Battleship (2012)
Synopsis:
Battleship is a 2012 American science fiction action film named after the classic pen and paper game. The film was directed by Peter Berg and released by Universal Pictures. The film stars Taylor Kitsch, Liam Neeson, Alexander Skarsgård, Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker, and Tadanobu Asano. The film was originally planned to be released in 2011, but was rescheduled to April 11, 2012 in the United Kingdom and May 18, 2012 in the United States.[3] The film's world premiere was in Tokyo, Japan on April 3, 2012.
In 2005, NASA discovers an extrasolar planet with conditions similar to Earth. On the chance that it contains intelligent life, NASA transmits a powerful signal from a communications array in Hawaii, which will be boosted by a satellite in orbit. Around the same time, the talented but undisciplined slacker Alex Hopper (Taylor Kitsch) attempts to impress a woman by getting her a chicken burrito, the result of which sees him arrested for breaking into a convenience store. The woman is Samantha Shane (Brooklyn Decker), daughter of United States Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Terrance Shane (Liam Neeson), who in turn is the superior of Commander Stone Hopper (Alexander Skarsgard), Alex's older brother. Fed up and infuriated at Alex for lack of motivation and possibly ruining his own career, Stone forces him to join the United States Navy.
By 2012, Alex is a lieutenant and the Tactical Action Officer aboard the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS
John Paul Jones, while Stone is the commanding officer of USS Sampson. Alex is also in a relationship with Samantha and wants to marry her, but is afraid to ask her father for permission. During the opening ceremony for the RIMPAC naval exercises, Alex brawls with Japanese officer Captain Nagata (Tadanobu Asano), the latest in a string of incidents that could result in his discharge and the end of pf his career. Meanwhile, Samantha, a physical therapist, accompanies retired Army veteran and amputee Mick Canales (Gregory D. Gadson) on a hike on Oahu to help him adapt to his prosthetic legs.
Five alien ships arrive in response to the NASA signal. One ship collides with an orbital satellite and crashes in Hong Kong, while four others land in the water near Hawaii. Sampson, John Paul Jones, and the JMSDF Kongo class destroyer Myoko investigate, but are trapped when one of the ships erects an impenetrable force field around the Hawaiian islands. The destroyers attempt to establish contact, but the aliens attack in response to a warning shot fired by the American destroyers: Sampson and Myoko are destroyed. John Paul Jones is damaged with the commanding and executive officers killed. Initially attached to Sampson, Alex, who was one of the few out to take a closer look at the alien vessels, now boards John Paul Jones and takes command as the most senior officer left on the ship. Although initially wanting to attack the aliens in retaliation for his brother's death aboard Sampson, Alex is persuaded by other crew members to instead recover survivors from Myoko, with Captain Nagata among them. This act prompts the aliens to call off another attack. Since the barrier prevents the use of radar and sonar, Nagata realizes that they can use tsunami warning buoys around Hawaii to track the alien vessels' movements. A team of alien soldiers also board the John Paul Jones and rescues one of their comrades whom the humans brought out of the water earlier, but not before the humans determine that the aliens are sensitive to bright lights (including sunlight).
During a night-time battle, the aliens and the humans exchange pot shots. The humans are unable to gain a sensor lock on the alien ships, but are able to fire blind effectively in a method reminiscent of the Battleship board game, with the John Paul Jones sinking two alien ships but unable to hit the third. Alex uses his ship to lure the alien vessel close to shore, where he and Nagata shoot out its bridge windows at sunrise, then the John Paul Jones proceeds to fire at the alien vessel with full force. Both ships are destroyed in the ensuing battle.
Because the ship that crashed in Hong Kong was their communications ship, the aliens take over the NASA array and begin modifying it to signal their home planet. Samantha and Mick avoid detection and run into a fleeing scientist. Believing that a larger invasion might be imminent, the scientist acquires a radio which Samantha uses to warn Alex. He had planned to destroy the array with his ship, but since the John Paul Jones has been destroyed, the survivors are forced to return to base and acquire the only available naval vessel, the USS Missouri. Although a museum ship, the humans are able to reactivate the Missouri with the aid of the retired veterans preserving her. The battleship engages the alien ship and destroys its barrier but ends up with only one high-explosive shell remaining; Alex uses it to fire on the array.
However, jet fighters from the RIMPAC fleet (which scrambled to attack as soon as the barrier faded) arrive and eliminate the alien vessel before it can attack the defenseless Missouri one more time. The array explodes along with the alien occupation force. Back on shore, the naval personnel, along with Mick, are honored for their actions in defeating the aliens. After the ceremony, Alex asks Admiral Shane for his daughter's hand in marriage; the admiral refuses, but invites him to talk about the matter.
In a post-credits scene set in rural Scotland, three schoolchildren and a handyman break open a car-sized object that has apparently fallen from the sky. They run off in terror after seeing an alien hand reach out and grab the opening.
Directed by Peter Berg
Produced by Peter Berg, Brian Goldner, Duncan Henderson, Bennett Schneir, Scott Stuber
Written by Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber
Based on Battleship by Hasbro
Starring
Taylor Kitsch
Liam Neeson
Alexander Skarsgård
Rihanna
Brooklyn Decker
Music by Steve Jablonsky
Cinematography: Tobias A. Schliessler
Editing by Colby Parker Jr., Billy Rich, Paul Rubell
Studio: Battleship Delta Productions, Bluegrass Films, Film 44, Hasbro Studios, Ponysound
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date: April 3, 2012 (Tokyo, Premiere)
April 11, 2012 (United Kingdom)
May 18, 2012 (United States)
Running time: 131 minutes
Language: English
Budget: $209 million
Box office: $291,490,830
In Theaters: May 4, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of sci-if violence, action throughout, mild drug reference)
Genres: Adaptation, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Run Time: 2 hours 22 minutes
Distributors: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
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