Independence Day

Skip to it, this is one of my top 10 movies EVER. It's exciting, special effects still stand up well today. Will Smith is brilliant and so is Pullman. The plot is the same old trope of aliens coming to wipe us out lol, why cant they ever be friendly??? Apart from the plot being the same as other invasion films, the rest is mega, can't praise it enough.

Oh I love this film. Admittedly you're going to get sad watching any film that involves a dog falling down a well and having to be saved but The Dog That Fell Down A Well And Had To Be Saved is something else. Firstly...Err Neil, this is supposed to be a review of Independence Day. Is it? Err, could you just remind me how that one goes again? Marauding aliens attack Earth. Oh yeah...that's the one where those Mexican ladies kept doing things to farmyard animals wasn't it? No, that was one of those 'adult' films that can send you blind - Now stop stalling and get writing.

When an alien ship approaches Earth, the US (of A, I hasten to add) welcomes them with open arms but despite their best efforts the aliens refuse to respond. With their giant ships hovering over major cities everyone is at a loss as to what the aliens want. While the government plots what to do next, the people of the world hold their collective breath but disgraced scientist David Levinson discovers something quite worrying. Hidden amongst the undecipherable alien transmissions is a countdown - but a countdown to what? The answer becomes all too clear when the timer runs out and the alien ships unleash a devastating attack on the planet. Can mankind survive and defeat the seemingly undefeatable invaders?

You can kind of tell that my enthusiasm for this 'epic' was not at it's highest by the way the Laserdisc sat on the shelf for nearly three years before finally getting an airing. At the time of it's release the world had gone seemingly mad for it (as I believe they say in Manchester) but was the world right to? Now, after all the hype has died down, does Independence Day (ID4 hereafter) deserve a repeat viewing?

The obvious thought that springs to mind when you watch ID4 is that this is V with a decent budget (and for the uninitiated, V was a 1984 mini-series in which alien visitors came to Earth and...err tried to give us a good kicking. And there was some eating of gerbils and the well fit Jane Badler). The two do have many similarities with the most obvious being the actual ships in which they travel and the ultimate goal of the marauding aliens (i.e. wipe out mankind). But to call ID4 and V one and the same is actually wrong as V (for all it's faults) was actually deeper and more moralistic. Think I'm lying? Well put it this way, compared to ID4 it was.

ID4 as a concept isn't too bad but it does try to update that 70's product, the disaster movie. Being the 90's though things were bigger (i.e. global) but we still get the cast list of thousands, the multitude of 'small' stories, and mankind standing up against adversity. Actually, when I say mankind, I really mean America. Now in our post September 11th world America has gone jingoism mad but ID4 was well ahead of the game on this front and to a non-US audience it kind of grates. Yes it would have been stupid to try to make this a global story with vignettes from around the globe but ID4 really shoots itself in the foot with it's whole attitude of America being brilliant and the rest of the world being idiots (hmmm, why are the words 'pot', 'kettle', and 'black' springing to mind). The stereotypes come into play and once again the world must hide behind the shield of global protection that America creates. The US goes takes on the alien invaders single handedly and organises the rabble that is the rest of the planet. But being America, stealth and intelligence go out of the window and, in truth, who needs them when you have some hot shot pilots armed with some gung-ho lines (usually involving the word 'sucker').

But if we put the jingoism to one side what are we left with? Admittedly it's not much but even what IS left isn't that hot. Making the aliens pretty much faceless is a good approach and a lack of explanation regarding what they were after actually works well here as the audience are just as frustrated (if you care that much) as the cast. We don't have any forewarning of what's coming and that's one in the film's plus column. Beyond this though there's little. The characters are 2 dimensional in the extreme and there's almost a complete lack of history or emotional depth. Yes Jeff Goldblum has a dad but that's about as far as it goes. Also, being a blockbuster, logic goes out of the window and in it's place we have coincidence. Lucky that David's ex-wife (or something) works with the Pres isn't it?

And finally we come to the cast. As this a galaxy of stars production I'll have to skip many but the main players will get a mention. It would be nice to think that ID4 could whip up a great cast in the style of the 70's disaster movie. Yes the films were hideous and the stars were obviously slumming it but they WERE stars - not so here. The less than brilliant Will Smith once again pretends that he's an actor and you can think of Smith as being the black Chris Evans - you either love or loathe. I, surprise surprise, fall into the second category but which ever way you line up on the Smith debate, this is very much business as usual. Delivering his nonsensical lines in the same 'home-boy' style way as in everything else he's ever done, Smith relies far more on 'attitude' than actual talent...and that kind of sets the pattern for the pretty much whole film. Bill Pullman tries to be earnest as the President but the structure and style of the film soon shift him away from being believable and turn him into a another gun-totting 'hero' (in the hour of destiny the Pres...jumps in a fighter jet and leads the attack himself - Wooooo, go America (oops, sarcasm overload)).

