Independence Day 1996 Film Starring Will Smith
Giant Alien Spaceships Attack Earth and Only the USA Can Save us
Oct 30, 2009
Independence Day is a 1996 disaster film in which dozens of human cities are completely obliterated by technologically superior aliens. The film was one of the first to showcase Will Smith in a starring role (another was Bad Boys in 1995) and remains the 22nd highest grossing film of all time.
The Beginning of the End
On July 2 a gigantic spacecraft enters Earth orbit, over a dozen other ships, each fifteen miles long enter the atmosphere and settle above major cities. Some of the population are afraid, others are excited, and others are curious. David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), an MIT graduate working for a cable company, discovers a countdown hidden in Earth’s satellite system that suggests the aliens are going to attack.
David and his father Julius (Judd Hirsch) race to Washington DC to find David’s ex-wife Constance Spano (Margaret Colin), a senior White House employee, in order to warn the President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman) of the impending attack. The President orders the evacuation of Washington, and whilst he escapes onboard Air Force One, the city, and dozens of others around the world are obliterated, killing millions.
July 3 sees the world preparing a response to the attack. In the United States the Black Knights, a squadron of F/A-18 Hornets attack the ship over what remains of Los Angeles. Soon after the attack begins the Black Knights realise the city-sized ships and their smaller attack craft are protected by shields which their missiles cannot penetrate. Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) is forced to flee the battle, and manages to crash an alien attack fighter by leading it into the wall of the Grand Canyon.
The President and his entourage make it to Area 51 where it seems that a certain incident in Roswell resulted in the capture of an alien space ship. Here they are met by Steven, and a travelling group of survivors which includes Russell Casse (Randy Quaid), a man who believes he was once abducted by aliens, and his family. David discovers a weakness in the alien’s technology and on July 4 this leads him and Steve to engage in a daring mission to decide the fate of the world.
Disaster Movie with an Alien Twist
Independence Day is an exciting film which mixes traditional disasters, in which cities are destroyed, with a science-fiction twist. There is nothing cute or cuddly about the aliens, which are technologically superior to mankind in every way. It also raises the question of what would happen if hostile aliens attacked and even our most powerful weapons were unable to destroy them. The F/A-18 Hornets drop like flies when they are set upon by waves of attack craft that pluck them from the skies with green energy weapons.
Will Smith (who was still starring in the Fresh Prince at the time) once again flexes his big screen muscles and shows that he has what it takes to become an A-List Hollywood star. He is joined by Jeff Goldblum, a seasoned actor, who once again plays a geeky scientist role. The chemistry between the two is one of the film’s highlights with Steve and David arguing even in the most desperate situations. Bill Pullman makes a good President who is clearly out of his depth and struggles to deal with the relentless attack.
Don’t Panic the Americans will Save us
Whilst Independence Day is an interesting slant on a traditional disaster movie that does have some interesting ideas, there are moments when the non-American audience may laugh.
After coming up with the plan to weaken the aliens the Americans send out a message to the world informing everyone of their plan. It seems that the other nations have been sitting around waiting for the USA to formulate such a plan, two British soldiers even say when the message comes through ‘it’s from the Americans, they want to organise a counter-offensive’ and the other replies ‘it’s about bloody time, what do they plan to do?’ Other nations quickly fall into line behind the might of the Americans’ ingenuity as Steve and David lead the charge in the fight against the invaders.
Still, for the non-Americans of the world, it is always reassuring to know that in the event of a global crisis all the rest of us have to do is sit back and wait for the geniuses across the pond to come up with a plan to save us all.
7/10
A good film that could have eased up on rubbing America’s already inflated ego. But aside from that Independence Day is a good slant on a disaster movie and a must-see for any Will Smith fans.
