Ne-Yo’s new ‘Battle’

Massive unidentified objects hover overhead. As the skies abound with intergalactic aircrafts, an extraterrestrial army obliterates all living things in its path with an intricate arsenal equipped with lasers and dangerous projectiles. In the new film directed by Jonathan Liebesman, Battle: Los Angeles, the uncertainty of “What if?” is explored in a creative and innovatively imagined account, loosely inspired by real-life events.

On Feb. 25, 1942, unidentified flying objects were spotted off the coast of Los Angeles, according to the Museum of the City of San Francisco. Military forces aimed “1,440 rounds of ammunition” at the objects, but were unable to do any damage. Reports varied greatly, and eventually, investigations ceased. “The Battle of Los Angeles,” as it has been called, still remains a fascinating mystery. Liebesman’s film answers the question, “What would happen if Los Angeles really had to battle those mysterious forces?”

In the film, foreign forces invade countries all over Earth on a quest for what resembles worldwide domination. From Hong Kong to Rio de Janeiro to London, cities are annihilated by these extraterrestrial beings that are hell-bent on colonizing another planet. Los Angeles and its inhabitants must come together to fend off the brutal attacks and maintain their existence in the universe. With the help of Marine Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) and his unit, the city prepares to engage in combat force with an unidentified enemy.

Battle: Los Angelesboasts a diverse cast, including Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Bridgette Moynihan and R&B sensation Ne-Yo. The singer-songwriter-actor stepped out of his “comfort zone” to pursue the role of Corporal Kevin Harris.

“I always want to challenge myself [and] try something else. Staying in your comfort zone is a guarantee that you’ll live a very, very long life, but you may live a very long, boring life,” said Ne-Yo.

The role of Harris proved to be a challenge that Ne-Yo enjoyed facing up to. His character in his last film, Stomp the Yard, was easy for him to identify with.

“Learning how to step was challenging, but as far as the role itself, I played me. [The role of Harris in Battle: Los Angeles] is completely [different] than who I am. This was an opportunity for me to completely step out of anything that people would expect to see me doing,” he said.

This time around, Ne-Yo had the opportunity to do some of his own stunts, pushing himself physically and mentally through three weeks of intense, Marine-led training. Being trained by members of the United States Marine Corps gave the film an “authentic feel,” he said, allowing it to be more relatable.

“Liebesman was a perfectionist. He shot [Battle: Los Angeles] very much like a first-person shooter [to give it an authentic feel],” he said. “You feel like you’re really in the movie.”

The film clearly strives to appeal to the audience’s  sense of realism. The movie’s website, www.battlela.com, features pseudo-news broadcasts detailing the worldwide alien attacks. A sightings map pinpoints each attack location, from past attacks to those in progress.

Although mock realism is nothing new in the marketing strategies of the movie industry, Ne-Yo credits Battle: Los Angeles with being incomparable to past flicks that feature the struggles of alien versus mankind. What sets it apart, he said, is the film’s ability to produce characters that relate to the audience.

“There’s a lot of attention to character development. [In] a lot of these end-of-the-world films, you don’t really get to know the characters well enough to give a damn about the fact the world is ending,” he said.

But give a damn you shall. The film toys with the idea of life beyond Earth in a way that allows you to second guess your speculations and engage in the wonderment of the unknown. Even if you don’t believe in life on other planets, you’ll value the message of the fragility of life.

“The film makes you appreciate life more. It’s definitely given me a different perspective on things,” Ne-Yo said.

 

Battle: Los Angeles opens nationwide on March 11, 2011.