Writer: Nurul Yezid

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Watch this if you liked: “Transformers”, “War Of The Worlds” & “World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles”

In recent years, we can see that it has been a growing trend by movie makers to adapt their stories based on best selling novels, beloved childhood cartoons and even toys. And most of the time, these movies would either turn out to be a total flop or a box office gem. This reviewer however, would have to agree with the latter in the case of "Battleship". Adapted from one of the most beloved childhood games of the same name from Hasbro, "Battleship" has come a long way from the glory days of playing with a board game to the big screen, in the most thrilling and action packed ride that one can possibly imagine.

Under the direction of Peter Berg ("Hancock"), the movie takes the audiences to experience the world of the seamen and their lives, off and on board of their battleship on the high seas of the Pacific Ocean around the territorial waters of Hawaii, and how their lives change when a sudden encounter with an alien forces leads each one of them to rethink their priorities. At the centre of this story, is Taylor Kitsch ("John Carter") as Lt. Alex Hopper, a troublemaker who seems to live his life in accordance to his own philosophy, while his older brother, Alexander Skarsgård ("Melancholia") as Stone Hopper is a well man, who is also a Commanding Officer of the USS Sampson. Following an incident one night, Lt. Alex Hopper who was made to join the navy, though at first reluctant, relents after a chance encounter with the beautiful Brooklyn Decker ("Just Go With It") as Samantha Shane. However, the story really takes place at the high seas, where more characters start to make their presence felt in the movie, such as Liam Neeson ("Schindler's List") as Vice Admiral Shane, Tadanobu Asano ("Thor") as Captain Nagata, Commanding Officer of JDS Myoko, and making her acting debut is Pop star Rihanna as Petty Officer Cora Rikes, crewmate and a weapons specialist on the USS John Paul Jones.

With all the hype Rihanna has generated by being in this movie, her performance did not quite live up to the expectation. Her lack of expression even under dire circumstances, and unnecessary one-liners are surely the contributing factors of her meager role. The surprise performance however, comes in the form of Jesse Plemons ("Paul") as Ordy. Cast in a supporting role, Ordy certainly left a more impressionable character to the somewhat fast paced, star filled movie with his comedic timing and simply humourous one liners in an often times serious situations.

The movie on its own is a wonderful interpretation of the game. Rather than the possible storyline of a ship-on-ship battle, Peter Berg and his team of writers, Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber ("Red"), took a different approach altogether. Maybe at first glance the use of aliens as the enemy is questionable, but as the audiences sit through the movie, one cannot deny how everything fits like a puzzle. Enhanced with the technology that we have today, the movie certainly sizzles with stunning visuals and well-crafted action sequences filled with non-stop explosions. However, apart from all the action, do expect to find this movie riddled with comedy and drama as well.

This movie certainly is a thrilling experience of epic proportions, and with all the similar genres that serve the battle between aliens and humans as their platforms, "Battleship" certainly manages to distant itself from the typical movies being churned out by Hollywood movie makers and certainly has a unique charm on its own. Audiences will also find themselves at the edge of the seat every step of the way, so watch it if you want to be part of the epic ride. And do wait till the end of the credit for some surprises.

Apart from the standard 35mm format, "Battleship" is also available in 2D and IMAX 2D.

Cinema Online, 12 April 2012