. Basically a standard war movie with alien soldiers as the enemy.

[megladon8]

The footage we saw, it was basically BLACK HAWK DOWN with aliens instead of Somalians. It's an alien invasion movie told entirely from the perspective of a marine platoon trekking through LA. Basically a standard war movie with alien soldiers as the enemy.


Was there any background (or hints towards background) regarding the reasoning for the invasion? Did you see or hear the aliens in any way?

[number8]

It's based on this true story (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_los_angeles).

[[ETM]]

It's based on this true story (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_los_angeles).

Only... reversed?

[eternity]

Probably the worst thing I saw at Comic-Con. Director of Darkness Falls making District 9 in Los Angeles...the thing reeked of "when is the monster going to show up behind the guy" that you see in bad PG-13 horror fodder. I wanted to die when Aaron Eckhart and co. kept praising the 'vision'.

[Dukefrukem]

Sony released 2 seconds of footage.... wut?

F78x34-h0tc

[Dukefrukem]

also a poster
http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/bla1942.jpg

and

http://nerdreactor.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/comparison.jpg

[Morris Schæffer]

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORb3zC8z94w

Well, fuck me sideways, that looked epic.

[Lasse]

Yeah, I'm sold. That looked great, and the music gave it a creepy atmosphere.

[EvilShoe]

The script for this was beyond awful, we'll see how it goes.

[Henry Gale]

Yeah, I definitely had very little excitement for this leading up, but that was one hell of a good teaser. All of a sudden I'm curious about how this may turn out, despite some negative things that have gone around it before.

[megladon8]

That looks really cool.

Is it just me or did it seem like the aliens were mechanical? Like, alien robots or something?

[D_Davis]

Hell yeah that looks sweet.

[Watashi]

I really hope this Call of Duty fetish passes.

[Morris Schæffer]

I really hope this Call of Duty fetish passes.

A somewhat scattershot comment to make my friend.

[eternity]

Good teaser trailer, but it doesn't wash out that terrible trailer from Comic-Con. Good music and selective clip splicing can make anything look good, and I really just can't imagine this being anything but terrible.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I guess I'll be the lone voice that wasn't terribly impressed with that teaser.

[megladon8]

I guess I'll be the lone voice that wasn't terribly impressed with that teaser.


Sven? Is that you?

:pritch:

[Kurosawa Fan]

Heh. No, I just don't see what separates it from several movies of that style. I mean, it doesn't look bad, necessarily, but it didn't do much to distinguish itself.

[[ETM]]

I guess I'll be the lone voice that wasn't terribly impressed with that teaser.

You're not alone. The alien designs look clumsy and I it looks like it doesn't bring anything new to the table at all.

[lovejuice]

I guess I'll be the lone voice that wasn't terribly impressed with that teaser.
Me too. I don't get that different an impression from watching Skyline's.

[megladon8]

;300384']You're not alone. The alien designs look clumsy and I it looks like it doesn't bring anything new to the table at all.


Did we ever actually get a clear look at the aliens?

[KK2.0]

teaser looks nice, but alien invasion movies are all "wow" before opening day and nearly all of them end up being disappointing. =/

[Chac Mool]

Killer trailer -- though this is directed by the guy who made the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake a few years ago, and that had a killer trailer too.

That being said, that remake wasn't half bad, so maybe I should stay excited about this one.

[[ETM]]

Did we ever actually get a clear look at the aliens?

Not really, just that blur behind the soldier on a poster, from the shot towards the end. I was talking about the lame chunky spaceships.

[megladon8]

Killer trailer -- though this is directed by the guy who made the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake a few years ago, and that had a killer trailer too.

That being said, that remake wasn't half bad, so maybe I should stay excited about this one.


I'm a fan of the TCM remake.

It's surprisingly well shot. It's a very pretty movie.

[eternity]

Did we ever actually get a clear look at the aliens?
They show a "money shot" of the aliens in the comic-con trailer that may or may not be online. They were...nothing to write home about. They said they were going for "different", and they are different, but not in a necessarily good or bad way. They look like a mix of everything at once. Really, without a picture, that's the best description I can give, which is the best thing to say about it.

[number8]

All I remember is that they were generic-looking mechas.

[megladon8]

They show a "money shot" of the aliens in the comic-con trailer that may or may not be online. They were...nothing to write home about. They said they were going for "different", and they are different, but not in a necessarily good or bad way. They look like a mix of everything at once. Really, without a picture, that's the best description I can give, which is the best thing to say about it.


Are they mechanical? I was kind of getting that vibe from the trailer - that they're robotic or something.

[Morris Schæffer]

And here is Mr. Dent himself in full attire

http://www.empireonline.com/images/image_index/420x226/46198.jpg

[Dukefrukem]

Trailer 2 (http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/battlelosangeles/)

[eternity]

So it's called World Invasion: Battle: Los Angeles now?

[Morris Schæffer]

So it's called World Invasion: Battle: Los Angeles now?

That'd be really odd. Like Manhattan: Ghana or Gangs of New York: Mozambique

[Morris Schæffer]

Theatrical trailer:

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=29870

This battle is on! On I tell ya!

[bac0n]

Wow, that looks even better than Skyline!

[D_Davis]

Wow, that looks even better than Skyline!

You wish!

[Henry Gale]

Am I the only one who now laughs like an idiot when a characters in trailers see something alien or bizzarely foreign and whispers "oh my godddd." in horror?

