Independence Day (1 & 2)

The question of whether or not we are alone in the universe has been answered
The question of whether or not we are alone in the universe has been answered
INDEPENDENCE DAY (12)
D: Roland Emmerich
20th Century Fox/Centropolis (Dean Devlin) 
US 1996
146 mins

Science Fiction/Action/Adventure

W: Dean Devlin & Roland Emmerich
DP: Karl Walter Lindenlaub
Ed: David Brenner
Mus: David Arnold
PD: Patrick Tatopolous & Oliver Scholl


Will Smith (Capt. Steve Hiller), Jeff Goldblum (David Levinson), Bill Pullman (President Thomas Whitmore), Mary McDonnell (Marilyn Whitmore), Judd Hirsch (Julius Levinson), Robert Loggia (General William Grey), Randy Quaid (Russell Casse), Margaret Colin (Constance Spano), James Rebhorn (Albert Ninziki)

Independence Day is a profligate update on 1950's B-movies, complete with a storyline, characters and dialogue recycled from a 1970's disaster film.
Two days before America celebrate Independence Day, alien spacecraft surround the globe, destroying some of the planet's most iconic landmarks (The White House, Empire State Building, some skyscraper in Los Angeles).
In the days that follow, the American survivors of mankind devise a plan to strike back against the aliens while the English are sipping tea and all the other racial and cultural stereotypes are doing their usual.
Eccentric genius Jeff Goldblum solves the dilemma of how to beat them and after a truly cringeworthy speech from president Bill Pullman, the American's are inspired to lead the world into an Independence Day victory.  Yeah! Go America!!
What Roland Emmerich's science fiction extravaganza lacks in dialogue and characters, it makes up for in abundance with it's truly extraordinary visual effects.
Will Smith stepped from sitcom star to world star with his performance as an Air Force captain, but he's possibly the only star who can hold their head up proud over this. 
The film would have been vastly improved had it recognised that the United States is not the only country facing Armageddon.
6/10

Independence Day
Independence Day
We had twenty years to prepare. So did they.
We had twenty years to prepare. So did they.

INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE (12)

D: Roland Emmerich

20th Century Fox/TSG/Centropolis (Dean Devlin, Harald Kloser & Roland Emmerich)

US 2016

120 mins


Science Fiction


W: Nicolas Wright, James A. Woods, Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich & James Vanderbilt

DP: Markus Förderer

Ed: Adam Wolfe

Mus: Thomas Wander & Harald Kloser



Liam Hemsworth (Jake Morrison), Jeff Goldblum (David Levinson), Jessie Usher (Dylan Hiller), Bill Pullman (Thomas J. Whitmore), Maika Monroe (Patricia Whitmore), Sela Ward (President Elizabeth Lanford), William Fichtner (Joshua T. Adams), Judd Hirsch (Julian Levinson), Brent Spiner (Dr. Okun), Angelababy (Rain Lao)


Independence Day: Regurgitated would be a much more fitting title, although some may argue that this is a sequel that shouldn't exist at all.

Set in an alternative present day, 20 years after the events in the first film, mankind has rebuilt society and made improvements to Earth's defence using alien technology, this is all to no avail however when the mother of all motherships is on approach to teach humans who the real boss of the universe is, but it's only America that's in any real danger.

Will Smith bowed out of appearing in this sequel, possibly because the production couldn't afford his salary, but most likely because he didn't fancy the script. Nevertheless, his character's son steps into the shoes of a top gun pilot and characters from the original film are resurrected, often needlessly, especially in the case of Dr. Okun, in a coma for 20 years and awakens just to provide some pathetic comic relief. Judd Hirsch is also needlessly wasted, returning in a cameo role as Jeff Goldblum's incredibly Jewish father. Even Eve from Wall•E turns up to instruct us foolish peasants on how to defeat the evil alien species. 

The film is a blatant cash-grab, which isn't surprising considering how bankable the first film was, but what's less forgiving is how boring it is, with action scenes which feel lifted from the deleted scenes of any other doomsday film. Every single acting performance is laughably bad and the terrible CGI effects equally unconvincing.

The first Independence Day was far from perfect, but it was a fun update of 1950's B movies with some excellent crafted model effects, and though the dialogue was cheesy, the action films kept it entertaining. This sequel has absolutely nothing going for it and has to be considered as one of the worst films of 2016. It's certainly one of the most boring. The worst thing of all is that it even sets up a third movie... Hopefully a real alien attack will happen before production begins.

2/10


Independence Day: Resurgence
Independence Day: Resurgence