DVD : Independence Day [1996]

Rating: - Switch off your brain and enjoy the action
This film is not for those looking for something deep and meaningfull it is very predictable and shallow but the action and effects are very good.

There is not a great deal can be said about this film, it is fun to watch and the acting is ok.

This film has one main drawback to anyone outside USA - it has a bit too much 'God bless America' in it. The film implies that the rest of the world is completely helpless until the 'mighty' US of A comes to the rescue of us all! however if you can ignore this then the film becomes an ok summer blockbuster action film but is never more than that!

Overall this is very average and i would only recomend this to fans of the Genre or Will Smith

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Rating: - This movie has Hollywood written all over it but it's all good.
The movie trailer shows a picture of the White House...all of a sudden, its blown into smithereens by a laser blast!!!

This popcorn flick was all that I hoped for, nothing but 100% of everything: action, drama, humor and suspense. Many people are justified in stating that the success of "Independence Day" comes from the fact that its nothing more than what its intended to be: FUN, period.

However, in this day and age of constant threats to modern society from epidemics such as war and disease, "Independence Day" can suddenly mean more than just a cinematic escape from reality. Perhaps it symbolizes the power and determination of the human spirit to prevail against all odds. Well, I most certainly think so! Just observe the plot and you'll find out what I mean:

Several gigantic UFOs, dwarfing anything which mankind can possibly conceive, suddenly hover above major cities all over the world. Without warning, these alien ships simultaneously strike the heart of the cities with awesome laser beams, causing vast proportions of horrific destruction. Just when it seems that all is lost for the citizens of the Planet Earth, a courageous band of human rebels join forces to combat this seemingly impregnable terror. These rebels come from all walks of life, from the dead serious to the outrageously funny. You've got Will Smith, a fighter pilot with a mouth of a wise guy but having a heart of gold; Jeff Goldblum, the computer nerd who knows how to decode the alien bad guys; and Bill Pullman, the dedicated U.S. president who will stop at nothing to preserve the survival of the human race. Put them together and you have a trinity (respectively the heart, mind and soul) of the ultimate good guys to rally "mankind," a word as Pullman in the film eloquently states, "should have a new meaning to us all."

The spirit of this movie owes much to past multi-character disaster classics such as "Earthquake." If you are an avid fan of sci-fi flicks, the content and material of "Independence Day" might be familiar territory for you, but it's a treat to watch nonetheless.

So, do you feel the need to ignite that "fighting human spirit" in you? Then its time to place this on your cart or rush to your nearest video store and celebrate your "Independence Day!"

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Rating: - This is brain candy, not brain food
Independence Day is made in the style and tradition of the 50's B-movies like "It Came From Outer Space". It's not supposed to be a deep philosophical discussion about Man Against The Universe, nor an attempt to seriously visualize the possible consequences of alien invasion. It's meant to be good fun, watching Our Heroes struggle valiantly against The Evil Alien Hordes. This is brain candy, not brain food. Accept it as such and enjoy it. If you're looking for Proust in film form, you're doomed to disappointment. If you're not, then you should be able to enjoy the White House being blown up, a jarhead fighter jock gloating as he gets to drive something really cool, and yes, even the cheesy reference to 2001: A Space Odyessey" and the concept of a Powerbook being able to bring down an alien computer network should not dampen your enjoyment. Take it for what it is - fluff made on a big scale.

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Rating: - Entertaining
Without wishing to read between the lines too much with this film (I think a few have) this should be taken far more at face value. Namely, this was released as a Hollywood blockbuster and for its time it was. Set with humans realising that we are not alone gigantic alien craft appear over every major city in the World. Bill Pullman plays the youthful American president who chooses not to respond with immediate military strikes (perhaps the notion that an American president wouldn't try and destroy these craft it the most unrealistic aspect of the film!) Deciding to wait and see eventually it becomes obvious that the craft are indeed piloted by beings intent on destroying Earth as we know it - if only we did have a gungho American President!!!) The battle goes badly with advanced technology that human kind can't match. That is until Jeff Goldblum (the computer wizard) and Will Smith (the brilliant pilot) combine their skills to bring down the mothership as well as every other Alien craft. Of course the Americans save the World but hey, would we have it any other way? The special effects are still pretty decent (in places) and although the film lacks any real depth its not without its own charm. Great fun.

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Rating: - A great story but ok film
I read the book version before seeing the film and was quite impressed but the film changed a lot and not to the films credit. Firstly, the biggest change was the Independence Day speech part before the final attack above Area 51. In the book the Americans have gathered together anything that can fly, from P-51 Mustangs, Phantoms, Starfighters, Sabres, Harriers, F 111s, F 14s, Migs, etc and these are to be used on a suicide run to distract the Aliens from the main attack of the F 18s. Most of these pilots are very depressed and fatalistic so the US President gives them his great Independence day speech to give them courage and hope and it works. But in the film it just comes across as a bit of over the top jingoistic spin and then swarms of F 18 go in to the attack.

Secondly it lacked something, perhaps a ground element, I think the film would have been ten times better with Alien AFVs (armoured fighting vehicles) attacking the base on the ground, pushing back the human defenders: USAF men, Police, Soldiers, civilians, Marines, National Guard, Secret Service, etc being pushed back in to the base but fighting fiercely. (See 55 Days in Peking to see what I mean). These AFVs could have been stopped ultimately by the computer virus too.

Also, what is with all the Ground controllers shouting frantically and loudly in to their radios at the pilots?? I am sure the last thing a pilot travelling at 500mph+ in a dog fight needs is a ground controller shouting down his ear! The director should have re-watched Star Wars, remember when the X wings and Y Wings are attacking the Death Star and the ground controllers are quietly waiting and watching? You could feel the tension.

This director writer team has a gift of getting a great idea and making it ok, remember Stargate?

Great special effects, great cast, good story but poor direction and realisation. Watch and enjoy but dont expect a lot!