In the pantheon of misunderstood blockbusters, one 2012 military sci-fi film remains one of the most unfairly dismissed. Branded early as the movie based on a board game, it became a punchline before it ever had a chance. But for those who gave it a shot, or came back to it years later with a more open mind, this flick reveals itself to be the best Michael Bay movie he never actually directed.
From the sweeping military montages to the chest-rattling sound design, every frame of Battleship is dripping with Bay-isms. So, it can be hard to remember that this one wasn’t directed by the man behind Transformers and Armageddon, but by Friday Night Lights creator Peter Berg. It’s got everything — ridiculous macho camaraderie, almost fetishized American naval might, alien tech, slow-mo hero shots, and explosions that are a sensory overload. If Transformers had an outrageous saltwater cousin, Battleship would be it.
With Battleship, the Ridiculous Plot is Kind of the Point
The premise of Battleship is proudly absurd. A fleet of alien ships crashes into Earth’s oceans after humanity sends a signal into space. Caught in the chaos is a disgraced Navy officer, Alex Hopper (Taylor Kitsch), who must grow into the role of hero just in time to save the world. If that sounds suspiciously like a dozen other Bay-style redemptive arcs, it’s because it kind of is by design. This isn’t a movie that asks to be taken seriously. The dialogue is cheesy. The plot is hilariously implausible. But the sincerity is real. Where other blockbusters smirk their way through genre tropes, Battleship dives in headfirst, completely unironically. It never pretends to be clever but somehow ends up with a lot of heart, on its way to embracing the popcorn-movie playbook and going full throttle.
Much like Bay’s Pearl Harbor or 13 Hours, Battleship is an unabashed love letter to the U.S. military. From the glossy aerial shots of destroyers slicing through ocean waves to the reverent depiction of veterans stepping in for one last mission, this film treats the Navy like superheroes. Peter Berg, much like Bay, knows how to shoot hardware like it’s sacred. Guns glisten. Engines roar. Every missile has its close-up. It’s patriotism as pageantry, executed with complete commitment. Then there’s the aliens.
With their biomechanical armor, glowing eyes, and Transformers-esque weaponry, they could’ve stepped right out of a Bay flick. These invaders are designed for maximum visual impact. The ships themselves feel like something born from a fever dream of Hasbro and Michael Bay’s VFX team. The way these alien vessels move, adapt, and attack feels weighty and terrifying. You never doubt their power, and the film does a solid job building tension around their capabilities. Unlike the often chaotic and hyper-edited Bay action sequences, Berg lets the camera linger just enough for you to enjoy the spectacle and understand what the hell is going on.
Kitsch plays the brash, impulsive, slightly rebellious protagonist who could easily be a Navy version of Shia LaBeouf or Ben Affleck. He’s joined by pop star Rihanna in her big-screen debut, bringing unexpected energy as a tough-as-nails weapons specialist. There’s even a stoic, growling Liam Neeson as the Admiral you do not want to disappoint. It’s all very on-brand. This ensemble could easily have walked out of a Transformers sequel, but here, they’re working with just enough sincerity and self-awareness to make it work. In one of the film’s most memorable moments, a group of aging Navy veterans teams up with the young crew to commandeer the U.S.S. Missouri, a real WWII-era battleship turned memorial, and bring the fight to the aliens.
If that sounds like something Bay would storyboard while blasting Aerosmith, you’re not wrong. This sequence is a love letter to American grit, perfectly set to AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” and shot like an action trailer unto itself. It shouldn’t work. It’s too corny. It’s too convenient. But somehow, it does, and it becomes the emotional high point of the film. Watching real-life veterans crank up the engines of a dormant warship and sail into battle is absurdly inspiring. It’s so sincere, it transcends the cheese.
Upon release, critics panned Battleship and the Rotten Tomatoes score remains at a chilly 34%. Audiences were confused by the marketing and turned off by the idea of a film based on a strategy board game. But, let’s be real, it was never really about the board game. The title may have been Battleship, but the film is all about throwing spectacle, sincerity, and star-spangled heroism into a blender and seeing what comes out. And what emerges is a wild, unapologetic, surprisingly heartfelt thrill ride that holds up way better than expected. In an era full of bloated, self-important blockbusters, Battleship is refreshingly earnest. It knows what kind of movie it is and doesn’t try to pretend otherwise. It’s got the heart of Armageddon, the alien tech of Transformers, and the military swagger of Top Gun. And though it doesn’t have Bay’s name on the director’s chair, Battleship is a masterclass in Bayhem by someone who clearly studied the playbook and maybe, just maybe, did it better.
You can watch Battleship on Prime Video and YouTube.
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