A Marine platoon faces off against an alien invasion in Los Angeles in Columbia Pictures’ action thriller “Battle (Photo Courtesy of Sony Pictures)
Stemming from the successes of “Paranormal Activity,” and last year’s surprise hit “District 9,” the new alien filled blockbuster “Battle: Los Angeles,” follows a group of marines caught in the middle of an unexpected alien attack in America’s most diverse city. As the conditions of the alien attack grow worse, it takes everything the small squadron has just to survive. Playing two of the marines in the movie are action movie veterans Aaron Eckhart and Michelle Rodriguez.
“What I love about this movies is that it is filmed in documentary style,” Eckhart said. “It has a realistic war feel to it, but instead of people, we happen to be fighting aliens.”
Playing two tough marines forced to work together to survive, Eckhart and Rodriguez went through a grueling routine of workouts and exercises in preparation for the film. From being at the shooting range, to running two miles a day, the two actors were pushed to their physical limits.
“Basically, we went to boot camp,” Eckhart said. “We learned weapons backward and forward and both got into really good shape.”
His co-star, Rodriguez, was no stranger to the gym as well.
“I hate running, so getting up to run two miles a day was pretty hardcore,” Rodriguez said. “Let’s just say those abs I had in my last movie ‘Machete’ were from the training for this film.”
As one of Hollywood’s most recognizable female action stars, Michelle Rodriguez is used to playing nitty-gritty female roles. As for her part in “Battle: Los Angeles,” the actress describes why she chose to join the cast.
“Love stories are always so boring to me,” Rodriguez said. “I’m attracted to playing the strong female, I like projecting strength. It’s not my fault that every time someone writes a script for a tough female, I gravitate towards it.”
As an action movie, “Battle: Los Angeles” features a variety of stunts and setups that can sometimes be harming to the actor. In Eckhart’s case, one stunt left him in a cast.
“We were filming one scene and I fell about seven feet off of a rock and broke my arm,” Eckhart said.
Initially in “Battle: Los Angeles,” Eckhart and Rodriguez’ characters are displaced from one another, as part of separate units. However, it is when Rodriguez’s entire unit is missing that she finds Eckhart’s group of marines, from there, the two actors must work together to save Los Angeles.
“Michelle is a great addition to this movie,” Eckhart said. “She brings a woman’s perspective to the piece and she really knows her weapons. Michelle has got great energy and is amazing at doing action movies.”
Knowing her weapons are correct in the movie, Rodriguez gets to handle and shoot a variety of different artillery.
“There were some weapons in this movie that were pretty new to me,” Rodriguez said. “I got to shoot a 50 caliber, and even though it was blank, that sucker had a lot of stuff behind it. At one point, I learned how to take apart and put together a gun with a pen. I love guns.” “Battle: Los Angeles'” latest production stills show the iconic city ravaged in flames I destruction, Eckhart reflect on how we would react if the gruesome scenario was ever to come true.
“If something like this happened in real life,” Eckhart said, “the event would be completely mind numbing.”
While Eckhart may be at a loss for words, his co-star Rodriguez has a more precise plan.
“Not that I think something like this would ever happen,” Rodriguez said. “But if it did, the first thing I would do would be to run to my local police station and do my best to try and help out.”
With all of the guns, explosions, aliens and destructed cities that any moviegoer would ever want, “Battle: Los Angeles” open in theatres nationwide, this Frida.
“The film is very entertaining,” Eckhart said. “Basically, it’s a kick-ass alien movie.”