It's Jeff Goldblum who is actually the best the film has to offer and as the 'quirky' professor type, Goldblum is very much in his element. He is definitely the best the film has on show and he works well with his 'dad' Judd Hirsch. Small roles for Robert Loggia and Randy Quaid reassure us that there is actually some acting talent out there but looking down the cast list you see that there really aren't any big names to draw the crowds in. Media celebrities yes, but genuine talent? Hmmmm.

Director Roland Emmerich also co-wrote the screenplay and as such he should have a great understanding of the material and from what we can see on screen, he does - it's just a shame that the material is of a combat fatigue style rather than a multi-layered effort. ID4 is unashamedly action orientated and if you're looking to get whipped up in a seemingly never ending stream of explosions and 'macho' moments then it'll be very much the film for you. Emmerich does this side of things well but it's the other aspects of the story that are undeniably weak. There's practically nothing beyond the action, there's no moral, no questioning of man's fragility, or anything even approaching an intelligent thought. From a story point of view he tries to encapsulate so much but while the use of terms such as 'Area 51' might get X-Files fans excited, the reality ends up being almost cartoon-esque. The wiry haired scientist, the 'broken' spaceship (that only Goldblum can fix and only Smith can fly), the stream of coincidences and 'lucky' breaks - it's lazy storytelling that treats us (the audience) with scant regard. Ever get the impression I wasn't impressed?

The effects are excellent though and in this department the film can't be faulted. The scenes of The White House being blown to smithereens are now almost iconic and from an effects point of view, ID4 is excellent.

Is it worth a watch though? Well if you haven't seen it and you're in something of an action orientated mind, then yes it's worth a look. It'll take you on a rollercoaster ride of thrills and spills (eurgh, I hate using that phrase) and as brain dead entertainment it's great. If you're looking for more than brain dead entertainment though, ID4 is probably not for you. The stars and stripes waving style of the film grates enormously and if you got annoyed with films like U-571 then this will certainly have you pulling great chunks out of the chair arm.

It did usher in a new wave of disaster style movies (where America saved everything and everyone time and time again) and can be seen as the 'serious' version of Tim Burton's Mars Attacks but at the end of the day this is little more than an update of Wells' War of The Worlds (even down to using a 'virus' to defeat the aliens). Unlike Wells though ID4 is un-intelligent fodder and never challenges us mentally for a second. It never makes us ask 'what if...?' or force those tiny grey cells to work for a change.

And wouldn't you just know it, in this age of the sequel there's ID4-2 somewhere on the horizon. What are you going to try this time guys - letting the rest of the world have a go?

This is a great sci-fi/action movie, that never failed to impress me. It gives you a realistic idea of just what the US Government would actually do if aliens came to earth, or attacked us.

Performances by Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum are very good indeed.

Scenes in jet fighters are also awesome.

A must-see for all sci-fi/action fans.

Pure Hollywood drivel. This is the sort of film that you can sit down and watch and only engage about 1% of your brain. So, on the positive, its very easy watching.

On the negative its about as engaging as drinking a glass of water.

Its just so over the top American vitriolic nonsense - I particularly point you toward the scene where he does a big speech to the figher pilots - I did well to keep down my dinner at that point.

It gets 2 stars because the special effects are great, particularly when it first came out - they were ground breaking.

But plot, acting and script leave a lot to be desired.

Wouldn't bother watching it if I were you

'Independence Day', directed by Roland Emmerich and made in 1996, is a sci-fi film in which Earth is invaded by extra-terrestrial beings. The film is set largely in America: In Washington, the Nevada desert and New York. I believe the key message of the film is that America is great, proud and 'when determined', unbeatable.

