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Independence Day (1996) Movie Review

Independence Day – Movie Review

Read a comprehensive movie review of Independence Day, a thrilling disaster movie directed by Roland Emmerich.

ABC Film Challenge – Disaster Movies – I

Director: Roland Emmerich

Writer: Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: The aliens are coming and their goal is to invade and destroy Earth. Fighting superior technology, mankind’s best weapon is the will to survive.

Runtime: 2 Hours 25 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Independence Day starts when an alien signal is picked up and the signal is coming from the Moon. President Whitmore (Pullman) must decide on how to deal with it, getting advice from all his advisors. Meanwhile, David Levinson (Goldblum) learns more about the signal, Captain Hiller (Smith) is preparing for a barbeque and Russell Casse (Quaid) is trying to hold his life together.

When they discover alien crafts coming to Earth, they witness the attack wiping out cities, leaving millions stranded. President Whitmore must put together an operation to save the rest of humanity, which involves working with the rest of the world.

Verdict on Independence Day

Independence Day is a sci-fi action movie following the arrival and attack of an unknown alien species. It follows a group of Americans who lead the plan to fight back and end the invasion. However, the destruction causes massive destruction around the world.

This movie is one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time. It makes the alien threat massive on a global scale and one that shows the devastating consequences, if not prepared. Elsewhere, it provides a movie where only America can save the day. This movie will always be remembered for the iconic city wide destruction that has never been matched. However, it does include some of the best characters of the 1990s. Captain Hiller, President Whitmore and David Levinson are fantastic, which is down to the three leads Will Smith, Bill Pullman and Jeff Goldblum. It also has a brilliant supporting cast which elevates this movie to levels most could never touch.

Where to Watch

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Final Thoughts – Independence Day is one of the great sci-fi movies of all time.

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Movie Review

Independence Day (1996)

Director: Roland Emmerich
Starring: Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch, Robert Loggia, Randy Quiad, Margaret Colin, Vivica A. Fox, James Rebhorn, Adam Baldwin, Brent Spiner, James Duval, Lisa Jakub, Giuseppe Andrews, Harvey Fierstein

First of lets go through the characters starting with David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) a separated cable repair guy in a television company, David has a very religions father Julius (Judd Hirsch) who is a long suffering chess loser to David who simple keep a few steps ahead of everything based in New York. President Thomas Whitmore (Bill Pullman) a young ex fighter pilot who critics slam because of his age. His wife First Lady Marilyn Whitmore (Mary McDonnell) who is on a visit elsewhere in America. On the President’s staff are Constance Spano (Margaret Colin) David’s separated wife, General William Grey (Robert Loggia) a general who believes in peace and Albert Nimzicki (James Rebhorn). We have a small travelling family the Casse’s father Russell (Randy Quaid) who believes he was abducted and a war veteran and his children Migeul (James Duval), Alicia (Lisa Jakub) and Troy (Giuseppe Andrews). Finally we have Captain Steve Hiller (Will Smith) an wanna be astronaut and top fighter pilot who girlfriend is exotic dancer Jasmine (Vivica A. Fox) she also has a son Dylan.

On July 2ND alien spaceships enter the Earth’s atmosphere locating themselves in the world biggest cities. President Whitmore sets up an operation to communicate with the spaceship. While in New York David finds a code in the satellites that shows that in fact the spaceship are lining up like chess pieces for an attack on these cities. David rushes down to Washington to convince the President what is happening. David convinces the President and along with his staff escape seconds before the alien attack.

After the first attack the President relocates to Area 51 learning about a previous alien crash. Major Mitchell (Adam Baldwin) is the man in charge with Dr Brackish Okun (Brent Spiner) leading the research projects on the aliens. President Whitmore arranges to a counter strike a lead pilot Captain Hiller leads his team in battle with little effect. Captain Hiller has a race through a canyon crashing one the the small space crafts and kidnapping one of the aliens.

We are not left to wonder how humanity will survive this attack? Will this mix bunch of characters be able to unite to defeat Earth new common enemy?

Roland Emmerich gives us his first major action picture with plenty of destruction too. With Will Smith doing one of his first lead role as Captain Hiller shines giving one of his best non dramatic performances. The Americas get a chance to be a heroes again in a true action blockbuster that all should see.

The Story is always going to be predictable but it is also very easy to follow, you can also pick up the movie from most points and not feel like you missed too much. This was the top grossing film of 1996 with $306million. With talk of two potential sequels you are left wondering how those could come about tho.

My rating 92%