Critic's Grade: C-

Frank's film tip: Conscious-minded kiddie sci-fi space actioner BATTLE FOR TERRA is full of heart but empty on everything else

The innocuous kiddie 3-D sci-fi animation Battle for Terra is a quaint and sweet-hearted vehicle armed with a cautionary message. Unfortunately, there is nothing else redeeming about this tyke-oriented intergalactic fable that resonates with convincing gusto. Quite frankly, Battle for Terra is too stillborn and conventional especially in an advanced cinematic age where progressive animated family fare is progressively challenging both visually and conceptually. Although well-meaning, Battle for Terra is too tame to capture the active imagination of adventurous tots as a mediocre-driven meteorite looking to impact young minds with its slow-footed pacing and puffy-minded pathos.

Writer-director Aristomenis Tsirbus (“The Freak”) and co-scriber Evan Spiliotopolous take a simple tale of intolerance and turn this junior-sized sci-fi ditty into a cliched and corny exposition about acceptance and keeping the universal peace. Again, this is not a bad message at all to disperse within a kiddie-friendly animated vehicle. Still, Battle for Terra is generically conceived and makes about as much impact as tinted windows on a stoned hippie-operated spacecraft. Surprisingly, the animation is rather simplistic but does have a unique look to it from a vintage point of view.

We are introduced to the distant planet of Terra where the inhabitants are peaceful and go about their business in orderly fashion. The Terrean creatures physically resemble flying tadpoles but are harmless nevertheless. All is calm and cozy until the brutal invaders—yes, earthlings—make their hostile presence known and start disrupting the Terreans’ smooth co-existence. Apparently these wayward humans are the last survivors of the planet Earth and had escaped the turmoil that has ruined their homestead. Now, the earthlings want to take over Terra and start their brand of civilization over at the expense of the passive Terreans. The heartless earthlings respond by eradicating loads of the Terrean population

The Terrean Elders—the body of authority that oversees the planet’s rules and regulations—had welcomed the unruly humans as “god-like” entities. However, one brash teenaged Terrean girl named Mala (voiced by Evan Rachel Wood, “The Wrestler”) is not bending over backwoods for the intrusive Earth visitors and decides to do something to preserve her way of life at Terra.

Eventually, Mala hooks up with an injured human pilot named Jim (Luke Wilson, “3:10 to Yuma”) after rescuing him and they become gradual friends. In addition, Mala meets the acquaintance of a metal crab-shaped critter known as Giddy (David Cross). The friendship between Mala and Jim is quite sensitive seeing as though both their races—the Terreans and the earthlings—are at war for the control of Terra. Besides, Jim needs to get back to his control base as he and other humans have to answer to the rabblerousing demands of maniacal General Hemmer (Brian Cox, “Zodiac”).

Poor Mala feels jeopardized. It is revealed that her father had been kidnapped. Thankful for Mala’s compassion and humanity, Jim agrees to help track down Mala’s father from the ruthless humans holding him and other Terreans hostage on the earthling’s mother ship.

One can certainly applaud Battle for Terra for having the forethought to explore sensitive themes that range from environmental neglect to the blatant mistreatment of various races and cultures living in a condensed society. This kid-oriented sci-fi animated showcase certainly reflects the realistic strife that persists in “the real world” and kids should indeed be exposed to such issues as a wake-up call for their impressionable generation. The mere fact that it is known that the abrasive humans in the film have damaged their own world due to disharmony and disillusionment is quite telling commentary for animated family fare entertainment.

Regrettably, Battle for Terra is creatively dull and the sermonizing may be too heavy-handed for youngsters that may just want to concentrate on obtaining a Giddy action figure. The film is earnest and sincere in its presentation but lacks an explosive edginess that would ignite any passion for its preachy cause. The crisp 3-D effects are complimentary to the storyline but after awhile that too wears thin as just another gimmicky tactic to give this cockeyed cartoon some instilled personality.

The flatness and flavorless gumption to Battle for Terra will undermine the spirited observations about self-preservation and united tolerance in a canned 3-D science fiction actioner meant to appeal to youthful souls.

Frank rates this film: ** stars (out of 4 stars)

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