When the film begins we see the moon, this immediately gives the possibility that it is a Sci-Fi film. Our attention is brought onto a plaque on the moon. Signifying America defeating Russia in the 'Space Race'. This and the flag near it show off America's achievements and success. On the plaque amongst the writing is written, "we can in peace for all mankind", this tells the audience that America was acting for everyone and that they came in peace; aren't violent or hostile. Suddenly we see some sort of ship coming from above the moon, the music becomes threatening and this is like a threat to earth. Now that we have seen this alien spaceship we can safely say that it is a Sci-Fi film. As the spaceship moves forward it casts a shadow over the plaque and the American flag. This degrades America's achievements and foreshadows darkness falling over the world and the lives of everyone. The set changes from the moon to America, we see the huge dishes and technology everywhere, this prompts the question 'Can America survive the presumed attack'? As the set changes so does the music, we hear the line "it's the end of the world as we know it". This foreshadows that the world will somehow change, possibly the idea of extra-terrestrial life becoming a reality, this would be a great shock to the people of the world.

Not if Steve Hiller (Will Smith) can help it, he is a very humorous and dedicated fighter pilot yet has a girlfriend with a child. They want to get married but do the aliens have that in mind? Will they come in peace or with hostility? His girlfriend is called Jasmine; she is a very loving and caring person; scared for the well being of Steve on his dangerous missions. The satellite technician scientist, David Levinson is a hard working, extremely intelligent man that used to be married to Constance Sparrow, there seems to still be some tension between them and in the end they have been brought closer by the events of the film. Constance Sparrow is a 'smart looking', caring (if a bit rude sometimes) woman. Her job is the 'Defence Secretary', which could leave her with some tough decision. Actor Bill Paulman plays the part of President Whitmore, a well-groomed, laid-back guy. He has a wife and kid, is very kind and determines; and in his first scene we find out how humorous and loving/charming he is. We find out that the American public think he is a bit of a wimp but he proves the audience otherwise when he at first refuses to leave the city that aliens are hovering over and then actually fights in the last battle against the technologically advanced aliens. His wife is called Patricia (Mary Macdonald). She is a caring reporter that unfortunately sustains injuries that are going to kill her. Each of these main characters bring something different to audiences of view of Americans but all of them are king and caring, this could be trying to stereotype all Americans as people with very kind and caring values; but are they?

Kind, caring, and definitely not racist or sexists that is. Two of the main characters (Steve Hiller and Jasmine) are black; Steve Hiller goes on the most important mission in the film. This shows that the director is willing to give people of other races big parts, showing he is not racist and I think with his choice of characters he is also trying to put across that America is not racist either. This is non racist view is backed up by the fact that another main character (David Levinson) is Jewish, plays a big part and is very intelligent. Constance Sparrow is a woman that is given the part of defence secretary, a very high and important job. Roland Emmerich is making sure that America is also seen as not sexist. Near the beginning of the film we see the president of the United States talking to everyone as equals; he has an informal talk about a match to his personal assistant who is black, promoting America as a non-racist country. When America hears news of the spaceships over other countries, they seem eager to help and protect them somehow. The film displays America's ideology of the American people as non-degrading and equal to others. The fact that these characters of other races and genders are important, they show that the 'American Dream' (that everyone can make it to the top) is real and is true throughout all types of people. Roland Emmerich may have included other genders and races in important roles, but did he include them because he felt he had to, or because he honestly judged them equally?

Throughout the start of the film we see the American flag a number of times and in a number of places, this shows how proud America is of itself. We also see the pentagon that represents America's strength and power. At the start of the film (as previously mentions) we see the plaque on the moon commemorating the landing and their peace. This symbolises America's peacefulness and hospitality. Lastly, for the part of the film that is set in New York we see 'Central Park' and the 'Statue of Liberty', two more things that promote America and are known to attract people. In my opinion the director uses all of these symbols of America to show it in its best possible light.

The film ends with America saving the world. Thinking up an intelligent way of disabling the enemy alien defensive shields, Implementing their idea via an extremely dangerous mission and finally launching a massive attack on one of the ships and successfully destroying it. This makes another achievement for America and shows just how wonderful it can be. The message of the film is that no matter how large the threat, no matter how dangerous the mission or how large the army is and now matter how technologically advanced the opposition is; a strong, skillful and un-stereotypical America will always come out victorious. In my opinion the film; whether or not a true portrayal of America, was told very well. It meets everything one would want from an Action/Sci-Fi film, is very entertaining and I would recommend it to others.

This is great action all the way throughout and its a great sci-fi because of the comedy that it does keep you entertained. If the film was, say, 1/5 shorter, then it would be one of the best out there. The techology is really cool and the aliens and the detail of everything really contributes to the reality of the film. Go and see it at the cinema, oh, wait, it's not out anymore. This is a real bummer and your review will probably have worse ratings because of that. Still, its entertaining.