Independence Day (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
Jeff Goldblum, Will Smith & Bill Pullman star in Roland Emmerich's 1996 sci-fi summer blockbuster, 'Independence Day'. On July 2nd, satellite stations around the globe experience strange phenomena & interference in their systems and, both the scientists & military believe that it is simply caused by meteors. However, they soon realize that it is originated from the Moon by an enormous spacecraft harboring aliens that are positioned over Earth near Washington D.C., N.Y., L.A., London, Paris, Houston & Moscow. It is not known by any world government what the purpose of the alien force is, but ccientist David Levinson (Goldblum) has figured out exactly what they want: to annihilate humankind & take-over Earth over the 4th of July weekend.
It just so happens that Levinson's estranged wife works for Pres. Thomas J. Whitmore (Pullman), so he head for D.C. to rescue her & to inform the President of the alien's nefarious plans. They all escape just as the alien ships start leveling D.C., N.Y., & L.A. From there, Pres. Whitmore orders a strong counter strike which is led by Capt. Steven Hiller (Smith), a cocksure marine pilot who ends up being the sole survivor of the strike. Another plan: with Gen. William Gray's (Robert Loggia) aid, download a virus into the computer of the alien spacecraft. In addition to this main plot line are subplots involving Capt. Hiller & Pres. Whitmore's significant others' survival (roles played by Vivica A. Fox & Mary McDonnell) and of Russell Casse (Randy Quaid), an alcoholic & recuperating alien kidnap victim. The question is if this unlikely group can stop the alien invasion before it is too late.
As directed by Roland Emmerich, this inherently silly, if ambitious cinematic extravaganza contains a treasure trove of cliched characters & bonkers situations that recall sci-fi thrillers of the 1950s, but also disaster flicks & WWII movies. The special effects, pyrotechnic explosions, art direction, mindless action, sound design, pulsating music & other intangibles are quite good. But I think there are a few too many characters to juggle in the story and, this movie would've benefitted from a tighter script {filling in some sci-fi logistical plot holes} & a good half hour shredded from the run time.
Jeff Goldblum is great as the quirky computer scientist who is hell bent on figuring out how to defeat the extraterrestrials. Bill Pullman entertains as the brave, but inexperienced former fighter pilot who, now the POTUS, must step up with a rousing speech & some guts to be the leader of the free world that he is. And Will Smith brings superstar verve as the NASA rejectee who finally gets his mission to outer space. I liked Dennis Quaid as the unstable crop dusting pilot willing to sacrifice himself for America. Vivica A. Fox is the sexy exotic dancer who does her best to aid Mary McDonnell's First Lady. Judd Hirsch is Goldblum's father, and the person who unwittingly figures out how to vanquish the aliens. The huge cast also includes characters played by Margaret Colin, Harvey Feirstein, Adam Baldwin, James Rebhorn, Harry Connick Jr., & many more. They all play their roles effectively.
Ultimately, 'Independence Day' is not about scientific logic or anything resembling narrative intelligence. I'd have liked that! But alas. Instead, we get space battles, mass destruction, & some laughable spurts. But ya know what, for a movie titled 'Independence Day' being released on Independence Day weekend that involves BIG spectacle, aliens, Rah-Rah America, & some entertaining actors doing their thing ... I understand why this movie was the biggest box office story of 1996. Yes, for me, it is overblown, overlong & pretty witless. But in the tradition of silly summer fun, I enjoyed it on that sit-in-the-air condition, popcorn entertainment level.
It just so happens that Levinson's estranged wife works for Pres. Thomas J. Whitmore (Pullman), so he head for D.C. to rescue her & to inform the President of the alien's nefarious plans. They all escape just as the alien ships start leveling D.C., N.Y., & L.A. From there, Pres. Whitmore orders a strong counter strike which is led by Capt. Steven Hiller (Smith), a cocksure marine pilot who ends up being the sole survivor of the strike. Another plan: with Gen. William Gray's (Robert Loggia) aid, download a virus into the computer of the alien spacecraft. In addition to this main plot line are subplots involving Capt. Hiller & Pres. Whitmore's significant others' survival (roles played by Vivica A. Fox & Mary McDonnell) and of Russell Casse (Randy Quaid), an alcoholic & recuperating alien kidnap victim. The question is if this unlikely group can stop the alien invasion before it is too late.
As directed by Roland Emmerich, this inherently silly, if ambitious cinematic extravaganza contains a treasure trove of cliched characters & bonkers situations that recall sci-fi thrillers of the 1950s, but also disaster flicks & WWII movies. The special effects, pyrotechnic explosions, art direction, mindless action, sound design, pulsating music & other intangibles are quite good. But I think there are a few too many characters to juggle in the story and, this movie would've benefitted from a tighter script {filling in some sci-fi logistical plot holes} & a good half hour shredded from the run time.
Jeff Goldblum is great as the quirky computer scientist who is hell bent on figuring out how to defeat the extraterrestrials. Bill Pullman entertains as the brave, but inexperienced former fighter pilot who, now the POTUS, must step up with a rousing speech & some guts to be the leader of the free world that he is. And Will Smith brings superstar verve as the NASA rejectee who finally gets his mission to outer space. I liked Dennis Quaid as the unstable crop dusting pilot willing to sacrifice himself for America. Vivica A. Fox is the sexy exotic dancer who does her best to aid Mary McDonnell's First Lady. Judd Hirsch is Goldblum's father, and the person who unwittingly figures out how to vanquish the aliens. The huge cast also includes characters played by Margaret Colin, Harvey Feirstein, Adam Baldwin, James Rebhorn, Harry Connick Jr., & many more. They all play their roles effectively.
Ultimately, 'Independence Day' is not about scientific logic or anything resembling narrative intelligence. I'd have liked that! But alas. Instead, we get space battles, mass destruction, & some laughable spurts. But ya know what, for a movie titled 'Independence Day' being released on Independence Day weekend that involves BIG spectacle, aliens, Rah-Rah America, & some entertaining actors doing their thing ... I understand why this movie was the biggest box office story of 1996. Yes, for me, it is overblown, overlong & pretty witless. But in the tradition of silly summer fun, I enjoyed it on that sit-in-the-air condition, popcorn entertainment level.