Read Mixed User Reviews for Independence Day

6

Trev29Apr 3, 2012

There was some very well executed action scenes, but most of the story was monotonous. A good alien movie with some funny lines and visual effects. At least this alien movie attempted at a real plot.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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5

GabrielU.May 21, 2010

Despite of total stupidity of this film as scenario, characters, etc, i actually... Don't regret time i had sacrifaced to watch it. Just an avarge, dull, quite epic and almost s-f movie.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

5

FilmClubMar 27, 2016

"Independence Day" is the biggest B movie ever made, the mother of all doomsday dramas. This airborne leviathan features a bunch of agreeably cardboard characters saving the human race from mass extermination in a way that proves as"Independence Day" is the biggest B movie ever made, the mother of all doomsday dramas. This airborne leviathan features a bunch of agreeably cardboard characters saving the human race from mass extermination in a way that proves as unavoidably entertaining as it is hopelessly cornball.

Working in a vein that is unabashedly hokey, contrived and ultra-patriotic, the “Stargate” team of director Roland Emmerich and co-writer/producer Dean Devlin clearly had great fun combining sure-fire elements from a bunch of mainstream genres in a way that is frankly intended to be overwhelming.

For the most part it is, at least in the sense that the sheer volume and variety of mass destruction, casualties, moments of dire jeopardy, opportunities for heroism and, above all, special effects, are almost certainly without precedent.

This is, in effect, the anti-“Close Encounters,” a throwback to ominous, paranoid thrillers such as “The War of the Worlds,””The Day the Earth Stood Still,””When Worlds Collide,””Invaders From Mars” and television’s “V,” a story in which the visitors from space have absolutely no interest in making nice with the earthlings and, in fact, have every intention of wiping them out so they can have Earth’s resources to themselves. Lay on top of that an Irwin Allen aesthetic sense and 10,000 special effects and you have a definition of high-concept.

The magnitude of the global threat is awesomely established in the teaser opening, which shows the black mother ship, itself a quarter the size of the moon, sailing through the lunar orbit on its way to its rendezvous with Earth. Shortly let loose are some 15-mile-wide saucers, which descend to hover directly over New York City, Washington and Los Angeles, along with other world capitals, causing no end of wonderment and panic.

In vintage disaster-pic fashion, a host of characters from all walks of life is sketched in. For starters, there is David (Jeff Goldblum), a New York computer genius whose ability to analyze the aliens’ communications code with his laptop could help expose their Achilles heel; Capt. Steven Hiller (Will Smith), a hot-dog fighter pilot from L.A. with an unfulfilled dream to be an astronaut; and U.S. President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman), a rather green national leader widely regarded as a wimp despite his background as a combat pilot during the Gulf War.

Although scenes of the lumbering warships parking themselves over the cities are eyefuls in themselves, the first real fireworks come 45 minutes in, as the spacecrafts open up their hulls to expose giant electromagnetic ray guns that simultaneously zap the soaring Library Tower in Los Angeles (where a bunch of SoCal nitwits are celebrating in welcome of the aliens), the Empire State Building and the White House. As Air Force One spectacularly manages to take off just inches ahead of onrushing flames, uncontrollable firestorms result in the destruction of all three cities and millions of casualties.

And that’s just act one. Air attacks on the alien ships reveal that they are surrounded by protective shields that ward off all weapons, but when hundreds of crustacean-like alien fighter ships zip out to engage the American planes, Hiller manages to make one crash and returns the gruesome-looking pilot to Area 51, a top-secret Nevada base where the president has taken refuge. There, 24 floors underground, the resident loony genius (Brent Spiner) reveals the existence of an alien spaceship captured long ago that just may be in working order, opening the door on a long-shot counterattack that plays out on the third day of the story, July 4.

Without giving the game away, it’s fair to say that everybody gets into the heroic final act: The president dons his flight suit once again, Hiller and David fly into outer space to take on the mother ship, and even an alky Vietnam vet (Randy Quaid) has his chance to go down in history.

