2. Battle: Los Angeles
Labelled as cheesy and grossly partisan, Battle: Los Angeles kind of came at the wrong time. District 9 had already cornered the sci-fi action market, and no one really wanted to see Black Hawk Down meets Independence Day. Whats more, it was kind of a crappy quarter for cinema as a whole people were more in the mood for something academically indulgent post-Oscar season. Now that things have simmered down a bit, Battle: Los Angeles suddenly doesnt seem as bad as initially thought. The action is tight and rousing. The effects are to a high calibre. The story is simple yet engaging. But, granted, not even a second viewing can improve the dialogue. Battle: Los Angeles is indeed high on the chedd-o-meter with its flag waving adornment of the human spirit and the American way. But every now and then, it is nice to reserve skepticism and allow a bit of patriotism. Because at the end of it all, take out the red, white and blue and you have a solid war film with a healthy zombie flavored survival element. And in any other light, that would be most peoples cup of tea. Which is a surprise, and isnt bad for a film that failed to ignite viewers first time out the gate.