@khandallah4725 it's a movie, every emotional beat is a manipulation done by acting and music. The events portrayed bear no relation to the audience, so of course you have to be manipulated into feeling something
I still love Independence day. Emmerich's best. And he's good at making disaster movies. And as you say, he has a keen eye for composition and sense of pacing.
I don't even care if it's a guilty pleasure. I think I've watched this movie more times than I have any other. And I love it every single time. This is a masterclass if how to make and market a blockbuster movie. The cast were all fantastic, the heavy practical effects looked amazing and have aged incredibly well (This movie looks infinitely better than its far more recent sequel) And the Alien and ship deigns are all amazing. For all of its flaws, I still don't think this movie will ever be bettered in it's category. Grab your favourite drink, turn your brain off and enjoy.
I recently heard a critique in a TH-cam video that we need to stop using the phrase guilty, especially with regard to pieces of media that are overwhelmingly loved. Case in point, Independence Day is one of the highest grossing and will received films in human history. The fact that it's an alien invasion film only serves to make that more impressive, rather than something to be embarrassed about.
My older brother and I watched this in the theater on July 4th 1996. The final sequence beat for beat almost directly resembled the Death Star battle sequence for star wars. At the time I had a habit of clapping my hands once before standing up and when I did so at the end of this movie the entire audience burst into applause.
When I saw this on opening day, it got a standing ovation lasting a couple of min. Nothing special about the place I saw it, other than it simply being the first day. No special guests or anything and it still got a standing ovation. I've been to a lot of movies over the years but I have yet to see that happen with another movie showing.
I watched this in a theater. I remember thinking Independence Day was an almost direct retelling of War of the Worlds. What sold it for me was the "virus" that stopped the aliens as a modern analog to the "viral bacteria" that stopped the WotW Martians. I also remember the entire theater cheering when the White House was destroyed.
I saw this film in a theater too. But I found the "computer virus" storyline completely unbelievable. There's no way a US-made laptop would be able to communicate with alien computers. Heck... I'm old enough to remember when it was really hard to get a Mac to communicate with a Windows computer... might still be.
@@SteveBrant55 Extra scenes explained it somewhat. In the movie, Jeff Goldbloom's character recognizes the alien code in the modern jet aircraft computer technology. It is revealed that reverse-engineering the Alien Attacker that crashed at Roswell made tremendous computer advancement possible. This allowed his "modern" computer to interface with the alien technology and for the virus to succeed.
@@SteveBrant55 There are a couple scenes that were cut where it's mentioned that modern computer tech is all based on reverse engineered tech from the crashed Roswell ship. Should have kept that in.
@@MGAC1701That scene would have made all the difference. It makes sense of the storyline. Whoever cut the scene out probably massively underestimated the computer literacy of the audience
ditto in the theater.. to a point where they actually over-sold tickets for screenings and people were standing/sitting in the isle... or some had just bought tickets to a diff movie and went into it.
Rowan, LOVE your videos. This was a great one. I have one point: Mae Whitman wasn’t in Little Miss Sunshine. That would be Abigail Breslin. They do favor, so I understand the mixup. But, Mae Whitman is known as the voice of Katara in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Roxy in Scott Pilgrim, and Ann in Arrested Development, so she has a decent level of cult notoriety.
When you did The Fifth Element retrospective, I felt urge to watch it again after all these years. And I did. With now your Independence Day retrospective, I feel the urge to watch it again after all these years. And I will. Love all your retrospectives by the way 😉 Have a good one!
For me, there is a lot to say about this movie: As a giant science fiction fan, Independence Day sets itself apart when it comes to movies like this. It's a very well-paced film and you can sense the gravity of the situation. It's almost like you're dealing it with an actual disaster playing out right in front of you. On of the things I like about this movie are the special effects. I graduated from film school back in 2021 and I can tell you, the effects from ID4 are the only ones that I truly like. This involves using multitudes of models and miniatures. As someone who is on the autism spectrum and an avid model maker, I would defiantly give anything to go back in time and work with Emmerich to build models for this movie. This has often been seen as the last great blockbuster movies in which stock-motion, matt paintings, and modelmaking and I agree. I think what lacks in today's movies is a lack of creativity. In the 1996 movie, during the attack on Houston scene, producers decided to use black construction paper and made tiny holes in it to simulate an overhead shot of Houston at night. This kind of ad-hoc and thoughtful improvising as not really done today because everything is CGI. The movie also is different from many "popcorn movies" is how the characters are treated. In many cases, the characters have fairly typical cliches and stereotypes but with ID4, all the characters get a catharsis in the end. President Whitmore (Pullman) finally became the warrior leader that the country needed, and Captain Hiller (Smith) finally got to go into space after all this time- to name a few. To be fair, Independence Day does have its problems but to me, it's one of the last great blockbusters ever made and is arguably the best movie I've ever seen (next to Titanic). In all honesty, this is still Roland Emmerich's best work to date (and likely ever) and no science fiction movie has come close in the modern era to replicate the successes and grandeur of Independence Day.
I would rather see a practical or model effect any day, than CGI in any movie. The Enterprise looked more 'real' back in 1979, superheroes moved more convincingly. Superman (1978) flying with harnesses and clever angles looked more like the comic book version than a CGI enhanced Henry Caviĺl. There's a solidity that even the best CGI can never capture
As the old saying goes "necessity is the mother of invention"; I love finding out how the older generations of filmmakers *had* to find ways that pushed the envelope of thought and innovation.
Great post. As a film school grad can you talk about the importance of pace in a movie? And this simple story is well directed with professional actors who CARE about their craft.
I was in college and my baby brother was your age! I remember buying him all the toys at toys r us for Christmas when they were in the discount bin! Great times
This movie sparked my interest for combat aviation and I actually wrote an article pretending to be a military book regarding the War of 1996. It essentially blasted the Aliens for incompetence and not just for the Virus thing.
I have strong opinion regarding the Virus. I know it's criticized a lot but hear me out. - The humans had the alien fighter for decades and were able to develop a crude interface. - When Dave was using his laptop, the laptop was interfaced with the alien fighter. - When Dave and Steven were approaching the mothership, the motherships computer recognized the fighter as a trusted piece of hardware. No firewalls or anti-virus needed. - When the fighter docked with the mothership, it established a trusted connection that Dave was able to exploit. This is a great example of social engineering, circumventing cyber security. A legitimate problem for cyber security professionals.
