Battle: Los Angeles

As I left the theater, a friend asked me if I enjoyed watching Independence Day 2.0.

I replied with a shrug.

This did feel sort of like Independence Day's long-lost cousin, or a continuation of a dozen other movies.  In fact, Battle: L.A. could have been titled 'Action Science-Fiction Homage.'  This film is simply a gathering of tropes and stereotypes from both genres.  The most impressive part is that they managed to fit so many of them into one movie without it becoming a bloated mess.

How did they avoid it?  Great question!

They didn't leave enough time to worry about character development.  In fact, aside from 'almost retired veteran who has regrets,' ably played by Aaron Eckhart, almost no other characters are developed outside of the opening ten minutes.  If you care about a single person that dies in this movie (with one exception) then you, sir, are the world's greatest empath.
The movie is predictable.  The characters that you expect to get killed, do.  In fact, you may even be able to predict the order of their deaths.  Explosions happen on schedule, and even the two big 'surprises' are so telegraphed that there should be no actual shock when they happen.
I am not saying that this is a terrible movie.  Aside from the shaky-cam, which is way too overdone (but a very easy combat simulator), the film itself is well put-together.  The action scenes are decently choreographed, and the special effects are good.  Some people may not even notice that the alien invaders look like the prawns from District 9 with giant UFO heads.
The premise of the movie is very interesting, and the Black Hawk Down take on an alien invasion has promise.  I just wish they kept the movie as small-scale as the beginning.  Unfortunately, this film had much larger ambitions than just showing how a few men cope with combat.  Battle: L.A. wanted those men to become heroes, rather than just survivors
Basically, this movie isn't bad.  It isn't great, because it tries too hard to be everything and ends up overreaching.  It wanted to be Black Hawk Down meets Independence Day.  What it did was make me want to watch any of a dozen different action or sci-fi films, or even play some Modern Warfare.
However, for the opening salvo that kicks off blockbuster season, it has everything you want.  Action, explosions, characters in crisis, and a plot you could write on a paper towel and still leave room to wipe up a spill.  Popcorn cinema indeed.

If the entire summer line up of films is as easy to digest and as this one, I should be alright.  Feel free to watch Battle: L.A. when it is available for rent.  The crowds don't add anything but the smell of popcorn and nachos to a very loud, very busy movie.