One thing that the critics are saying about "Battle: Los Angeles" is true. There is a lot of shaky cam. In fact so much that it can be a bit disorienting at times. But I'll give the director the benefit of the doubt. If there was ever a case to be made about portraying something in a disoriented fashion ground warfare would be an ideal candidate. I actually found that as the movie marched on the shaky cam treatment seemed appropriate. Now I don't think that this movie was anything other than a mostly exciting war film. The characters are thin in that we don't know a lot about them other than the exposition at the beginning of the movie which I did not like. It was too forced. Also the aliens were obviously a major threat to Earth but seldom were they intimidating and never were they an ominous force. But that's really where my mild disappointment ends. I really enjoyed the portrayal of the military here. I thought it was very respectful of the very difficult responsibility they have to protect the country. And for once there were no psychotic dysfunctional Marines. Just good guys fighting the bad guys. The ground battle was actually pretty realistic outside of a couple of miraculous rescues where I can't believe no one was hit by gunfire or shrapnel. The special effects were very good and the alien design was better in my opinion that those so loved in "District 9". Don't believe what the mainstream critics are saying about this film it is a fast-moving intense experience.