A patriotic dose of world-saving thrills.
This $75-million dollar science fiction disaster epic directed and co-written by Roland Emmerich
was released nationwide on July 2, 1996; which was actually a day earlier than scheduled
thanks to the high level of anticipation among moviegoers.
The highest grossing film of the year, its $817 million dollar take also made it the
5th-most-successful movie of the entire decade.
With invocative taglines like, "Don't make plans for August", and "We've always believed
we weren't alone.
On July 4, we'll wish we were."
- it's no surprise ID4 did well.
The now-infamous shot of the alien's super-laser destroying The White House in a massive fireball
was the focal point of the film's extensive marketing campaign, which began with a dramatic
spot during Super Bowl XXX.
The film's enormous success also influenced a slew of imitators, reinvigorated the dormant
disaster genre, and led to its own sequel twenty years later.
When hostile extraterrestrials obliterate dozens of populated cities around the world,
a disparate group of survivors converge in the Nevada desert to launch a worldwide counter-attack
during the titular holiday.
The PG-13 rated story is absolutely over-flowing with characters.
There's around 200 individual speaking roles in this film, which has to be a record of
some kind.
The primary cast includes Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Judd
Hirsch, Robert Loggia, Randy Quaid, Margaret Colin, James Rebhorn, Harvey Fierstein, Adam
Baldwin, Brent Spiner, James Duval, Vivica A. Fox, Lisa Jakub, Mae Whitman, and Harry
Connick Jr..
Few are developed beyond their respective stereotypes - but they deliver their lines
with sincerity.
Goldblum is his typical Goldblumy-self - bringing his quirky mannerisms and eccentricities to
the part of environmentalist satellite technician; Brent Spiner's manic and unkempt performance
as an Area 51 scientist is great fun during his limited screentime; Loggia's gravely voice
is perfect for the authoritative general; while Rebhorn's sniveling portrayal of the
Secretary Of Defense works as an effective counter.
Pullman, meanwhile is excellent as the war-time President.
Showing resolve, patience, and uncharacteristic bravery in the face of insurmountable adversity.
A bit too perfect and idealistic to be a compelling or three-dimensional character, it's his passionate
and motivational speech during the film's final act that makes him the stuff of cinematic
lore.
A stirring and inspirational monologue you can't help but feel some patriotic pride for.
Concluding his remarks by bellowing into the cold morning air, "We're going to live on!
We're going to survive!
Today we celebrate our Independence Day!"
Of all the movies that have ever spoken their own title in dialogue - this might be my absolute
favorite example.
Especially since you've got that great shot of an amateur fighter-pilot enthusiastically
saluting at the end.
But perhaps most notably, is Will Smith in his breakout role - and the first of many
box office hits for the charismatic actor.
His youthful energy, tenacious attitude, and charming delivery make him an extremely effective
protagonist.
He also delivers the lions-share of the film's fantastically cheesy one-liners, like, "I
ain't heard no fat lady!", "I have got to get me one of these!", and, of course, "Welcome
to Earth".
He doesn't team up with Goldblum until the explosive finale - but their playfully contentious
relationship is immediately believable and enjoyable.
With frequent cutaways and inserts to over 70 mock news broadcasts created specially
for the film - we get a real sense of scale of the alien invasion.
Because of this, "Independence Day" really feels like a worldwide crisis, even though
the main characters are exclusively American.
Despite its two-hour and twenty-five minute runtime, ID4 is paced remarkably well; thanks
largely in part to these half-dozen separate narratives that are constantly in motion.
An extraordinary, Oscar-winning achievement in visual effects - "Independence Day" features
more miniatures and model work than any film in history, and due to the advances in digital
technology since - likely always will.
The memorable destruction sequences were inventively created by turning the large-scale model cities
on their sides, and photographing a giant fireball in super slow-motion, as it rose
towards a ceiling-mounted camera.
Consuming ever car, person, and building in its path, the result is a frighteningly realistic
wave of death; even if Emmerich takes some geographic liberties with the location of
the Empire State Building.
For better or worse, this instantly iconic sequence sparked a persistent trend of movies
obliterating famous landmarks.
The aliens, and their respective technology isn't particularly imaginative however.
Not only is their physical appearance stolen directly from Ridley Scott's "Alien" franchise
- their motivations are explained only superficially.
We learn very little about how they operate, or why.
So, while this approach certainly helps reinforce the pro-human narrative, it definitely feels
very one-sided and empty.
The chilling orchestral score from David Arnold contains a patriotic march of steady drum
beats, matched with deep, stabbing strings - while soft horns and flighty choir-like
sounds echo during the slower and more dramatic moments.
It's an auspicious effort from the young composer, who only had three other films to his credit
before this.
But he curiously wasn't nominated for an Oscar, instead winning a Grammy for "Best Instrumental
Composition" - joining a select few to win the latter without a nomination for the former.
Admittedly, this is a very simple, emotionally shallow, anti-intellectual blockbuster that's
detrimentally pro-American.
But it's also endlessly quotable, totally thrilling, and damn enjoyable.
Guilty-pleasure or not, this is one of my all-time favorites, and easily the greatest
disaster movie ever made.
A summer staple I watch every year on July 4th, "Independence Day" is supremely fun popcorn
entertainment, at its finest.
ID4 is an AMAZING film.