This is hardly a movie for viewers interested in plausibility or intelligence in storytelling, but Emmerich throws spectacularly pulpy events at the audience at such a pace that carping about logic is moot. It’s more a matter of carefully selected elements having been stirred together with the obvious but effective touch Cecil B. DeMille learned how to apply not long after the dawn of cinema: cataclysm, elemental human ties, individual jeopardy, the boldest possible opposition of good and evil, life-and-death struggle, a little religion, brotherhood of the underdogs, ultimate triumph through ingenuity and heroism. It’s all been done before, just not on this global scale.

The never-ending special effects, while massively spectacular, are not always that special.

Pic delivers its scariest scene when it momentarily decides to become a monster movie during an alien autopsy, but violence is mostly general and directed at objects rather than people, thereby further increasing the potential kid audience.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

eva3si0nMar 8, 2021

Independence Day is a typical Roland Emmerich movie. Epic, beautiful in the trailer, but at the same time with an idiotic plot. There is not a bad cast here, a unique alien invasion of some kind. But the stupidity of the plot and theIndependence Day is a typical Roland Emmerich movie. Epic, beautiful in the trailer, but at the same time with an idiotic plot. There is not a bad cast here, a unique alien invasion of some kind. But the stupidity of the plot and the delusivity of the final battle only finally spoil the opinion of the film.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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5

MetalMan95Oct 3, 2010

Although this movie had its good scenes, it was surprisingly boring, i have seen far better disaster sequences. It was, for the most part, a major bore. I can understand that some people deem this as a classic and i fully understand it, but iAlthough this movie had its good scenes, it was surprisingly boring, i have seen far better disaster sequences. It was, for the most part, a major bore. I can understand that some people deem this as a classic and i fully understand it, but i was bored. Sorry Emmerich.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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5

TheNewSpielbergMay 1, 2011

One of those "so bad its good" films, this 1996 alien bonanza has breathtaking alien effects, decent acting and some great one liners. Will Smith delivers his usual cool and **** performance, while Jeff Goldblum is great as a nerdy computerOne of those "so bad its good" films, this 1996 alien bonanza has breathtaking alien effects, decent acting and some great one liners. Will Smith delivers his usual cool and **** performance, while Jeff Goldblum is great as a nerdy computer scientist who is the first to decipher the alien countdown to the attack. Bill Pullman has a small role as the US President, not too much to say other than good job. A lot of people have hated this movie over the years, calling it effects over plot, but what did they expect from the director of the other sci-fi epic Stargate. I like the movie as far as the effects.… Expand

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6

davenbettridgeSep 5, 2011

Just because a movie is trying to be a 'popcorn flick' and not trying to be intelligent does NOT make it a good one. Will Smith crack pot lines throughout this movie are annoying, America is the best country in the world theme is freakenJust because a movie is trying to be a 'popcorn flick' and not trying to be intelligent does NOT make it a good one. Will Smith crack pot lines throughout this movie are annoying, America is the best country in the world theme is freaken retarded, the characters are shallow and uninteresting, the story is pretty lame, and there are far too many illogical plot developments for this movie to be good. Asides from a few minutes of special effects which are pretty memorable, Indepence Day is a weak movie with weak characters and a predictable story.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

MovieMasterEddyApr 3, 2016

"Independence Day" is the biggest B movie ever made, the mother of all doomsday dramas. This airborne leviathan features a bunch of agreeably cardboard characters saving the human race from mass extermination in a way that proves as"Independence Day" is the biggest B movie ever made, the mother of all doomsday dramas. This airborne leviathan features a bunch of agreeably cardboard characters saving the human race from mass extermination in a way that proves as unavoidably entertaining as it is hopelessly cornball.

