Review of Independence Day (1996) by Robert H — 25 Sep 2014

What!?! A 5-star rating for Independence Day? Isn't that rating supposed to be reserved for films which reveal The Grand Truth of Life (TM)? Well, this is a movie that revealed to me that it could be awesome to be a preteen boy and go to the movies.

I don't know if I've ever had more enjoyment at the movies than when I saw Independence Day, and to this day I think it may be the best popcorn film ever made. Seriously, if you can get past any block over what kind of film it is, this is an incredibly well-designed and executed movie.

Some of the effects haven't aged well, but most are still fine; I'd say only Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park have better effects for the time period. Independence Day came out at a time I thought massive explosions were the greatest things ever, and at the time there was nothing even remotely close on the massive explosions front.

Plus, Jeff Goldblum saves the world, and Judd Hirsch plays an old Jew who was just like the character my Zadie used to pretend to be for hilarious effect. Even the president's speech resonated with me, which makes sense considering the difficulty religion caused me in trying to embrace the world outside.

This is a masterpiece of popular culture, and to anyone who turns up their nose POW! Welcome to Earth!