MOVIE REVIEW - Battleship

Here comes the Hasbro Toy Company again with another movie about one of their toys from the past. This time it's not Transformers, it's Battleship.

Up front, I played the game as a kid, like most did/do. I was not a big fan of it. I played it, and that was it. Then I learned that there was going to be a movie based on it. Like most I didn't understand the need. This movie looks nothing like the old board game, or even like the newer electronic version. And that's OK. In fact, I'm OK with this movie as a whole.

Should be noted. Battleship is not a "real" movie. Sounds harsh I know, but it's not meant to be. After you start to get what it is they are doing, you decide to give in and give it a pass. This is made for kids 14 plus or so, with a limited ceiling. It's flat out campy, and borderline silly. And that's OK. Granted, there are a few too many movies made for that age group, but I guess one more doesn't hurt.

Battleship is part of a few other movies. It's part Transformers, part Pearl Harbor, part Independence Day, and with some Titanic, and Star Wars tossed in. It's the story of aliens from another world that come to Earth with the assistance of some Federal Government silly, much ill-advised attempt to contact people from deep space. The aliens travel millions of miles to get here, and once they land they are none too happy, and feel the need to take over the world.

Thank goodness we have a group of young, very attractive group of young actors, I mean Naval personnel that will save the earth with incredible talent, devotion and humor. As this rolls on and becomes more silly by the minute, you realize that this movie is not made to be a serious flick. It's made for kids to be excitedly exclaiming in the parking lot, "Hey wasn't it awesome when......." or "You know that part where the big ship did this?...." That's what this is. It has the physical look Transformers, and you get it because it's Hasbro again. But it tries to tie in a Titanic like love story (far smipler though), along with the backdrop of Pearl Harbor (where the attack again takes place.) And the cheering, and pride swelling of ID4.

But there are some real kudos to go around here. Much of this was filmed on United States Naval Vessels, and it's pretty cool to go places few seldom get to. Also, many of the extras are Naval personnel, and they bring back some veterans from wars of old who play an interesting part in this movie. They also feature more real vets from various branches of the service, and that's good too. The special effects are standard, with plenty of things blowing up, and catching on fire. It also doesn't wear out it welcome at under two hours.

Battleship is not supposed to win awards, change the world or the way we look at movies. It's supposed to make money and be a silly, far - fetched diversion for summer movie goers much like The Avengers. But make no mistake. Battleship is no Avengers. It's not near as smart, or slick, and it's not supposed to be. But reality did set in this weekend, and The Avengers "Sunk my Battleship." (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Battleship. It's many things, campy, silly, over the top, far-fetched, juvenile and more. But in the end all of those thing intersect, and make it one thing. Simple summer fun.