Working in a vein that is unabashedly hokey, contrived and ultra-patriotic, the “Stargate” team of director Roland Emmerich and co-writer/producer Dean Devlin clearly had great fun combining sure-fire elements from a bunch of mainstream genres in a way that is frankly intended to be overwhelming.

For the most part it is, at least in the sense that the sheer volume and variety of mass destruction, casualties, moments of dire jeopardy, opportunities for heroism and, above all, special effects, are almost certainly without precedent.

This is, in effect, the anti-“Close Encounters,” a throwback to ominous, paranoid thrillers such as “The War of the Worlds,””The Day the Earth Stood Still,””When Worlds Collide,””Invaders From Mars” and television’s “V,” a story in which the visitors from space have absolutely no interest in making nice with the earthlings and, in fact, have every intention of wiping them out so they can have Earth’s resources to themselves. Lay on top of that an Irwin Allen aesthetic sense and 10,000 special effects and you have a definition of high-concept.

The magnitude of the global threat is awesomely established in the teaser opening, which shows the black mother ship, itself a quarter the size of the moon, sailing through the lunar orbit on its way to its rendezvous with Earth. Shortly let loose are some 15-mile-wide saucers, which descend to hover directly over New York City, Washington and Los Angeles, along with other world capitals, causing no end of wonderment and panic.

In vintage disaster-pic fashion, a host of characters from all walks of life is sketched in. For starters, there is David (Jeff Goldblum), a New York computer genius whose ability to analyze the aliens’ communications code with his laptop could help expose their Achilles heel; Capt. Steven Hiller (Will Smith), a hot-dog fighter pilot from L.A. with an unfulfilled dream to be an astronaut; and U.S. President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman), a rather green national leader widely regarded as a wimp despite his background as a combat pilot during the Gulf War.

Since David’s ex-wife, Constance (Margaret Colin), works for the president, David, along with his kvetchy father, Julius (Judd Hirsch), gains entree to the White House to announce his theory that a catastrophic countdown is under way. When some “Welcome Wagon” helicopters flashing “Close Encounters”-style lights are summarily blasted out of the sky by the aliens, it becomes clear that the visitors have come not for a picnic, but for a barbecue.

Although scenes of the lumbering warships parking themselves over the cities are eyefuls in themselves, the first real fireworks come 45 minutes in, as the spacecrafts open up their hulls to expose giant electromagnetic ray guns that simultaneously zap the soaring Library Tower in Los Angeles (where a bunch of SoCal nitwits are celebrating in welcome of the aliens), the Empire State Building and the White House. As Air Force One spectacularly manages to take off just inches ahead of onrushing flames, uncontrollable firestorms result in the destruction of all three cities and millions of casualties.

And that’s just act one. Air attacks on the alien ships reveal that they are surrounded by protective shields that ward off all weapons, but when hundreds of crustacean-like alien fighter ships zip out to engage the American planes, Hiller manages to make one crash and returns the gruesome-looking pilot to Area 51, a top-secret Nevada base where the president has taken refuge. There, 24 floors underground, the resident loony genius (Brent Spiner) reveals the existence of an alien spaceship captured long ago that just may be in working order, opening the door on a long-shot counterattack that plays out on the third day of the story, July 4.

Without giving the game away, it’s fair to say that everybody gets into the heroic final act: The president dons his flight suit once again, Hiller and David fly into outer space to take on the mother ship, and even an alky Vietnam vet (Randy Quaid) has his chance to go down in history.

This is hardly a movie for viewers interested in plausibility or intelligence in storytelling, but Emmerich throws spectacularly pulpy events at the audience at such a pace that carping about logic is moot. The never-ending special effects, while massively spectacular, are not always that special.