@@jameskelly3502I had no problem with the ship being accepted for docking, the aliens would have recognised it as an older ship that had been missing, and on Earth for decades, curiosity and the possibility of intelligence about Earth after so long on the planet would be irresistible
@@Neil070 The point is, that you can be hungry for that info, preparing to get it, but still put up some basic defenses. The alien mothership basically saw this fighter that had been missing for 50 years and went "Oh hey, comon in." Without so much as even a thought to security. Even basic stuff. The kind of stuff you simply don't ever turn off. Was simply not there. edit: Think about it for a second. These aliens are good enough to sail across the galaxy. You would think that they would have their shit together with the cybersecurity on their mothership at least. They have computers, they have wireless access, they have to know that there are at least potential vulnerabilities. Even if they don't view the humans as a threat, that doesn't matter in the slightest. Because the real threat is the one you don't know about, or think is elsewhere. (not to mention the additional bits about them not being the only super advanced party out there and they know it) So you keep your guard up at least somewhat.
@@jameskelly3502 My analysis was even more basic: They had two ways to solve one problem. If the Virus works? Nice, good. If it does not; fire the Nuke and the City Destroyers and Attack Ships will lose power within hours. ID4 Lore heavily implies power transfer - that is why the Destroyer in Resurgence is reactivated when the Queen arrives. But yes, it is also possible the Aliens are in a state of heavy stagnation where a model may be used for hundreds or thousands of years - esp for the secondary planetary invasion fleets. 50 years may be nothing to them in that regard. Good point re: Social Engineering ! @whyjnot420 The reason they did not consider it is because they do not need to. They are telepathic but I doubt they sense everyone all the time because that would be overwhelming. It is entirely possible their systems are fully automatic and just assumes it is a courier ship or a ship needing repair. Or the underlings may just be that. Underlings who cannot think independently.
@jameskelly3502 Often, a cyber security breach is the result of some poor sod picking up a USB stick in a common room and thinking "neat free storage device" then plugging it into their work computer. Never having the slightest idea that the USB stick was put there by someone who convinced another worker to please hold the front door for them.
Great vid. I recall seeing the teaser of the fire-wave rolling up a street in New York and being immediately excited to see it. Also, IMHO I think a good followup would be to either flesh out and expand your Stargate retrospective from years back, or perhaps do a retrospective on Moon 44.
What I love about this movie is how the cast is essentially a bunch of then-unproven headliners and even more type-casted co-stars. For most of the movie they are all separated on their own little plot lines, but each plotline is so well written, the stories all so stupidly fun, and each arc so independently interesting, that when the climax of the film arrives and they all come together, you really feel like this is a superhero team-up ready to save the world from the alien invasion. The movie is basically Marvel’s Phase One in miniature. The structure of the film is also great... Act One = The Day the Earth Stood Still Act Two = Pearl Harbor Act Three = Star Wars
I went to see this on release day, evening showing, packed theater up on Cape Cod. I have never seen a standing ovation for a simple premier that had nobody from the movie there. Essentially the entire crowd just up and gave it one. That was how much everyone there enjoyed it. I have seen rounds of applause for movies before, I have been to some quite animated late showings of things, plenty of first day showings. But nothing like that. It was the kind of applause you see at these world premiers where the whole cast shows up. idk how long it lasted, a couple of minutes at least.
Roland Emmerich:"...Imagine what it be like if, one day, people woke up to find gigantic alien spaceships hovering over every major city..." Arthur C. Clarke: "Been there, wrote that." (Childhood's End)
I long ago outgrew this film by A LOT . . . yet I can’t ever hate it. 11 year old me who saw it? He loved it. Was the first film I got hyped for. I remember recording a feature on it off the telly (yes onto VHS, because I’m old enough to practically be an alien to young people myself now) and watching it over and over. And I still have vivid memories of the day I saw it with my siblings. How thrilled I was going there, sitting in the cinema watching it, my sister holding my hand during “scary” bits, and my brother’s annoyance at the whole thing. Most of all? How excited I’d had been having just seen it. About as much as I had been leading up to the event. So yeah, Independence Day ain’t my bag any more. But it did right by me long ago
@ 3:25, I now know where Emmerich got the name for Matthew Broderick's character in his 1998 "Godzilla" movie. I love these behind-the-scenes documentaries and picking up these little easter eggs.
Don't forget that Roland Emmerich also directed The Patriot. I personally consider that one to be his best film but Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow are very close 2nds.
Oh and I saw this opening night in agreat theater. The full audience brought down the house at least twice during the end. The energy was something I don't think I remember ever seeing in any other movie
You mentioned that the Pentagon and the DOD was interested in being involved in the production. They were more than interested, they were ready to give those guys the run of the shop, the keys to the kingdom. They just loved the fetishization of the military in this movie, they absolutely loved that part of it. But, you're right, the references to Area 51, at the time, were a non-starter with the higher-ups. So, no go.
I will, on occasion, rewatch ‘Independence Day’ as is still great fun. Oh sure, the plot holes are so big you could pilot an alien mothership through them quite easily, but as I said, this film is great fun. Tongue firmly in cheek, Roland gives us an excellent cast and wry dialogue, enough that this work stands the test of time. Plus, I like any alien invasion film where we, “…whip ET’s ass.” 👽
Several things (other than the visuals) stand out in this movie. I had made a video on it like 10 years ago but it has been taken down long ago. For example, for such an "action" movie, there are surprisingly few gunshots fired. The only time a gun is fired is when the President asks "Is this glass bulletproof?" and his security chief answers "No, sir" and shoots the glass. ALL action fight sequences are actually AIR BATTLES, which is rare, unusual, extremely refreshing both visually and narratively, and more exhilarating than action movie gunfight #55174. Also the characters are more endearing than generic bearded action movie hero #22147. The actors are excellent in their respective roles, sure, but the characters are also slightly more original than in most other blockbusters. A TV repairman, a fighter pilot and an President of the United States make for an interesting trio. Also the gigantic alien ships floating loomingly over the cities demonstrate Emmerich's talent for composition and cinematography. Such a shame that Resurgence could not find a way to be as good as the first film.
