Battleship

Theatrical Release: 5/18/2012

Reviewer: Edwin L. Carpenter
Source: Theater
Writer: Erich Hoeber & Jon Hoeber
Producer: Sarah Aubrey
Director: Peter Berg
Genre: Action
Runtime: 131 min.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Brooklyn Decker, Liam Neeson

Synopsis:
Peter Berg (Hancock) produces and directs Battleship, an epic-scaled action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force. Inspired by Hasbro's classic naval combat game, Battleship stars Taylor Kitsch as Lt. Alex Hopper, a Naval officer assigned to the USS John Paul Jones; Brooklyn Decker as Sam Shane, a physical therapist and Hopper's fiancee; Alexander Skarsgard as Hopper's older brother, Stone, Commanding Officer of the USS Sampson; Rihanna as Petty Officer Raikes, Hopper's crewmate and a weapons specialist on the USS John Paul Jones; and international superstar Liam Neeson as Hopper and Stone's superior (and Sam's father), Admiral Shane.

Dove Worldview:
"Battleship" has some good moments but, if you will pardon the expression, it is a bit overblown. It is inspired by the Hasbro game, a naval strategy game, and it's an alien-invasion movie. In some ways it is a bit more interesting than the "Transformers" films but one could hardly compare it to anything as deep or entertaining as "Star Trek" or "Star Wars".

Naval brothers Alex Hopper (Taylor Kitsch, who plays a temperamental lieutenant) and Stone Hopper (Alexander Skarsgard) find themselves smack in the middle of an extraterrestrial assault. However, the violence and onslaught of the aliens is part of the problem with this movie as far as it being a family-friendly film. The violence hits a level three in our content rating, with some blood and a lot of violence, not to mention the strong language, which for us essentially sinks this Battleship.

Content Chart & Description

Rating Descriptions

Sex: Kissing; a double entendre; a woman straddles a man on the ground.
Language: GD-1 (Possibly four as three words spoken by a character were hard to distinguish); G/OMG-7; F (partially uttered)-2; S-8; H-12; A-7; D-4; SOB-1; B-1; Slang for breast-1
Violence: Soccer contact in game; a face is bloodied; ships fire at one another; explosions; people are thrust forward by explosions; a man breaks into a store via the ceiling and falls hard to the floor; helicopters are destroyed and people killed; aliens hit with objects; an alien is punched; sniper, rifles and missiles in addition to torpedoes; police Taser a young man.
Drugs: Bar scene; some beer is consumed and a few shot glasses of drinks.
Nudity: Cleavage; a nude man sits up in tub but ice covers his private area.
Other: Family tensions; belching; tattoos are seen on character's arm; a few jump scenes which might frighten young viewers.

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