Battleship: movie review (+trailer)
Not being an aficionado of the grid-based Hasbro board game Battleship, I can鈥檛 comment on how closely 鈥淏attleship鈥� the movie replicates it. But if the movie is anything like the game, I say stay at home and read a good book (or graphic novel). Or listen to an audiobook 鈥� In short, do anything else.
It seems the world is being invaded by aliens and only the intrepid US Navy, led by ex-slacker/newly minted hero Alex Hopper, can stop them. Hopper is played by Taylor Kitsch, fresh from his searing appearance in the megaflop 鈥�John Carter.鈥� The aliens, when stripped of their helmets, or whatever it is they are encased in, resemble pasty-faced Uncle Sams, complete with chin whiskers. I guess there鈥檚 a message there somewhere.
Helping out in the rescue mission is Rihanna, playing apparently the only woman in the entire Navy. Making a late appearance is a cadre of Pearl Harbor vets. This part of the movie comes across like 鈥淐ocoon鈥� with kabooms. Peter Berg (鈥�Friday Night Lights鈥�) directed. I never thought I鈥檇 say this as a criticism, but he鈥檚 no Michael Bay. The script is replete with howlers. My favorite, from Kitsch, after the aliens strike: 鈥淚鈥檝e got a bad feeling about this.鈥� Indeed. Grade: D+ (Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, action and destruction, and for language.)
