Review of Independence Day (1996) by Rob S — 25 Jul 2015

Most seem to say this is a terrible film, but I just find it so damn exciting! It doesn't exactly lack content, but I admit some of its content is over-the-top at times.

We are flooded with iconography of American culture at the opening of the film, such as a plaque we left behind on the moon saying that we "came in peace" with the original mission. Then, after a shadow passing over the moon, foreshadowing danger, we see many icons such as the statue of liberty, the Iwo Jima Flag monument and the Washington monument. We are shown America as a striving world power throughout the film.

While the film touches on unity from people of different status/ethnicity/gender, it mainly does this with American characters. Other nationalities are conveyed as the U.S. sends them information on how to defeat the aliens through Morse code. This is a little disappointing from a film that is about unity between nations to fight a danger from another world.

What bothers me is that we are given the aliens' motivation rather abruptly through the fictional President portrayed by Bill Pullman who just happens to "see" their intent, and the intent is somewhat stupid coming from an "intelligent" species.

What this movie lacks in intellect (which isn't as much as harsh critics say it lacks) is entertainment and excitement, and while films are meant to make us think and portray a good story, they are also about entertaining audiences; after all, movies are money- makers. When watching this film we were bursting out laughing at certain points in the film, and rightfully so. "Welcome to Earth" is such a great line no matter how campy it seems.

This is a better movie than people may say, and although it is more about the spectacle it is much better than most Michael Bay films.