Customer Reviews

Battle for Terra

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This Blu has been screening nicely in the store as sadly no one got to see this with that joke of a theatrical release slate.

Plenty to dissect here regarding both the subtle and overlaying future of humanity themes, but in the end the positive outcomes shine through as does the awesome animation, both preserved beautifully on the Blu. This recent trend of 5.1 Uncompressed PCM on Blu is a nice change, and it bodes well for an action filled finale like this. The clarity, colors and style of animation look great here, and I bookmarked the last 17 minute battle scene for customers and that alone has sold itself. The supplements are a bit mismanaged and include:
* 4:45 minute making-of. Way too short for what this film took to make, and most of the other extras should have been spliced into this selection.
* 4 deleted scenes totaling 7 minutes. For what this film was they all should have been left in their respective sequences.
* 25 second quip on a storyboard to final rendering analysis on one scene.
* 2:13 minute Animatics picture in picture clip. Shows the animation changes between production levels of the escape sequence.
* 20 slides containing text and and drawing notes of initial production design.
* Pulling the Strings, 1:26 minute low grade animation clip of the director stating his reasons for making this and other films and what he hopes to accomplish.
* Crew commentary, catered to the animation followers.

The menu is eye catching and plays with some decent music. The navigation is too extensive for younger viewers and could have been made much simpler regarding the supplements (combine everything next time). This gets a 5 rating for Lionsgate on a solid picture and sound product. A PG rating with maybe a few scary moments for really young viewers, but presentable to everyone, I think. Have not had any kids run screaming to mom yet while it plays here. Hope you enjoy.

This movie was great. It was the first 3-D movie I ever went and saw. Due to the horrible job done promoting this movie not many people even saw it. Which is fine because my friend and I had the whole theater to ourselves. A private screening at a public movie theater of one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Most people won't like this movie because it makes us humans out to be the bad guys. The movie was great. Animation for being made with the money it was made for is excellent. The message great. If you are one of the ones who didn't get to see this in theaters, which I'm sure most of you reading this are aside from a few scary moments which may disturb younger viewers this movie truly is a diamond in the rough.

Seldom do animations of this quality and creative imagination also elicit thoughtful and emotional responses from the viewer. But such appears to be the case as many other reviewers have expressed similar thoughts. So! Praise to the director, writers and animation crew for an exceptionally crafted story.

This is an interesting sci-fi animation. Great for both kids and adults. Has a new twist on alien invasion. Not predictable!

I picked up the movie at the free video store shelf at Family Video. It is actually worth paying for and not a FREE movie. The story line is good and it keeps your interest Well Done

After watching one of the most disturbing messes of my life: Punisher, War Zone, this movie was even more wonderful. A Sci-fi for the whole family and a first rate blu-ray, would recommend this to all.

Great story line and morale for the story. May not be appropriate for younger children, though, because some of the action scenes could be a little scary.

Battle for Terra is one of those rare films that dares to have a politically charged message: Genocide and ecocide is inexcusable under any and all circumstances; following your conscience can have an extraordinarily high price; and government is best run by civilians and not by a military dictatorship!

This exact same subject matter of humans colonizing another world at the expense of another intelligent and benevolent species is rarely covered in science fiction on the big screen. Human beings are usually the victims of some evil alien power. It's nice to see the tables turned for once and witness human beings as the oppressors, or bad guys.

This is truly a profound and subversive story. Too bad it was shown on only one screen in a metropolitan area with 1 1/2 million people! It deserves to have been seen by a much wider audience!

While watching Battle for Terra, I asked myself repeatedly, "What would I do in a similar situation?" I realize I will never be a soldier in a critical battle that will determine the destiny of the human race. But I'm forced to examine the power I have, no matter how small, to battle evil and injustice when given the opportunity to do so! That's the beauty of a subversive story! It makes you think!

See: Conscience: The Duty to Obey and the Duty to Disobey and The Light of Conscience: How a Simple Act Can Change Your Life

For other great Science Fiction see::Zardoz and Enemy Mine and Fantastic Planet and A.I. - Artificial Intelligence (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition) and Bicentennial Man and Galaxy Quest (Deluxe Edition)

Battle for Terra is an entertaining and visually impressive animated adventure. The story mixes unique creatures and planet vegetation with a story about peace and the battle over good and evil. This movie came out before Avatar and delivers a creative and unique style in the look and feel of the inhabitants of the new planet and its vegetation and creatures, not unlike that of Avatar.

The only downfall I would say is that they don't take enough time to truly develop the "heroes" of the story but that being said, the animation delivers a great visual punch that creates an atmosphere of adventure for anyone watching.

Movies like this shine in Blu-ray; the visuals are sensational. That the scripting is smart and bright makes this nigh-on perfect. There seems a charming and fantastical element to the superb visuals; the designs are quite special, imaginative, whimsical and original.

The earth-as-a-predator-messing-with-smaller-more-pure-cultures seems a popular, partially-valid point of view in recent years. It works for sci-films like these: Avatar (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray],Star Trek - Insurrection (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition), Kaena - The Prophecy. It's interesting, how geopolitical concerns are getting into movies these days. (KAENA is an anime and not quite as political; its point is that the old ways are not necessarily the best ways. The villains aren't invaders, but themselves.)

Of all the movies mentioned, AVATAR is of course the biggest and knock-you-out $lick; but BATTLE FOR TERRA is more empathetic and touching. It seems so because it's more compassionate and, truthfully, smaller. It's not preachy or tuned for violence but concentrates on beings' beliefs, motives and feelings. As such it stands apart on its own, and in some aspects, above. I hope the producers of this fine flick come back soon and use their style, sensitivities and taste again soon.