R.I.P Robert Loggia he was a great actor! Also can we take a moment to giggle at the fact that Randy Quaid plays a Loonytoon in the movie only to become on in Real life as welll? :P
I ran my VHS of this movie to the ground after watching it several hundreds of times when I was 9 years old! To this day, I still remember about 80% of the dialogue. My number 1 movie of all time!
Speaking of standing up and cheering, this was quite a sensational watch. Stellar job on your part. One of my favorite films for all the reasons you mentioned. It's truly a shame a lot of modern audiences may not come to truly appreciate the kind of awe you can only get from sitting in a dark theater, watching practical or miniature effects at this scale, all to the backdrop of a sweeping score. Every element was working together best it could, flaws aside. It would be embarrassing -today- to say I cried in this movie, sad tears and tears of joy, just because of the cynicism most of us have nowadays (including myself lol). This is the cinema we all deserve. (Well maybe not Hollywood, because clearly they wouldn't know what to do with it in this timeline.) Thanks for the video!
Good timing, as I just recently pulled out my remastered BD version and watched it. It held up strikingly well, and the AV quality was fabulous, even on my relatively meager home systems. I think you nailed the summary on this one, Rowan, and hit all the right notes explaining why, exactly, this film is what it is. After this week's UAP hearings in the US House, who knows...we may be watching this again, globally!
Does anyone remember the excitement of going to the theaters in this age? You know, the thrill and sense of mystery and adventure the movies used to give, however "simple minded" they were. Watching this in the summer of the flopbusters makes me feel very nostalgic, even sad for the current state of entertainment. On a more positive note, i'm really enjoying this Retrospective/Review series, makes remember great movies long forgotten and kinda creates a to be rewatched list.
I will always remember seeing the film in theaters... in Houston, TX. About 3 miles from the freeway sign the ATV is parked near when the nuke is detonated. The theater went NUTS when they announced that Houston would the target of the bombing. It was hilarious and kind of jaw dropping to experience as a 10-year-old.
Great video. As an addendum, one of the more fascinating spin offs of the movie was the radio play Independence Day UK, made for the BBC by Dirk Maggs (he who would also bring the latter Hitchhikers Guide books back to radio in the mid 2000s and also produced a good adaptation of Good Omens). It was basically the plot of the film told from the UK perspective, but in the style of the Orson Welles "The War Of The Worlds" radio mock broadcast, even bringing in radio stars like Nicky Campbell in as major characters to keep the verisimilitude up. The producers of the film endorsed the play and I think it was well received. Worth checking out.
the fact you mentioned off the laser disc home video makes me laugh. now that i think about it i'm surprised why i didnt have it. laser disc was awesome
Another influence on this film at least for the opening before it flips into disaster mode, is Arthur C. Clarke's novel Childhood's End. That's where the trope of giant alien ships hovering over Earth's major cities bringing with them a sense of existential dread originated. Many other works have riffed on that concept since then, from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy's Vogon Constructor Fleet to the Visitors' Ships in V the Miniseries, and Independence Day certainly delivers on the premise in its own satisfying way.
I remember seeing this in the cinema, the mid to late 90s was a great time for the summer blockbuster. The iconic visuals have become that, iconic. Is it deep and meaningful? No, its just a bit of fun for some popcorn accompaniment. Its funny how Emmerich was asking reporters to imagine what it would be like to see great big spaceships hovering over the major cities of the world yet 10 or so years earlier we had that (also iconic) vision in the TV series V. Its what ID4 reminded me of when I first saw it - only grander and on the big screen of course. 😋😋
Although I don't really have any major disagreements with your opinions, your view of this movie was spot-on for me. It's not a deep movie, it doesn't have to be. It's a popcorn blockbuster that you're supposed to switch off and enjoy. I will admit that it has been ages since I've seen this but I watched it to death on VHS and I'd happily sit an watch it now. That characters were enjoyable to follow, they were fun but not in a silly way. Even though I have a soft spot for Adam Baldwin, who was criminally underused in this movie, I love Randy Quaid's performance. Not a failure of a man, just a man who had failed. In saying that he had always been a devoted family man who was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect his family, A subtle but strong performance. On a more controversial note, I have nothing against Goldblum, I enjoy his performances is movies but have never understood people who put him on a pedestal. I'm not saying this as an insult to him, but Goldblum is his own brand, and the characters he plays are quite similar. People want Jeff Golblum in their movies rather than Jeff Goldblum to play a CHARACTER in their movies.
I adore this movie so thank you for not dumping all over it. When the film came out I made sure I saw it on the biggest screen possible, and it was an incredible experience. This is one of two flying saucer movies which struck me with a genuine sense of awe and fear and made a huge impression on me. The other such movie was Flight of the Navigator.
This movie came out when I was 19 going on 20 and I'm not gonna lie, in spite of a couple nitpicks, it was my favorite movie released that summer. And I agree, it is Roland Emmerich's best movie and he's never quite captured that magic in his subsequent disaster movies. And for my money, Bill Pullman's speech at the end is the best St. Crispin's Day Speech since Henry V.
I'm so glad I got to see this at the cinema. I've watched it a couple of times on TV and it just illustrated how much it needed a big screen and audience atmosphere.
I think RJC is right on the money with this one. Hugely entertaining. Charming leads. 'Nuff said. I'm less enamored with Emmerich/Devlin otherwise, although Stargate had merit.
For me the big difference with this marketing. It's the first time I remember a website being a primary part of the marketing, I still remember the music played on the website, can't find anyone who might have archived it though unfortuantley
I loved this movie so much when it came out in the theatres (I was 12 then, lol). I think I saw it 2 or 3 times. Then I watched in a dozen times on home video. Pure entertainment!
Always have great memories about the hype and watching this movie. Me and my friend at the time were trying to avoid spoilers and walked past a motion-detecting alien toy in a store which made a noise, made us both look and see this thing open up to reveal the smaller alien inside. Also I managed to snag the massive cardboard cinema stand of the ship above the city and it lived in my digs at the time as a student so I woke up every morning to see it.
I remember watching this in theater when it came out so well, such an amazing ride! The perfect blockbuster. Still love it today, it's always a good time.
I have loved that movie since it came out, and not just for nostalgia. It's a genuinely fun movie from top to bottom, and the nostalgia is just the cherry on top. So I was cautiously optimistic for the sequel in 2016. It's one of the only times I can remember actually considering walking out of a movie. I was bored to tears, I did not give shit one about what was happening on the screen and could not wait for it to be over. The only reason I didn't walk out is because I saw it with family. I think this and maybe 3 Days to Kill are the only times I've thought my money was completely wasted by seeing them in theaters.
