Review 247: Independence Day

 

Independence Day is the quintisential 90's Blockbuster film, one of Roland Emmerich's best films and

On July 2nd, communications systems worldwide are sent into chaos by a strange atmospheric interference. It is soon learned by the military that a number of enormous objects are on a collision course with Earth. At first thought to be meteors, they are later revealed to be gigantic spacecraft, piloted by a mysterious alien species. After attempts to communicate with the aliens go nowhere, David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), an ex-scientist turned cable technician, discovers that the aliens are going to attack major points around the globe in less than a day. On July 3rd, the aliens all but obliterate New York, Los Angeles, and Washington. The survivors set out in convoys towards Area 51, a strange government testing ground where it is rumored the military has a captured alien spacecraft of their own. The survivors devise a plan to fight back against the enslaving aliens, and July 4th becomes the day humanity will fight for its freedom. July 4th is their Independence Day...

The plot is simple but effective, some could mistake this as a simplefied, 90's remake of Close Encounters of the Third Kind as it deals with similar themes e.g. it suggests that humankind has reached the point where it is ready to enter the community of the cosmos. 

In terms of genre and technique, Independence Day is very much a disaster movie 

 

 

While it is a computer interface which makes the final musical conversation with the alien guests possible, the characteristics bringing Neary to make his way to Devils Tower have little to do with technical expertise or computer literacy. These are virtues taught in schools that will be evolved in the 21st century." However the movie is more straight forward in it's story telling as it shows an Earth on an ordinary day and then suddenly these aliens come down and try to destroy us it very classic sci fi story telling. Along with showing us the possibility of aliens existing it shows our reaction to it such it showing on the news and us getting all  worried and paniced and the possibility of there weapons exceding our own and anialating us. Also the way they are depicted in the film I think is pretty realistic, I'm not gonna reveal anything but the way they are shown is simple but also very understandable and and realistic and actually quite scary.

Roland Emmerich's direction is unobtrusive  as well as managing to convey a sense of wonder.

the cinematography is brilliant, the special effects are amazing, the action scenes are well shot, exiting and thrilling, the scenery is breathtaking, the score by David Arnold is catchy, spectacular, monumental and definately one of his finnest, the suspense is killing, the sound effects are fantastic, the make up is rich, the costumes are authenic, the production design is the creature design is stylish and 

The special effects are all marvellous, an amazing blend minatures and CGI 

 
The acting for the most part is great particularly from

 

Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum  Their constrasting personas and funny banter are what they such a terrific double act.

 

and who just steal the show. Just to point out a few good performances,

 

Judd Hirsch is Julius Levinson: David's father,

 

 Vivica Fox is luminous and lovely as Jasmine Dubrow: Steven's girlfriend, Margaret Colin is unusually powerful as Constance Spano: White House Communications Director and David's ex-wife. Robert Loggia is also powerful as General William Grey: A U.S. Marine Corps general who is the head of U.S. Space Command

 

Bill Pullman as the President of the United States of America who just comes across as too laid for such a powerful and he constantly has a smirk on his face which really doesn't suit the character but overall the rest of the cast is pretty good.

Independence Day is one of Hollywood's most cinematic study of extraterrestrial life and an example of how underated a director Roland Emmerich is, 4/5.

The Anonymous Critic.