It's starting to feel like a running joke of an ingredient between studios and trailer editors. Especially since it just found it amusing in the new Transformers one and even when it comes to more overtly campy things like Piranha 3D it comfortably finds a way of showing up.

Edit: At the same time though, I do think the trailers for this movie have been really well put-together, even if I don't have much anticipation for the final product itself.

[Dukefrukem]

Looks pretty epic. I just hope to god some external factor isn't the savior of all mankind... i.e. water, bacteria or a virus

[KK2.0]

Theatrical trailer:

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=29870

This battle is on! On I tell ya!

Title is back to "Battle: Los Angeles" only?

[Chac Mool]

Looks pretty epic. I just hope to god some external factor isn't the savior of all mankind... i.e. water, bacteria or a virus

A batch of bad WD-40 maybe...

[Dukefrukem]

Anyone want to see the Aliens?

Go to http://battlela.com/interactivemap/

Skip through the intro

click on Sightings Map

Priority Access

Type "031111"

Info and pictures of the "aliens"

[megladon8]

Anyone want to see the Aliens?

Go to http://battlela.com/interactivemap/

Skip through the intro

click on Sightings Map

Priority Access

Type "031111"

Info and pictures of the "aliens"



Or, alternately, just go to UnidentifiedEnemy.com (http://unidentifiedenemy.com/)

[Dukefrukem]

I took some high res screen caps of the trailer.


http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/battleLA01.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA02.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA03.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA04.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA05.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA06.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA08.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA09.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA10.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA11.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA12.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA13.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA14.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA15.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA16.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA17.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA18.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA19.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA20.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s36/Dukefrukem/Movie%20%20Misc/BattleLA21.jpg

[megladon8]

I'm still not sure whether the aliens are entirely mechanical, or wearing metallic suits/gear.

I think a film with mechanical aliens invading Earth could be pretty terrifying.

Reminds me of the Geth from "Mass Effect". Creepy as hell.

[Dukefrukem]

I'm not either. It might be a mix of the two, but they certainly look mechanical in those shots.

[Dukefrukem]

Bio-mechanical! (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/23208)

[megladon8]

So are they hoping for a franchise with this film?

Internationally, the full title of the film is World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles.

Are they planning to make subsequent films showing the events unfolding in different cities and areas of the world?

[megladon8]

Weird.

IMDb has officially changed the title of the movie to World Invasion: Battle LA.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Looks pretty epic. I just hope to god some external factor isn't the savior of all mankind... i.e. water, bacteria or a virus

Meg's linked site offers a pretty good idea of how they'll be defeated.

The "hive" spaceship. Probably acts as the brain, since it functions as the "central nervous system for the entire invasion." Pretty boring solution, since it's the Queen Bee Kill that's used in The Faculty and Reign of Fire and Van Helsing and many other genre films.

[Ezee E]

That Superbowl preview makes it look like what I wanted Transformers to be.

[Morris Schæffer]

Nothing new in that spot, but what can I say? This looks thrilling period.

[Dukefrukem]

kqC5feyseyc

[ciaoelor]

DON'T YOU GET IT?! WE'RE AT WAR!

[Morris Schæffer]

Ouch! ½ from Roger Ebert

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/

[bac0n]

Wow, that looks even better than Skyline!

I may have spoken too soon...

[Dukefrukem]

Hyperbole?


The only characters I re*member having four sentences in a row are the anchors on cable news

[Morris Schæffer]

I found this one really uncalled for, but the review has hilarious bits.


Young men: If you attend this crap with friends who admire it, tactfully inform them they are idiots. Young women: If your date likes this movie, tell him you've been thinking it over, and you think you should consider spending some time apart.

[Sxottlan]

Meh.

Better than Skyline. Then again, you letting me kick you in the face for five minutes is better for you than Skyline.

[Morris Schæffer]

Twas weird seeing the trailer in theaters here in Belgium yesterday and hearing "communications with Tokio have been cut off."

[TGM]

When there's action on the screen, this is a thoroughly entertaining movie. Otherwise, more often than not, this movie can be pretty crappy. The opening scenes before they get into the battlefield in particular are horribly shot. The shaky handheld camera, random zoom-ins and extreme close-ups on people's faces become nauseating, and fast. And there's another similarly awkward scene later on in the movie where they just choose some of the strangest angles, which just take me completely out of the movie.

This style of filming just flat out doesn't work outside of the action scenes. However, like I said before, once the action starts, this movie really excels. And considering most of the movie is pretty much non-stop action, there's more good than bad to be had here, so overall, I'd say it was an enjoyable film.

Edit:
Thinking about it more, I think this movie would have improved tremendously had they just cut out that entire opening portion. Screw all the introductions for our characters, we find out everything important about them during the action anyways. Plus, those horrible filming issues I mentioned before become all but non-existant after those scenes for the most part. But whatever, it is what it is.

[Pip]

I don't have anything nice to say about it.

[Mr. Pink]

Edit:
Thinking about it more, I think this movie would have improved tremendously had they just cut out that entire opening portion. Screw all the introductions for our characters, we find out everything important about them during the action anyways.

I was thinking about what you said here while I was watching it. Basically, you learn . . .

One guy might be a virgin.

One guy has a pregnant wife.

One guy may or may not be unfit for combat.

One guy is retiring.

One guy doesn't want someone to barf on his truck.


None of which are particularly important.

Overall, it wasn't as horrible as I expected, but it's not something I'd ever watch again.