I watched it all the way through, and haven't felt the need to do so again. It's just a rehash of the original, with none of the charm. Why even bother giving the humans alien technology if it was just going to be rendered useless anyway? It could have been an epic war through the solar system, with humanity being gradually beaten back to Earth where they have to find one last ace to play to turn the tide.
I completely agree with everything that you have said in this video. Independence Day is unironically one of my most favourite films of all time and I really mean it when I say that it's a summer blockbuster masterpiece in my opinion. It's a film that is pro-heroism, pro-patriotism, pro-masculinity and pro-unity - all things we need right now. Independence Day is a film that makes me feel absolutely good about life. It's a film that is a distant relic of a happier, simpler and better time. I was 8 when it was released in theaters and one of my greatest regrets in my life is not seeing it at my local theater when it came out, but I DID see it shortly after it was released on VHS. Also, I don't consider the film's awful sequel to be canon and I'm pretty sure neither does Emmerich himself. lol I always love Independence Day no matter what.
I was 15 when this came out and I went to go see this 4 times in the theater. I just wanted to watch the city destruction scenes over and over. I miss model work. Models just look coller when they explode compared to CGI's more realistic physics.
Agreed. Look at Star Trek VI compared with JJ Abrams' version, the model looks more solid, more real, because it is real. However skilled the CGI, the way the light fall on a model, the tiny barely perceptible imperfections, the interaction with the immediate environment all make a difference. Chris Reeve in a harness will always look better than a CGI 'perfect' image.
@@Neil070 That's a great way to describe how it feels watching models vs CGI. It looks real because it IS real and CGI sometimes feels like its in a vacuum and lacks the gravity of real life stuff. CGI has come a long way and some of it at its peak is really impressive and maybe I'm getting old but the model work from 20-30 years ago still holds up while early CGI is starting to look a bit iffy. 😁😁 And I think you are right, that its the minor, almost imperceptible imperfections that make the difference.
Watching this as a little kid, not understanding anything. They said, but the action sequences were amazing. Now I watch Independence Day a lot. Because it's one of my favorite movies from the nineties
I remember this film being a big deal when it released. Our local cinema upgraded its sound system to DTS specifically for Independence Day’s theatrical run and boy howdy, did it shake the floor. The CGI would ultimately set me on a path towards a career in computer graphics too… I spent months inserting my own 3D rendered aircraft (back when 3D Studio was still on DOS) into video sequences captured on SVHS tape and digitised.
ID4 actually started as Stargate 2, but they decided to make it a separate film. Captain Hiller was originally O'Neil, David was Dr. Jackson etc. The original sequel premise was what if Ra's people came to earth for revenge.
I first saw this movie on the 4th of July in a packed theater. It was one of the best movies experiences of my life. An absolute blast. The movie is certainly not perfect but it was a rocking good time
For British fans in particular, I'd like to shine a light on the almost entirely forgotten "Independence Day UK" - an hour long audio drama that was broadcast on Radio One as an official tie-in with the film. It was later released on cassette, from which people have since digitised it and uploaded it to youtube. The first 25 minutes are a 'War of the Worlds' style mock live broadcast, while the remaining 35 minutes take on a more typical radio play style while embracing the more larger than life tone of the film. It's an interesting listen, particularly if you want to hear Colin Baker in an non-Doctor Who science fiction role, or if you like the idea of Sir Patrick Moore getting into a fist fight with an alien (yes, seriously).
The excellence of this movie is in the music. It's in the category with the original Rocky and a episode of Star Trek the original series, "The Doomsday Machine".
The first half of the movie is almost perfect. It culminates in the destruction of the White House. From that point onwards, it turns into melodramatic schlock, but it's still entertaining. I loved the movie as a child and I still watch it from time to time. I watched it for the first time back in 96 with my dad, he was a huge sci-fi fan and introduced my to so many great things in that regard. So it also reminds me of him, RIP dad. :/
I couldn't agree more, Independence Day has always been a favorite of mine. And it's still holds up after many years. Just good solid entertainment with a good story.
I never had a point where I liked this movie. As a kid, it wasn't a cartoon, so I hated it. As a teen, I thought it was too corny. And as an adult, I find alien invasion stories to be painful in their predictability. But I will 100% agree with RJC: the visual effects in this movie are outstanding, and I wish studios would put funding back into movies to make these kinds of practical effects the norm again.
I saw this in the theater, knowing nothing about it other than it was a movie about aliens. I didn't know whether the aliens were hostile or not, until they blew up the welcome wagon. It was one of the best theater experiences I ever had, and I'm sad that most people didn't get to see it blind.
This and jurassic park were my favorite movies as a kid. You should do one jurassic park, the making of that movie and its special effects have to be amazing
I agree, it is the ultimate popcorn movie. Don't think too much, just lean back. ;) One major plot hole you didn't mention is the installation of the computer virus on the alien mothership, thus winning the battle. (Lucky the aliens also used Windows XP.) 😂
Glad to see someone else defending ID4. Bob Chipman did a great video on this too. Im right there with you on Resurgence. Its not bad I just think they should have gone another way. Though the good aliens leading a resistance movement is an intriguing idea and one I hope we get to eventually see.
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who was Mae Whitman in Little Miss Sunshine?
@@stoves5877 I think she favors Abigail Breslin, but yeah I do not think Mae Whitman was in it.
How could you not mention ID4 ripping off signature imagely from V tv series??
ID4 and Jurassic Park were two of the biggest action blockbusters in history. The 90's were truly a great time to be a action blockbuster fan.
And Jeff Goldblum was right there in both movies.
Until Godzilla, Spawn and Batman & Robin turned the late 90s into a sh*tshow.
@@MourningCoffeeMusicthen Titanic picked it right back up in the late 90s as well 😁
The "Is mommy sleeping" line still brings a tear to my eye, masterfully done by both of them
the drippy soundtrack telling us how to feel is a effective manipulator.
that scene rips your heart out, stomps on it and the sets it on fire
The sad part about it is when she realized her father lie to her and her mom is never waking up
@khandallah4725 it's a movie, every emotional beat is a manipulation done by acting and music. The events portrayed bear no relation to the audience, so of course you have to be manipulated into feeling something
I usually don’t wrestle with tears during a movie but this scene gets me every time.
