Product Description

Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 09/22/2009 Run time: 84 minutes Rating: Pg

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5695 in DVD
• Brand: LIONS GATE HOME ENT.
• Released on: 2009-09-22
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 84 minutes

Amazon.com
Earthlings are the bad guys in this animated saga, which was released to theaters in 3-D. And the good guys? That would be the Terrans, big-eyed little tadpole creatures whose planet is about to be invaded by human beings in search of a permanent living space--and hey, if the atmosphere of this alien planet isn't exactly fit for humans, the visitors can always blast the place with an oxygen-producing terra-forming machine that will make it habitable. The only collateral damage is that the natives will be killed off. Huh? As you can see, the allegorical undertones here are, well, overtones, all of which might seem less heavy-handed if the story were absorbing and the characters were compelling, but director Aristomenis Tsirbas concentrates on the environmental message and the non-show-offy 3D design. We mostly follow a Terran (voiced by Evan Rachel Wood) who comes upon a lone astronaut (Luke Wilson), much to the confusion of her Terran quasi-boyfriend (Justin Long). In the absence of a lot of plot excitement, kids might take some enjoyment in the nerdy declarations of a cute robot (David Cross). Can the brutal intentions of the invading general (Brian Cox) be stopped in time to save Terra? Will you still be awake to learn the answer? --Robert Horton


Stills from Battle for Terra (Click for larger image)

Customer Reviews

A REVIEW OF THIS MOVIE (FOR THOSE NOT INTERESTED IN MY POLITICAL OR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS)
This movie is a reversal of the old, "Alien Invasion" cliché, where instead of our home world being invaded by aliens, we are the invading force on a peaceful planet after wars have destroyed our own world.

There is a good moral core at the center of this film and even though the situations in this tale seem black and white (or cut and dry) there are variant shades of grey permeating the story, making nothing seem forced for story continuity, or even easy for the sake of not asking the tough questions.

Also take note that even though the animation might seem oriented towards the small fry, the story has a slightly more complex underlying theme to it that (although the small fry will no doubt enjoy it) is aiming for a wider audience, and does succeed.

I've read a review where someone loosely compared this film to WALL-E, and I'd say that in certain aspects there are some similar flavorings (i.e. animation style to an extent, and the preservation of nature) but this film nicely stands on it's own in both ideas and execution.

So if you're looking for a nice little slice of epic story telling, done with a lot of heart and soul, then this film will not let you down.

Thoughtful & Emotional
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.

Oustanding and thought provoking CGI animated film
Battle For Terra is a very unusual CGI animated film about Earth invading an alien planet...no, this is not Planet 51 and is not a comedy by any stretch of the imagination. It's a serious and inciteful film made over 2 years ago and finally released on DVD. What would we do, if our civilization was reduced to a small group of marauders on a failing generation ship desperate to terraform a planet to save what's left of humanity, even if it would wipe out the indigenous population who breathe a different gas? It's well written, acted and animated. A true labor of love and has a bittersweet ending. I don't recommend it for really young children, but perhaps kids 8 and up could get the story.