SIGforum
Let's check the standings in the "U.S. Military vs Aliens" movie competition...

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/720601935/m/2000028915

March 08, 2026, 04:18 PM
DanH
Let's check the standings in the "U.S. Military vs Aliens" movie competition...
quote:
Originally posted by Orguss:
Technically, there were two movies for the television series, as well.


Not counting them, but the movie Stargate left it vague which military service was working on the Stargate project while the series assumed it was the Air Force since it was at NORAD.
March 08, 2026, 06:17 PM
AllenInAR
Totally forgot about the Transformers, but I think for this competition, we're looking at "normal" US military. No Colonial Marines, no Stargate task force, no covert units working alongside other aliens.

And CSlinger....War Machine better than Battleship?!?!? To each their own I suppose. Big Grin


_______________________________

The artist formerly known as AllenInWV
March 09, 2026, 06:26 AM
Sigmund
Here's a review that includes a trailer:

"Critics have described the film as a blend of “Predator” and “Transformers,” which is a polite way of saying nobody is going to win an Oscar for this film, but the explosions and over-the-top special effects might..."

Complete article:

https://www.navytimes.com/off-...cenario-with-aliens/
March 09, 2026, 09:17 AM
BigSwede
I had a some free time last night with two stinky dogs in my lap, we were entertained with War Machine


March 10, 2026, 01:36 PM
Green Highlander
Maybe not completely in the genre requested but the military plays a role in "Mars Attacks!"

Bonus point is that Slim Whitman is a WW2 Navy vet.


"You know, Scotland has its own martial arts. Yeah, it's called Fuck You. It's mostly just head butting and then kicking people when they're on the ground." - Charlie MacKenzie (Mike Myers in "So I Married an Axe Murderer")
March 10, 2026, 06:43 PM
Prefontaine
I was fine with most of it until the final act which was terrible.



What am I doing? I'm talking to an empty telephone
March 17, 2026, 09:51 AM
RogueJSK
quote:
Originally posted by Prefontaine:
I was fine with most of it until the final act which was terrible.


I agree.

War Machine is a schlocky sci-fi/military action film, so I wasn't expecting greatness, but I was still disappointed.

The first half or so is fine. They don't pull any punches with the violence. The machine design is kinda neat and it succeeds at being menacing. And the CGI is actually not bad. But the second half fell flat, and the final scene is just groan-inducing levels of cheesy.

Plus, who the hell decided that a 71 year old was a good choice to play a Sergeant Major in the 75th Ranger Regiment?! (At least Sam Elliot was only 58 in We Were Soldiers, and Clint Eastwood was only 56 in Heartbreak Ridge, which would be uncommon but not impossible.)

It's definitely more in line with Battleship than Battle Los Angeles in quality. I'd rate it a 3.5/10. Watch it only if you're real bored and can't find anything else.


And their prop/uniform folks need to be beaten with a sack of doorknob. Holy crap, the soldiers' appearance and gear sucked throughout. They very clearly bought the cheapest Temu grade crap they could find (complete with that weird overly bright Chinese multicam knockoff fabric where the tan is actually pink), then tossed it on the actors with zero regard for how it should realistically be worn.

I'm talking plate carriers hanging below their beltlines, floppy carriers without even simulated plates, random pouches hung every which way, empty chest rigs, things on backwards, caps and patches all kinds of fucked up. Just awful. B-Movie levels of cheap and terrible uniforms/gear setups.