Movie review: Battleship (+trailer)
Action blockbusters come and go, but Battleship stands out as one of the best releases in a while.
Based on the classic Hasbro naval combat game, Battleship is not short of action and incredible special effects.
Alongside all that Transformers-like action is a great story of a man who has messed up his life and needs to find a path forward.
Alex Hopper (Taylor Kitsch) is the black sheep of the family who always manages to find a way to screw up.
When his latest misguided effort to win a pretty lady's heart ends badly, his brother Stone (Alexander Skarsgard) decides it is time for Alex to join him in the navy.
The navy doesn't prove to be his salvation either, with his days soon numbered.
What Alex or the navy doesn't know is that aliens have targeted the planet.
These creatures have a hidden agenda, which they hope to achieve without human intervention. When the navy attacks, all manner of destruction rains down on them.
With devastation all around him, Alex needs to step up and he is the only man who can lead his team against the invaders.
On land, his girlfriend Samantha (Brooklyn Decker) is fighting her own battle to try to stop the aliens transmitting a signal to their home planet inviting more ship to invade.
Alex and his motley crew including Raikes (Rihanna) and Beast (New Zealand's John Tui), have to work together like never before to overcome the threat.
Conventional warfare won't do - they must use their wits and intuition to prevail.
Often movie trailers give you all the good bits of a film and can oversell what you are about to see.
Battleship is different. If anything, its trailers don't show what a great adventure you are in store for.
Title: Battleship
Starring: Alexander Skarsgard, Taylor Kitsch, Rhianna
Restriction: M
Running time: 140 minutes
Rating: 4 / 5 stars