"Tell my children I love them very much." The power of choice and being truly selfless in one of my favorite scenes of all time.
I still love Independence day. Emmerich's best. And he's good at making disaster movies. And as you say, he has a keen eye for composition and sense of pacing.
The scenes with first Lady in LA bring the film to a halt.
I don't even care if it's a guilty pleasure. I think I've watched this movie more times than I have any other. And I love it every single time. This is a masterclass if how to make and market a blockbuster movie. The cast were all fantastic, the heavy practical effects looked amazing and have aged incredibly well (This movie looks infinitely better than its far more recent sequel) And the Alien and ship deigns are all amazing. For all of its flaws, I still don't think this movie will ever be bettered in it's category. Grab your favourite drink, turn your brain off and enjoy.
I recently heard a critique in a TH-cam video that we need to stop using the phrase guilty, especially with regard to pieces of media that are overwhelmingly loved. Case in point, Independence Day is one of the highest grossing and will received films in human history. The fact that it's an alien invasion film only serves to make that more impressive, rather than something to be embarrassed about.
My older brother and I watched this in the theater on July 4th 1996.
The final sequence beat for beat almost directly resembled the Death Star battle sequence for star wars.
At the time I had a habit of clapping my hands once before standing up and when I did so at the end of this movie the entire audience burst into applause.
When I saw this on opening day, it got a standing ovation lasting a couple of min. Nothing special about the place I saw it, other than it simply being the first day. No special guests or anything and it still got a standing ovation.
I've been to a lot of movies over the years but I have yet to see that happen with another movie showing.
I watched this in a theater. I remember thinking Independence Day was an almost direct retelling of War of the Worlds. What sold it for me was the "virus" that stopped the aliens as a modern analog to the "viral bacteria" that stopped the WotW Martians.
I also remember the entire theater cheering when the White House was destroyed.
I saw this film in a theater too. But I found the "computer virus" storyline completely unbelievable. There's no way a US-made laptop would be able to communicate with alien computers. Heck... I'm old enough to remember when it was really hard to get a Mac to communicate with a Windows computer... might still be.
@@SteveBrant55 Extra scenes explained it somewhat. In the movie, Jeff Goldbloom's character recognizes the alien code in the modern jet aircraft computer technology. It is revealed that reverse-engineering the Alien Attacker that crashed at Roswell made tremendous computer advancement possible. This allowed his "modern" computer to interface with the alien technology and for the virus to succeed.
@@SteveBrant55 There are a couple scenes that were cut where it's mentioned that modern computer tech is all based on reverse engineered tech from the crashed Roswell ship. Should have kept that in.
@@MGAC1701That scene would have made all the difference. It makes sense of the storyline. Whoever cut the scene out probably massively underestimated the computer literacy of the audience
ditto in the theater.. to a point where they actually over-sold tickets for screenings and people were standing/sitting in the isle... or some had just bought tickets to a diff movie and went into it.
Saw this movie in the theater and still holds up today, one of my favorites.
Rowan, LOVE your videos. This was a great one.
I have one point: Mae Whitman wasn’t in Little Miss Sunshine. That would be Abigail Breslin. They do favor, so I understand the mixup.
But, Mae Whitman is known as the voice of Katara in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Roxy in Scott Pilgrim, and Ann in Arrested Development, so she has a decent level of cult notoriety.
When you did The Fifth Element retrospective, I felt urge to watch it again after all these years. And I did. With now your Independence Day retrospective, I feel the urge to watch it again after all these years. And I will. Love all your retrospectives by the way 😉 Have a good one!
Same. I think I'll get a lot out of a rewatch because I've only ever seen it in 4:3 aspect ratio on VHS.
For me, there is a lot to say about this movie: As a giant science fiction fan, Independence Day sets itself apart when it comes to movies like this. It's a very well-paced film and you can sense the gravity of the situation. It's almost like you're dealing it with an actual disaster playing out right in front of you. On of the things I like about this movie are the special effects. I graduated from film school back in 2021 and I can tell you, the effects from ID4 are the only ones that I truly like. This involves using multitudes of models and miniatures. As someone who is on the autism spectrum and an avid model maker, I would defiantly give anything to go back in time and work with Emmerich to build models for this movie. This has often been seen as the last great blockbuster movies in which stock-motion, matt paintings, and modelmaking and I agree. I think what lacks in today's movies is a lack of creativity. In the 1996 movie, during the attack on Houston scene, producers decided to use black construction paper and made tiny holes in it to simulate an overhead shot of Houston at night. This kind of ad-hoc and thoughtful improvising as not really done today because everything is CGI. The movie also is different from many "popcorn movies" is how the characters are treated. In many cases, the characters have fairly typical cliches and stereotypes but with ID4, all the characters get a catharsis in the end. President Whitmore (Pullman) finally became the warrior leader that the country needed, and Captain Hiller (Smith) finally got to go into space after all this time- to name a few. To be fair, Independence Day does have its problems but to me, it's one of the last great blockbusters ever made and is arguably the best movie I've ever seen (next to Titanic). In all honesty, this is still Roland Emmerich's best work to date (and likely ever) and no science fiction movie has come close in the modern era to replicate the successes and grandeur of Independence Day.
I would rather see a practical or model effect any day, than CGI in any movie. The Enterprise looked more 'real' back in 1979, superheroes moved more convincingly. Superman (1978) flying with harnesses and clever angles looked more like the comic book version than a CGI enhanced Henry Caviĺl.
There's a solidity that even the best CGI can never capture
@@Neil070 Models are able fully articulate how light and other objects interact around them because they are actually 3D objects.
As the old saying goes "necessity is the mother of invention"; I love finding out how the older generations of filmmakers *had* to find ways that pushed the envelope of thought and innovation.
Great post.
As a film school grad can you talk about the importance of pace in a movie?
And this simple story is well directed with professional actors who CARE about their craft.
As an 11 year old, I watched this movie almost every single day for about a year.