Pic delivers its scariest scene when it momentarily decides to become a monster movie during an alien autopsy, but violence is mostly general and directed at objects rather than people, thereby further increasing the potential kid audience.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

StanleyKubrickJul 28, 2016

The first act builds up nicely, like in a classic John Carpenter movie, all the actors are well cast, the effects are good, there's some humor, but after the major disaster porn strikes, there's not much more to see, except patrioticThe first act builds up nicely, like in a classic John Carpenter movie, all the actors are well cast, the effects are good, there's some humor, but after the major disaster porn strikes, there's not much more to see, except patriotic Americans who love their president too much. Still, maybe the best film by Hollywood's garbage man No.1 Roland Emmerich. 6/10… Expand

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4

reviewfrom19842Jan 16, 2017

Independence Day is a quality pleasure it's not good but it's a million times better then it's **** 2016 sequel .

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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4

Castiel_AngelSep 5, 2016

Okay I am gonna give this movie credit for the special effects and all that but the story line is cheesy. I am not saying this is a movie I wouldn't pick up again but it is definitely not something I would add to a top 5 or top 10 list.

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4

amheretojudgeJan 16, 2018

i'm hanging up..

Independence Day

It's the same survival-natured script with just another perspective with some good visuals and battles but still the audience is smarter than this.

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4

FilipeNetoFeb 12, 2018

When disasters call for Americanism.

In this film, directed by Roland Emmerich (the man who likes to destroy the earth again and again and again), the Earth is threatened by giant alien ships that come out of nowhere in the sky, covering theWhen disasters call for Americanism.

In this film, directed by Roland Emmerich (the man who likes to destroy the earth again and again and again), the Earth is threatened by giant alien ships that come out of nowhere in the sky, covering the major cities on the planet. The first attacks confirm the worst expectations: they are hostile. It's the opportunity of "Uncle Sam" to save the world from bad guys in full holiday of July 4th. From cast we can detach Will Smith, Bill Pullman and Mary McDonnell, respectively in the role of an Air Force airman, the U.S. President and his wife.

This film addresses a theme that recurs in the film: aliens, and the possibility of they want to invade us. The question is what we would have so interesting to arouse that desire. The film also raises another question: although the film is American, why are Americans always the heroes of such films? The answer is simple: because only then these films can be used as propaganda to United States and all they represent. And if doubts exist of that see the title itself: the "independence day" has nothing to do with aliens but with the holiday of U.S. independence declaration. The way it's portrayed the US president himself also helps to see the "hidden" nature of this film.

Although the actors fail to surprise and the script aren't innovative (even recalls, partially, the H.G. Wells novel "War of the Worlds"), the film becomes interesting for the visual and special effects, which earned the Oscar for this category. Also the sound effects deserve a very positive note. Therefore, sci-fi and special effects lovers: this film was made entirely for you, especially if you are American.… Expand

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6

DovahKJul 2, 2018

A pesar del presupuesto que tiene, parece una película de serie B, y se hace divertida, básicamente por Will Smith.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

M0NST3R_G4MINGMay 2, 2019

6/10 - "Independence Day" is a decent alien invasion movie with a few weaknesses.

The film starts directly very action-packed and exciting. The story also starts very interesting. You are right in the action and that's good.However, here's6/10 - "Independence Day" is a decent alien invasion movie with a few weaknesses.

The film starts directly very action-packed and exciting. The story also starts very interesting. You are right in the action and that's good.However, here's a mistake that bothers me a little. A lot of story lines are started fabulously, but only poorly executed. So some stories start out very interestingly within the movie, but in the end you don't really know more about it - which is a pity. And no matter how interesting the movie starts, the sooner the tension decreases. In the middle of the movie the movie seemed boring in my opinion. This increased again towards the end.
The aliens looked terrific and were animated very well. I liked this! You could have shown more aliens, but I think it's fine. I also have to praise the general animations and effects in "Independence Day". If you consider that the film was shot in 1996, the animations are really good. The explosions look very realistic!
I also think it's nice to see two movie legends like Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum in one movie. That made me very happy!

