Review: Battle For Terra

Battle for Terra tells the story of Senn (Justin Long) and Mala (Evan Rachel Wood), two rebellious tadpole-looking alien teens living on the beautiful planet Terra, a place that promotes peace and tolerance, having long ago rejected war and weapons of mass destruction. But when Terra is invaded by human beings fleeing a civil war and environmental catastrophe, the planet is plunged into chaos. During the upheaval, Mala befriends an injured human pilot (Luke Wilson) and each learns that their two races are not so different from one another. Together they must face the terrifying realization that in a world of limited resources, only one of their races is likely to survive.

It is rare to see an anti-war movie that isn't filled to capacity with battle sequences, and this is no exception. There is comic book-like action throughout, with Star Wars spaceship battles; and for a movie with a presumed peace at any cost theme, there sure is a lot of warfare going on. And its makers go a step further. It’s the first man vs. aliens film since The Day The Earth Stood Still where the earthlings are the bad guys. Here, some are simply misguided, but the military in general is portrayed as bloodthirsty and uncaring space invaders. Maybe it’s true, but it didn’t sit right with me. 

The film pictures Earthlings willing to destroy other civilizations in order to survive at all costs. Individual characters are deprived of air; the earthlings suck out all the substance the aliens need to breath on their own planet; and we see the aliens about to die before an Earth soldier turns on his own commanders and blows up the air-sucking machine.

Little ones, or even their older siblings will catch on to the subtle social commentary, but some of the heavy-handed statements were met with groans in the theater, even from the liberals at the screening. The film is anti-war, anti-military and anti-human. It may be too anti for many people.

Rated PG for a couple of minor expletives, but there is no harsh language.

For a more detailed review, check out the free website, Previewonline.org, where Phil Boatwright reviews films from a Christian perspective.