Battle: L.A.
Battle: L.A. is an action-packed extraterrestrial war movie. Similar in look and cinematography to District 9, the camera follows a unit of Marines on their hectic foray behind alien-enemy lines on a mission to rescue civilians after aliens attack Los Angeles.
The unit consists of untested recruits led by an officer fresh out of his college ROTC program; their only ace in the hole is the movie’s main character, a veteran sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) haunted by the faces of soldiers killed under his command. The sergeant comes as a mixed blessing as the soldiers don’t trust him due to his reputation for getting soldiers killed. Behind enemy lines before the aliens’ true destructive capability are discovered, the Marines are forged into a cohesive unit by combat, death, and duty. The sergeant and his soldiers come to understand each other, and a deep bond of respect is formed among them.
Eventually, the Marines discover how to land a crippling blow on the seemingly unbeatable invaders, but the mission will likely be suicide. With the Marine’s iconic “Retreat? Hell,” saying, the unit unflinchingly throws itself at the opportunity.
Despite the predictability of the ending, the movie is absorbing and exciting. Director Jonathan Liebesman manages to convincingly combine suspense, horror, action, and battle into a film that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. In terms of symbols and deep meaning, Battle: LA can’t compare to District 9, but it isn’t meant to. It is purely a new twist on the old genre of war movies. If you liked District 9 and Saving Private Ryan, Battle: L.A. is definitely worth seeing. Rated PG-13 for sustained and intense sequences of war violence and destruction, and for language. Grade: A
–Thomas Adair, WNHS-TV
Limitless
Since the first trailer was released for the new movie Limitless, starring Bradley Cooper, everyone has been anxious for it to come to theaters. It is an exciting take on what life would be like if you could use one-hundred percent of your brain.
In the movie, Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) runs into his ex-brother-in-law who says he is experimenting with a new pill. The pill, NZT, makes him remember everything he has heard or read, makes him smarter and faster. Morra takes the pill that allows him to use 100% of his brain capacity. This makes him unbeatable, rich, and powerful. He can predict future events that he can change.He basically can do whatever he wants when he wants to. Eddie, a writer, has been depressed and unable to finish his book. After he takes the pill, he finishes his book in 4 days.
Although the drug lets him control his brain it also has its side effects, including the fact that if you stop taking it, you die. Limitless is a great movie if you like action and drama. It has a mixture of action scenes and is suspenseful. The whole movie is very enjoyable and you will not want to leave for any reason.I would recommend that you go see it as soon as you can. Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving a drug, violence including disturbing images, sexuality and language. Grade: B+
–Brandon Poole and Chris Skirchak, The Patriot Press
The Lincoln Lawyer
When you think about Matthew McConaughey, you don’t instantly think of a serious role. You think of a shirtless dimwit who’s just happy to be alive. His new movie, The Lincoln Lawyer, based on the novel by Michael Connelly, changes all that.
The thriller stars McConaughey as shady lawyer Mick Haller, who normally does business out of the trunk of his car, and whose life gets a bit complicated during a new case. The movie as a whole is very entertaining, with a standard plot and some great acting. McConaughey especially shines, which is a nice reminder that he actually is a talented actor. Ryan Phillippe, Marisa Tomei, and William H. Macy also give good performances. Country music star Trace Adkins also makes an appearance. Definitely see The Lincoln Lawyer if you can. You won’t be disappointed. Rated R for some violence, sexual content and language. Grade: B+
–Patrick Mahoney, WNHS-TV