Page 16 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • March 23, 2011 Latest alien invasion movie wears out its welcome by Dennis Seuling Every few years, Hollywood dusts off an old formula and turns out yet another movie about alien invasion. The invaders always look different and have varying motives for attacking Earth, but the plot always follows a similar path: We must defeat the aliens before they obliterate us. “Battle: Los Angeles” is just such a movie, afraid that if guns aren’t blasting or explosions going off every minute of this 114-minute flick, audiences will glaze over. In fairness, for those who love action pictures, this one more than fills the bill. Soon after what are thought to be meteors crash into the Earth’s oceans, it’s discovered that this is the vanguard of an alien attack on the planet. Heavily armed aliens storm the Santa Monica beach as Marines rush to evacuate civilians from the coast. Marine Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) has just put in his retirement papers after a 20-year career in the Marine Corps. The emergency, however, has put him in the middle of the action. His platoon is not thrilled, since 176 Ramapo Valley Road Oakland, NJ 201-337-8777 Hrs: Mon-Sat 7:00a,-9:00pm; Sun 7:00am-8:30pm FREE DELIVERY to Oakland and Franklin Lakes between the hours of 7am-3pm & 5pm-8pm with $10.00 minimum order. Sergeant Nantz (Aaron Eckhart, holding child) must rescue civilians while under attack from aliens in ‘Battle: Los Angeles.’ Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner • Pastry Extensive Menu $ On $10.00 and over, With this coupon only. One Coupon per table. Lunch & Dinner only.�� Off 1 00 $ On $20.00 and over, With this coupon only. One Coupon per table. Dinner only. �� Off 2 00 several men under his command were killed in action in Afghanistan. The Marines make their way, block by block, to a police station where other civilians are discovered as the aliens and their flying machines close in for the kill. It really doesn’t matter why the aliens have picked Earth as their target, but for the record, it’s our abundance of water. Hitchcock would call this the McGuffin -- the reason for the conflict that drives the action but shouldn’t bog down the plot. The audience is introduced to familiar characters: the guy recovering from battle trauma, the female soldier fighting beside her male counterparts, the bitter Marine whose brother was killed under Nantz’s command, the untested lieutenant, the courageous civilian, and the young Marine overwhelmed by real-life battle. Special effects are fairly good, but the design of the aliens is not very effective. Looking like a cross between a Transformer and the creepy aliens of “District 9,” these creatures are shown in close-up only once, when the Marines and a veterinarian experiment on how to kill one of the invaders, since bullets don’t seem to do the trick. During a vivisection, viewers see close-ups that show gooey innards and protective armadillo-like plates connected with thick viscous liquid. A movie like “Battle: Los Angeles” can succeed if the script offers some surprises or features original characters. Think of Ripley in “Alien” or Will Smith’s brazen Captain Hiller in “Independence Day.” Those were strong, memorable characters. Eckhart’s Nantz is a distillation of every World War II war movie: the leader who must prove to his men that he is competent and capable. The cast includes Michelle Rodriguez as a tough Air Force sergeant who connects with the Marines amidst the chaos, Ramon Rodriguez as Nantz’s lieutenant, and Michael Pena as a survivor who is found with his son. Rated PG-13, “Battle: Los Angeles” is a nonstop video game of a picture. It is loud, frenetic, and shot with a shaky camera to simulate the confusion and danger of up-close combat. Knocking off a good 20 minutes from the film would have prevented it from wearing out its welcome before the final credits. #1 German Restaurant in Bergen & Passaic Counties! ������������������������ �������������������� Businessman’s & Senior Lunch Special Served Noon - 3pm Monday Saturday $ TAKE TIME OUT FOR LUNCH KIRKERS Includes Soup or Salad, Vegetable & Potato, Coffee/Tea Bavarian “Wurst” Sandwich served with German Mustard, Winekraut & $ 50 Hot Potato Salad ... Choice of Knockwurst, Bratwurst, Weisswurst or Bow-Wow Over 23 Entrees from $895 - $1395 6 Served 6-8 pm 12.00 Sauerbraten, Schnitzel, “Wursts”, Tavern Style, Fra Diavolo, Seafood Combo, Stuffed Shrimp, Prime Rib Scampi or Parmigiana Includes Soup or Salad, Potato & Vegetable TUESDAY NITES WEDNESDAY NITES Our Top “6” Entrees Shrimp Fest $ 12.95 Served 6-8 pm Includes Soup or Salad, Potato & Vegetable Cook Up Some Business! You’ll reach 56,000 households. 201-652-0744 www.villadom.com Advertise your restaurant in The Villadom TIMES. www.kirkers.com • All Major Credit Cards Accepted • Open Mon - Sat • Noon til 11:30 pm 237 Diamond Bridge Ave, Hawthorne • 973-427-7700