Hah, we are the same age (if you are referencing 1996) and I watched it over and over as well
Damn when I was 11 I was working a full time job in a sweatshop so lucky you
I was in college and my baby brother was your age! I remember buying him all the toys at toys r us for Christmas when they were in the discount bin! Great times
Same was one of my favourite vhs tapes. That, star wars original trilogy, jurassic Park, braveheart etc. Over and over
I saw it in theaters for my 10th birthday. It was glorious.
saw this in theaters when I was 7 and I've wanted to direct films ever since. watched it last night and it still holds up.
This movie sparked my interest for combat aviation and I actually wrote an article pretending to be a military book regarding the War of 1996. It essentially blasted the Aliens for incompetence and not just for the Virus thing.
I have strong opinion regarding the Virus. I know it's criticized a lot but hear me out.
- The humans had the alien fighter for decades and were able to develop a crude interface.
- When Dave was using his laptop, the laptop was interfaced with the alien fighter.
- When Dave and Steven were approaching the mothership, the motherships computer recognized the fighter as a trusted piece of hardware. No firewalls or anti-virus needed.
- When the fighter docked with the mothership, it established a trusted connection that Dave was able to exploit.
This is a great example of social engineering, circumventing cyber security. A legitimate problem for cyber security professionals.
@@jameskelly3502I had no problem with the ship being accepted for docking, the aliens would have recognised it as an older ship that had been missing, and on Earth for decades, curiosity and the possibility of intelligence about Earth after so long on the planet would be irresistible
@@Neil070 The point is, that you can be hungry for that info, preparing to get it, but still put up some basic defenses. The alien mothership basically saw this fighter that had been missing for 50 years and went "Oh hey, comon in." Without so much as even a thought to security.
Even basic stuff. The kind of stuff you simply don't ever turn off. Was simply not there.
edit: Think about it for a second. These aliens are good enough to sail across the galaxy. You would think that they would have their shit together with the cybersecurity on their mothership at least. They have computers, they have wireless access, they have to know that there are at least potential vulnerabilities. Even if they don't view the humans as a threat, that doesn't matter in the slightest. Because the real threat is the one you don't know about, or think is elsewhere. (not to mention the additional bits about them not being the only super advanced party out there and they know it) So you keep your guard up at least somewhat.
@@jameskelly3502 My analysis was even more basic: They had two ways to solve one problem. If the Virus works? Nice, good. If it does not; fire the Nuke and the City Destroyers and Attack Ships will lose power within hours. ID4 Lore heavily implies power transfer - that is why the Destroyer in Resurgence is reactivated when the Queen arrives.
But yes, it is also possible the Aliens are in a state of heavy stagnation where a model may be used for hundreds or thousands of years - esp for the secondary planetary invasion fleets. 50 years may be nothing to them in that regard. Good point re: Social Engineering !
@whyjnot420 The reason they did not consider it is because they do not need to. They are telepathic but I doubt they sense everyone all the time because that would be overwhelming. It is entirely possible their systems are fully automatic and just assumes it is a courier ship or a ship needing repair. Or the underlings may just be that. Underlings who cannot think independently.
@jameskelly3502 Often, a cyber security breach is the result of some poor sod picking up a USB stick in a common room and thinking "neat free storage device" then plugging it into their work computer. Never having the slightest idea that the USB stick was put there by someone who convinced another worker to please hold the front door for them.
I was about 11 years old when this movie came out and saw it 5 times in the cinema. It was perfect for that time.
Great vid. I recall seeing the teaser of the fire-wave rolling up a street in New York and being immediately excited to see it.
Also, IMHO I think a good followup would be to either flesh out and expand your Stargate retrospective from years back, or perhaps do a retrospective on Moon 44.
What I love about this movie is how the cast is essentially a bunch of then-unproven headliners and even more type-casted co-stars. For most of the movie they are all separated on their own little plot lines, but each plotline is so well written, the stories all so stupidly fun, and each arc so independently interesting, that when the climax of the film arrives and they all come together, you really feel like this is a superhero team-up ready to save the world from the alien invasion.
The movie is basically Marvel’s Phase One in miniature.
The structure of the film is also great...
Act One = The Day the Earth Stood Still
Act Two = Pearl Harbor
Act Three = Star Wars
I went to see this on release day, evening showing, packed theater up on Cape Cod. I have never seen a standing ovation for a simple premier that had nobody from the movie there. Essentially the entire crowd just up and gave it one. That was how much everyone there enjoyed it.
I have seen rounds of applause for movies before, I have been to some quite animated late showings of things, plenty of first day showings. But nothing like that. It was the kind of applause you see at these world premiers where the whole cast shows up. idk how long it lasted, a couple of minutes at least.
Roland Emmerich:"...Imagine what it be like if, one day, people woke up to find gigantic alien spaceships hovering over every major city..."
Arthur C. Clarke: "Been there, wrote that." (Childhood's End)
I must be one of the few, but I *love* the second Independence Day film!
Damn Rowan you're on fire with all these recent videos :D
7:30 that bit about being the biggest miniature set... really interesting.
I'm waiting for a Mars Attacks review
As long as you don’t acknowledge the sequel, ID4 is great.
Wait.. there was a sequel? Was it Chinese propaganda?
@@Deridus 100%.
I would say that the story of the sequel had potential, but they fell flat in more than a few areas, especially casting.
Saw it in the theater with only 2 other people in attendance. I was still embarrassed.
This is a movie designed for audience's not critics yes it has it's faults buit it still rocks
I long ago outgrew this film by A LOT . . . yet I can’t ever hate it. 11 year old me who saw it? He loved it. Was the first film I got hyped for. I remember recording a feature on it off the telly (yes onto VHS, because I’m old enough to practically be an alien to young people myself now) and watching it over and over.
And I still have vivid memories of the day I saw it with my siblings. How thrilled I was going there, sitting in the cinema watching it, my sister holding my hand during “scary” bits, and my brother’s annoyance at the whole thing.
Most of all? How excited I’d had been having just seen it. About as much as I had been leading up to the event. So yeah, Independence Day ain’t my bag any more. But it did right by me long ago
Hard to imagine now, but this had standing ovations in the cinema aisles. One of the first films I went to see off my own back.
This movie’s been on my mind a lot in recent weeks. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts 👍🏻
5:56 *clears throat* pre-Johnny Bravo Mae Whitman
@ 3:25, I now know where Emmerich got the name for Matthew Broderick's character in his 1998 "Godzilla" movie. I love these behind-the-scenes documentaries and picking up these little easter eggs.
