I have a nagging feeling that World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles is a propaganda movie produced by the United States Marine Corps.

To wit:

1. The heroes of the story are US Marines who are led by Staff Sgt. Nantz, a grizzled veteran (played by Aaron Eckhart)
2. It glorifies the toughness and no quit attitude of the Marines
3. It shows the "leave no man behind" culture of the Marines
4. In the film, there's a boy that SSgt. Nantz comforts and is made to say "Marines don't quit". SSgt. Nantz calls the boy his  "little Marine."

While the movie is about the invasion of aliens, the film tackles themes that are common to war movies: leadership, shell-shock, camaraderie, and sacrifice. These themes are milked to the hilt that you'll feel them transform to cliches as the movie plays along.

The action reminds me of District 9 and Hurt Locker, especially with the unstable camera shots and in-your-face moments. The timeliness of the movie adds to the tension, but don't expect a deep storyline.

The war action and tense moments make World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles a decent film, even if it feels like it's recruiting me to join the US Marine Corps.


Rating: 2.5/5