Battleship
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Liam Neeson, Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker, Alexander Skarsgård
Director: Peter Berg
Rating: 3/5
Ok now it's fair to say that blockbuster sci-fi movies can be a little over the top, Independence Day and Men In Black are not exactly rooted in reality.
So if you go in with a super open mind and accept Battleship for the fun popcorn movie that it is then you will have a blast - if you are expecting something a little deeper with lots of character development then this is not the movie for you.
A fleet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals.
Ok I am more than happy to hold my hands up and say that I had a blast whilst watching this movie. In an interview that I did with Peter Berg a couple of weeks ago he revealed that he wanted to make a fun, family, popcorn movie and that is exactly what he has achieved.
Yes the story is totally ludicrous, over the top and completely far-fetched but it is a great action movie.
From a visual perspective this movie just looks the business as the U.S. Navy do battle with these rather awesome looking alien space-craft.
You do get the feeling that if Berg and co had spent just as much time on the plot as they have on the look of the movie then this would have been a real winner.
The special effects are fantastic, the destruction of Hong Kong just looks great, and this is balanced fabulously by using actual battleships.
The USS Missouri, who had been given a complete facelift just before the filming of this movie looks totally majestic as Taylor Kitsch and the rest of the Navy commandeer it to save the world.
Taylor Kitsch carries the movie well as the screw up Alex Hopper forced into the navy by his older brother (Alexander Skarsgard) in bid to straighten him out.
And the character goes from total washout to the man everyone is relying on to save the world - a tad cliched maybe but it does work.
Sadly there is no where near enough of Liam Neeson in this movie as I would like, however is final scene with Kitsch is rather funny.
Rihanna also puts in a solid performance as she makes her big screen debut. And she is a kick ass chick in this movie and has not been sexualised in anyway by director Berg, which makes a nice change.
But what is so great about this film is it doesn't take itself seriously; it knows that it is outrageous and it plays on it; the opening burrito scene is the perfect example.
Battleship is a light hearted way to spend a couple of hours, it's action packed, it's fun, it's loud and it looks great - oh and it has a great soundtrack!!
Battleship is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Peter Berg Liam Neeson Taylor Kitsch Rihanna