Watched this in the cinema, and I clearly remember the crowd cheering, when Will hit the alien.
They dont cheer now 😂
Still remember as a 90s kid the terrifying lab scene...
"What do you want from us?"
_Diieee_
I have replaced Olive Harper with yourself these days. For me you have great review videos.
Don't forget that Roland Emmerich also directed The Patriot. I personally consider that one to be his best film but Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow are very close 2nds.
Oh and I saw this opening night in agreat theater. The full audience brought down the house at least twice during the end. The energy was something I don't think I remember ever seeing in any other movie
You mentioned that the Pentagon and the DOD was interested in being involved in the production. They were more than interested, they were ready to give those guys the run of the shop, the keys to the kingdom. They just loved the fetishization of the military in this movie, they absolutely loved that part of it. But, you're right, the references to Area 51, at the time, were a non-starter with the higher-ups. So, no go.
How did this not drop on the 4 of July? 😅😂
Fun Fact: The area 51 perimeter guard is Major Charles Kawalsky from Stargate SG1.
I will, on occasion, rewatch ‘Independence Day’ as is still great fun. Oh sure, the plot holes are so big you could pilot an alien mothership through them quite easily, but as I said, this film is great fun. Tongue firmly in cheek, Roland gives us an excellent cast and wry dialogue, enough that this work stands the test of time. Plus, I like any alien invasion film where we, “…whip ET’s ass.” 👽
Several things (other than the visuals) stand out in this movie. I had made a video on it like 10 years ago but it has been taken down long ago. For example, for such an "action" movie, there are surprisingly few gunshots fired. The only time a gun is fired is when the President asks "Is this glass bulletproof?" and his security chief answers "No, sir" and shoots the glass. ALL action fight sequences are actually AIR BATTLES, which is rare, unusual, extremely refreshing both visually and narratively, and more exhilarating than action movie gunfight #55174.
Also the characters are more endearing than generic bearded action movie hero #22147. The actors are excellent in their respective roles, sure, but the characters are also slightly more original than in most other blockbusters. A TV repairman, a fighter pilot and an President of the United States make for an interesting trio.
Also the gigantic alien ships floating loomingly over the cities demonstrate Emmerich's talent for composition and cinematography.
Such a shame that Resurgence could not find a way to be as good as the first film.
R.I.P Robert Loggia he was a great actor!
Also can we take a moment to giggle at the fact that Randy Quaid plays a Loonytoon in the movie only to become on in Real life as welll? :P
Some of the best explosions ever committed to film.
dude this was my jam as a 12 year old...but also we had no idea what we had created by making this film a success...WILL SMITH was never the same.
I ran my VHS of this movie to the ground after watching it several hundreds of times when I was 9 years old! To this day, I still remember about 80% of the dialogue. My number 1 movie of all time!
I'll always remember seeing it in theatres. The lineup was so long it went all the way out to the parking lot.
Speaking of standing up and cheering, this was quite a sensational watch. Stellar job on your part. One of my favorite films for all the reasons you mentioned.
It's truly a shame a lot of modern audiences may not come to truly appreciate the kind of awe you can only get from sitting in a dark theater, watching practical or miniature effects at this scale, all to the backdrop of a sweeping score. Every element was working together best it could, flaws aside.
It would be embarrassing -today- to say I cried in this movie, sad tears and tears of joy, just because of the cynicism most of us have nowadays (including myself lol).
This is the cinema we all deserve. (Well maybe not Hollywood, because clearly they wouldn't know what to do with it in this timeline.)
Thanks for the video!
5:01 R as in ROBERT LOGGIA! O as in OH MY GOD IT’S ROBERT LOGGIA
I remember ten-year old me lying to get in to the cinema for this 12-rated film. Amazing experience on the big screen.
My favorite line: "Welcome to Earth." Will had all the best lines.
Good timing, as I just recently pulled out my remastered BD version and watched it. It held up strikingly well, and the AV quality was fabulous, even on my relatively meager home systems. I think you nailed the summary on this one, Rowan, and hit all the right notes explaining why, exactly, this film is what it is. After this week's UAP hearings in the US House, who knows...we may be watching this again, globally!
Does anyone remember the excitement of going to the theaters in this age? You know, the thrill and sense of mystery and adventure the movies used to give, however "simple minded" they were. Watching this in the summer of the flopbusters makes me feel very nostalgic, even sad for the current state of entertainment. On a more positive note, i'm really enjoying this Retrospective/Review series, makes remember great movies long forgotten and kinda creates a to be rewatched list.
I will always remember seeing the film in theaters... in Houston, TX. About 3 miles from the freeway sign the ATV is parked near when the nuke is detonated. The theater went NUTS when they announced that Houston would the target of the bombing. It was hilarious and kind of jaw dropping to experience as a 10-year-old.
Great video.
As an addendum, one of the more fascinating spin offs of the movie was the radio play Independence Day UK, made for the BBC by Dirk Maggs (he who would also bring the latter Hitchhikers Guide books back to radio in the mid 2000s and also produced a good adaptation of Good Omens). It was basically the plot of the film told from the UK perspective, but in the style of the Orson Welles "The War Of The Worlds" radio mock broadcast, even bringing in radio stars like Nicky Campbell in as major characters to keep the verisimilitude up. The producers of the film endorsed the play and I think it was well received. Worth checking out.
Hey man love ❤️ your videos like always but I was wondering when are you going to do the final series of the expanse???
I loved this film when it came out, and I love it now. It, along with the original Stargate film, will always be amongst my favorites.
the fact you mentioned off the laser disc home video makes me laugh. now that i think about it i'm surprised why i didnt have it. laser disc was awesome
Another influence on this film at least for the opening before it flips into disaster mode, is Arthur C. Clarke's novel Childhood's End. That's where the trope of giant alien ships hovering over Earth's major cities bringing with them a sense of existential dread originated. Many other works have riffed on that concept since then, from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy's Vogon Constructor Fleet to the Visitors' Ships in V the Miniseries, and Independence Day certainly delivers on the premise in its own satisfying way.
I remember seeing this in the cinema, the mid to late 90s was a great time for the summer blockbuster. The iconic visuals have become that, iconic. Is it deep and meaningful? No, its just a bit of fun for some popcorn accompaniment.