In summary, I can say that I can recommend the film to others. I can recommend the film to anyone who is generally interested in aliens or the question "What exists outside our planet?". In any case, the film is not a waste of time and you can watch it with pleasure.… Expand

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4

ArkonBladeApr 13, 2011

i remember seeing this when i was 18 at the theater and i loved it but it hasnt held up maybe because i got older and the cheesiness about it that was entertaining then has gottin smelly and moldy. it really is a movie about explosions andi remember seeing this when i was 18 at the theater and i loved it but it hasnt held up maybe because i got older and the cheesiness about it that was entertaining then has gottin smelly and moldy. it really is a movie about explosions and yes thoose explosions and special effects are great but the over all plot , charicters and diolouge are pretty lame . its basically a cheesy remake of the original war of the worlds .its not a classic like say Army of darkness that is very cheesy but holds up so well. Independence Day does not stand the test of time and should be left in the 90s and forgottin.… Expand

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6

CRLAug 26, 2011

The sheer amount of cliche that pours itself into Independence Day truly fits the phrase 'so bad, it's good.' Still, it's Will Smith and the rest of its excellent cast that rescue this movie from the action-film mediocrity junk heap andThe sheer amount of cliche that pours itself into Independence Day truly fits the phrase 'so bad, it's good.' Still, it's Will Smith and the rest of its excellent cast that rescue this movie from the action-film mediocrity junk heap and propel it to at least some form of memorability.… Expand

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4

J-ShapSep 1, 2011

I suppose if you can tolerate the annoying characters and swiss cheese sized plot holes, there is a sense of wonder in its own cheesy, B-movie right. It could be considered a guilty pleasure if nothing else, but no one could honestly call it good.

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5

TyranianApr 10, 2019

Kinda good action and some decent humour but mostly this is just dumb and silly.

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6

Compi24Nov 28, 2012

"Independence Day" is a 1996 Roland Emmerich film starring Will Smith and Bill Pullman. Now, let me preface this review by saying that I'm not really a fan of Roland Emmerich movies. I usually find them to be heavy on special effects, rather"Independence Day" is a 1996 Roland Emmerich film starring Will Smith and Bill Pullman. Now, let me preface this review by saying that I'm not really a fan of Roland Emmerich movies. I usually find them to be heavy on special effects, rather flimsy on worthwhile narrative substance, and shoddy in terms of character development. Now before I go on, I know what you're thinking - "Well what the heck do I care about those last two things, all I need is explosions." That's fine I guess. It's just that I'd rather have a well crafted story featuring explosions that endanger characters I actually give a crap about than the aforementioned. Now with that said, is "Independence Day" the former or the latter? It's a little bit of both. This movie is not total bad but it does have it's moments. Thankfully the good moments outweigh the bad ones. Yes, the character development is rather nonexistent. This is mainly because of the fact that there are way too many characters in this film altogether, so even the slightest hint of any sort of character arc is almost impossible/undetectable. The plot is rather stale, and there are a handful of plotholes and inconsistencies throughout, but there isn't really any dynamic of this plot that is so flagrantly bad one can't sit through it without feeling entertained. I had mixed feelings about some of the lines in this film. Some of them were pumped with so much 90's action cheese It made me want to gauge my eyes out with a pinecone, but there were others that made me laugh/smile some. As most Roland Emmerich films go, the special effects end up looking unbelievable and it's no different for "Independence Day". The fact that this film came out in 1996 is still a shocker to me. The acting is great in some places, while lacking in others. Bill Pullman had one of the best performances in the film, as did Jeff Goldblum. Overall, It's apparent that "Independence Day" is one of Roland Emmerich's best films, if not his best, and it is indeed very entertaining.… Expand

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5

EpicLadySpongeMay 1, 2016

This is a disaster movie? I swear, it doesn't look like one. Probably because I am not looking at it correctly. I thought Independence Day was a cool disaster movie, but still joins the rest of the disaster movies out there.

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