If you haven’t seen the previews already, Hasbro Inc. (that’s right, the board game company) is coming out with the new Battleship movie. I watched the trailer a few weeks ago in theatres, and am curious as to how it’s all going to play out.

I remember playing the board game back in grade school (remember when the electronic talking version came out?). I was always pumped up when I would correctly guess the location of my opponents ships by calling out the alpha-number pairs… especially when they’d not so strategically clump all their ships together in one quadrant of the playing board.

The fact that Hollywood is basing a movie on a decades old board game, makes me wonder if they’re just strapped for ideas, or damn-near clever for going this creative route. What I’m really curious to see if there will be a Hungry, Hungry Hippo or Operation movie in the near future (I guess with Hollywood, you never know).

The big screen version stars Taylor Kitsch (the hottie, Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine), True Blood‘s Alexander SkarsgÃ¥rd, and not-Taken-for-granted Liam Neeson. Of course Universal had to throw in the eye candy that is Brooklyn Decker (Sports Illustrated and Victoria’s Secret anyone?) and barely-there R&B singer Rihanna. I’m sorry, could they not get at least one supporting actress (and I use that term loosely) who could actually act?

Though directed by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights, Hancock), I have a strong feeling that the majority of Battleship might be sporting some Michael Bay-type special effects. The film’s already been released overseas, and is set to come to North American audiences on Friday, May 18th, 2012.

I don’t know if I’m as pumped up about this one, like I usually am with sci-fi/action movies. With a giant alien invasion, big guns, modelesque cast and lots of explosions, this is sure going to appeal to many.

I think I’d rather stick some coloured pegs into round, plastic holes.