Battleship

Released: 212
Action, sci-fi
Director: Peter Berg
Starring:  Taylor Kitsch, Liam Neeson, Alexander Skarsgard
Running Time: 131 minutes
Rated: PG-13

The breakdown:  Aliens invade near Hawaii and some Naval ships try to save the world.

In a very minor way this movie was based on the board game by Hasbro, but it really doesn't have anything to do with that game.
Basically aliens invade Earth after we send out a beam of communications to a distant planet that is discovered to be a lot like Earth.  During a training exercise, the Navies of the world meet up near Hawaii and some ships end up getting locked in by an alien force field.  The one screw up at the beginning of the film has to save the world, all while doing it with Rihanna as part of his team.

This movie has some great special effects and I liked the way the aliens looked and their space suits and all, but this movie is all style and no substance.  I think it would've worked better as a comedy since there are some genuinely funny moments, but otherwise it's pretty shallow.  The characters have no depth and the movie has no heart.  You don't care if the characters die as long as it's spectacular to look at.  Oh yes, and I should mention that like all other movies of this type, the characters have the list of commonly spoken phrases like, "I didn't sign up for this."  or "Light em up boys."

2 out of 5 for special effects and the hot guy from John Carter.
P.S. Rihanna stick to your day job, you are certainly no actress.