Battleship Hot

Pretty impressive. Taylor Kitsch made a great main character as Alex Hopper and Rihanna played a likeable serious warrior type lieutenant, but the aliens sort of looked like they were copied from the video game Halo. The armadillo like alien roller things make mass destruction on towns and highways, people drown, and aliens may frighten little ones. Ages 11+

Honestly, I was ready to hate BATTLESHIP, mainly because it's such a cheap merchandising ploy, but I didn't. I found BATTLESHIP - just the kind of movie I normally dread seeing -- pretty edge-of-my seat entertaining. The film hits all the TOP GUN type of cliches you can imagine, however, the journey to the obvious outcome is filled with surprises. As a parent, I appreciated an explanation and demonstration of how the Navy operates. I've played the Hasbro board game my whole life and, honestly, I loved the payoff -- from characters saying "hit" and "miss," the E11/B5 type grid, and the moment where the audience is thinking "you sunk my battleship" (although thankfully no one ever says those actual words).
Considering the term "mouth like a sailor" originated from the Navy's use of salty language, the bad language could have been much worse. I mean, it's there (and when it's not, it's implied in clever ways) but I don't think it's anything a teen doesn't hear every day at school.
The action is full-throttle and intense but, again, in today's video game environment I think any kid considered a tween wouldn't be disturbed by it, or for that matter, find it to be realistic. What may be jarring for more sensitive kids is that this is a world-ending-disaster film with buildings and freeways collapsing in epic detail.
What I most appreciate about the film is it makes a hero out of World War II veterans as well as a real life hero who is a double amputee, Col. Greg Gadson. Additionally, the strategy book THE ART OF WAR is referenced quite a bit in the movie - hopefully, it will encourage teens to read it!
Overall, I'm not sure BATTLESHIP is a hit, but it's certainly NOT a miss. For ages 11+.