Battleship: #DecentContact

I haven’t loved a movie this much since Battle LA. I dragged a few friends with me who weren’t huge alien movie fans and they were pleasantly surprised how entertaining it was, more than Cowboys and Aliens at least. The effects were latest standards, especially the sounds, and the technology the aliens used was pretty creative. The plot line was easy to follow without too many holes and I thought the main character did a good job after a rocky start. Rihanna was pretty bad though, check out all of her lines and you’ll see why.

Let’s remember, they took a board game and turned it into a full on movie. For that, and the great way they incorporated it, they get extra credit. They don’t address all the things that make a great alien movie like why they came to earth, or a greater symbolic message, but I enjoyed it.

Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind: #DecentContact

Although being an older movie from the 70s, I still had high expectations for Close Encounters of the 3rd kind has it’s considered such a classic in the genre. I could appreciate that there were some original themes and ideas that have been copied over the last 3 decades, but I left the movie feeling just MEH.

So many open questions for me after the movie…so the aliens chose this guy and made him crazy to the point where he left his family and destroyed his life, losing his job and everything he had? Why not pick someone without a family to leave behind?

This movie is prime for a remake in the next 10 years, with a larger focus on the science and algorithms around the iconic sounds and visual displays that everyone remembers about this movie. Instead the original spends too much time developing the characters, having them hike around some random mountain and generally being bat-shit crazy. Could have spent more of the time as Contact did with how and why they are communicating in this way. Loved the addition of visual dynamics to the initial contact and could give a new director the ability to do something truly amazing with today’s special effects.

This original original is watchable, not great by any means, but entertaining enough.

Super 8: #DecentContact

2011 was a fantastic year for alien movie fans with several high profile movies coming out including Battle: LA in March and then two alien movies in the middle of the height of the summer movie season within six weeks of each other, one being in 1800s Wild West and the other in 1979 Ohio.

Since this was produced by Spielberg and directed by JJ Abrams, I had fairly big expectations for Super 8. You knew it was going to be a wild ride and it sure delivers. A slow beginning explodes into a whirlwind adventure following a set of kids throughout their small rural town. A decent story, although a bit cheesy at times, was well thought out and includes some classic coming-of-age moments.

The biggest thing about this movie was the fact that you could easily watch this was your 12 or 13 year old nephew (it is PG-13). It’s graphic and loud, but not overly violent and never inappropriate. It’s not one of the best alien movies I’ve ever seen, but it is surely #DecentContact.

Cloverfield: #DecentContact

The movie opens from the view point of one of main characters filming interviews of attendees at his friend’s going-away party, purposely erratic, low angles and kind of crappy quality. That said, it worked well for the intro as you get a good sense of the story and build a connection, but I wish they had ditched the jumpy handheld direction later in the movie. The dark, running away from monsters scenes got a little bit much for me, and when the crazy shit happens later, I would have preferred high end, Michael Bay production levels. Speaking of which, why hasn’t Bay ever done an alien movie (and don’t you dare say Transformers). 

Overall, the movie was very entertaining. If you like alien movies, and was able to watch ‘The Blair With Project’, you’re going to love this movie. If all that running and shaking made you a bit queasy, there’s still a lot to see here. Very watchable and a well written story. Lots for alien movie fans to like here and I’m surprised 3 years later there still isn’t a sequel, although it sounds like they are working on it. 

Cowboys & Motherfucking Aliens: #DecentContact

What’s to say about an alien movie that blends Cowboys and Aliens, and I don’t just mean the title. What do you expect? Shoot em ups, old corale style? Check. Surprising amazing sounds effects? Check. But what about the simple amazing ability of Hollywood’s top people to recruit amazing talent like Daniel Craig and (out of retirement) Harrison Ford? Check.


I’m not going to lie. When I saw the first ad for Cowboy & Aliens during the Super Bowl I jumped out of my seat with excitement. Obviously I’m a huge fan of any movie related to aliens, but throw in cowboys and a ridiculous cast, FUCK YES. 


So, onto the movie. Let’s be clear about one thing. When you set your expectations to the above criteria, this movie dominates. I don’t just mean it’s entertaining. It makes you so giddy to the point where you’re clapping your hands in sarcastic exuberance. More than anything this a movie that should entertain and not ask questions. There are no political or human desire motivations and with a movie with this title there shouldn’t be. 


How the hell Jon Favreau convinced this cast to do this movie is beyond me, but he did put together a thoroughly entertaining movie that you can watch on a Friday night after a grueling week of work, or a Saturday afternoon hungover as hell as I’ll probably be tomorrow. 


Overall, I did enjoy it and I hope you do too…giving the title and all. 

Battle Los Angeles: #DecentContact

You have to hand it to Sony for making the movie Battle: LA. With a fairly large budget (estimated at $100MM) they have already grossed over $200MM and it hasn’t even been released on blue-ray yet. Between a great marketing campaign involving the cool re-entry circles seen above that have become almost iconic, and big names like Aaron Eckhart (so hot right now) and Michelle Rodriguez, who is now the default Hollywood actress for a women in a military role, the studio did it’s job creating a product that sells. 

The movie starts off well and maintains a high energy throughout the first hour. It’s truly entertaining and for an alien invasion movie, it does all the right things. Signs of something approaching the world, general disbelief that anything could go wrong, and then complete domination. I’ve dragged my wife into a lot of these movies and she would like to see aliens that don’t move around like us. The whole two legs, two arms thing is a bit old no?

The military story lines are all too predictable: one guy on his last day before retirement, one guy about to get married and one guy with a baby on the way. Sigh. If I have to fault the movie it’s the last 30 minutes. Really wanes a bit and doesn’t quite have that feel good ending that Independence Day had. Remember that first time you had a GIANT banana split? You’re about 8 years old and you order the jumbo version because why not? You bite into it and think it’s incredible. Best dessert you’ve ever had. Then you get half way through, you’ve eaten a pint of ice cream, a cup of whipped cream and a whole banana…and you’re only half way there. By the time you’re done you think the whole thing was good of course, but you don’t exactly want another one. 

Overall, this movie entertains to the max, especially the first hour. Have a few cocktails, sit back and enjoy a great action packed alien movie. As I always say, Explosions and Aliens. What else do you need?

NIGHTNIGHT by DEDDY