by Tim Gordon
A fleet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals in the big budget sci-fi action film, Battleship.
This Transformers–in-the-Water story has a threadbare plot and alien/villains that are so familiar that the element of surprise is somewhat muted. Director Peter Berg is the latest auteur to helm a big-budget blockbuster and the final results based on the popular board game is large on style and woefully short on substance.
The film centers on a young, immature hot-head (Taylor Kitsch) who goes from a zero to a hero as he and several colleagues fight an alien attack . . . . while romancing the uberfine, Brooklyn Decker, daughter of his commander played by Liam Neeson. In addition, to the aforementioned hotness of Decker, pop megastar, Rihanna also makes her film debut and acquits herself well as a hardcore naval seaman. Another pleasant surprise was the inclusion of real-life Army veteran and amputee, Colonel Greg Gadson who Berg gives an expanded role to capitalize on his obvious aura and experience.
The film has all of the earmarks of what you expect in this type of story but unfortunately, there are just TOO many comparisons to The Transformers. I mean, I kept waiting for Optimus Prime and the other autobots to step in in several key battle scenes; that would have at least kept the audience interested.
Give credit to Universal for maximizing the film’s earning potential by releasing it overseas early, where it broke box office records. That’s the good news, the bad is that unfortunately this big-budget sci-film has to deal with the 800 pound guerrilla still in theaters, The Avengers that has even BIGGER guns; Sorry, Berg but I’m sinking YOUR battleship!
Grade: D+