Its funny how Emmerich was asking reporters to imagine what it would be like to see great big spaceships hovering over the major cities of the world yet 10 or so years earlier we had that (also iconic) vision in the TV series V. Its what ID4 reminded me of when I first saw it - only grander and on the big screen of course. 😋😋
Although I don't really have any major disagreements with your opinions, your view of this movie was spot-on for me. It's not a deep movie, it doesn't have to be. It's a popcorn blockbuster that you're supposed to switch off and enjoy. I will admit that it has been ages since I've seen this but I watched it to death on VHS and I'd happily sit an watch it now. That characters were enjoyable to follow, they were fun but not in a silly way. Even though I have a soft spot for Adam Baldwin, who was criminally underused in this movie, I love Randy Quaid's performance. Not a failure of a man, just a man who had failed. In saying that he had always been a devoted family man who was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect his family, A subtle but strong performance. On a more controversial note, I have nothing against Goldblum, I enjoy his performances is movies but have never understood people who put him on a pedestal. I'm not saying this as an insult to him, but Goldblum is his own brand, and the characters he plays are quite similar. People want Jeff Golblum in their movies rather than Jeff Goldblum to play a CHARACTER in their movies.
I adore this movie so thank you for not dumping all over it. When the film came out I made sure I saw it on the biggest screen possible, and it was an incredible experience. This is one of two flying saucer movies which struck me with a genuine sense of awe and fear and made a huge impression on me. The other such movie was Flight of the Navigator.
This movie came out when I was 19 going on 20 and I'm not gonna lie, in spite of a couple nitpicks, it was my favorite movie released that summer. And I agree, it is Roland Emmerich's best movie and he's never quite captured that magic in his subsequent disaster movies. And for my money, Bill Pullman's speech at the end is the best St. Crispin's Day Speech since Henry V.
Great review as always
5:57 Mae Whitman was never in Little Miss Sunshine. Abigail Breslin, who I'm sure you're thinking of was born in 96.
I'm so glad I got to see this at the cinema. I've watched it a couple of times on TV and it just illustrated how much it needed a big screen and audience atmosphere.
Your reviews are brilliant.
I think RJC is right on the money with this one. Hugely entertaining. Charming leads. 'Nuff said.
I'm less enamored with Emmerich/Devlin otherwise, although Stargate had merit.
For me the big difference with this marketing. It's the first time I remember a website being a primary part of the marketing, I still remember the music played on the website, can't find anyone who might have archived it though unfortuantley
I loved this movie so much when it came out in the theatres (I was 12 then, lol). I think I saw it 2 or 3 times. Then I watched in a dozen times on home video. Pure entertainment!
Always have great memories about the hype and watching this movie. Me and my friend at the time were trying to avoid spoilers and walked past a motion-detecting alien toy in a store which made a noise, made us both look and see this thing open up to reveal the smaller alien inside.
Also I managed to snag the massive cardboard cinema stand of the ship above the city and it lived in my digs at the time as a student so I woke up every morning to see it.
I remember watching this in theater when it came out so well, such an amazing ride! The perfect blockbuster. Still love it today, it's always a good time.
I have loved that movie since it came out, and not just for nostalgia. It's a genuinely fun movie from top to bottom, and the nostalgia is just the cherry on top.
So I was cautiously optimistic for the sequel in 2016. It's one of the only times I can remember actually considering walking out of a movie. I was bored to tears, I did not give shit one about what was happening on the screen and could not wait for it to be over. The only reason I didn't walk out is because I saw it with family. I think this and maybe 3 Days to Kill are the only times I've thought my money was completely wasted by seeing them in theaters.
I've only watched it once, and then only half hour or so. Couldn't get invested, especially without the Will Smith character
I watched it all the way through, and haven't felt the need to do so again. It's just a rehash of the original, with none of the charm.
Why even bother giving the humans alien technology if it was just going to be rendered useless anyway? It could have been an epic war through the solar system, with humanity being gradually beaten back to Earth where they have to find one last ace to play to turn the tide.
Iconic. The movie and the review. ❤
I completely agree with everything that you have said in this video. Independence Day is unironically one of my most favourite films of all time and I really mean it when I say that it's a summer blockbuster masterpiece in my opinion. It's a film that is pro-heroism, pro-patriotism, pro-masculinity and pro-unity - all things we need right now. Independence Day is a film that makes me feel absolutely good about life. It's a film that is a distant relic of a happier, simpler and better time. I was 8 when it was released in theaters and one of my greatest regrets in my life is not seeing it at my local theater when it came out, but I DID see it shortly after it was released on VHS. Also, I don't consider the film's awful sequel to be canon and I'm pretty sure neither does Emmerich himself. lol
I always love Independence Day no matter what.
I remember seeing the first teaser for this before Twister. It managed to exceed expectations!
On release this was the biggest Event Cinema experience I had outside of Star Wars.
I was 15 when this came out and I went to go see this 4 times in the theater. I just wanted to watch the city destruction scenes over and over. I miss model work. Models just look coller when they explode compared to CGI's more realistic physics.
Agreed. Look at Star Trek VI compared with JJ Abrams' version, the model looks more solid, more real, because it is real. However skilled the CGI, the way the light fall on a model, the tiny barely perceptible imperfections, the interaction with the immediate environment all make a difference.
Chris Reeve in a harness will always look better than a CGI 'perfect' image.
@@Neil070 That's a great way to describe how it feels watching models vs CGI. It looks real because it IS real and CGI sometimes feels like its in a vacuum and lacks the gravity of real life stuff. CGI has come a long way and some of it at its peak is really impressive and maybe I'm getting old but the model work from 20-30 years ago still holds up while early CGI is starting to look a bit iffy. 😁😁 And I think you are right, that its the minor, almost imperceptible imperfections that make the difference.
Watching this as a little kid, not understanding anything. They said, but the action sequences were amazing. Now I watch Independence Day a lot. Because it's one of my favorite movies from the nineties
I remember this film being a big deal when it released. Our local cinema upgraded its sound system to DTS specifically for Independence Day’s theatrical run and boy howdy, did it shake the floor. The CGI would ultimately set me on a path towards a career in computer graphics too… I spent months inserting my own 3D rendered aircraft (back when 3D Studio was still on DOS) into video sequences captured on SVHS tape and digitised.
It's rare that I agree with you on everything, Rowan, but this time I must doff my hat to you! 🎩
ID4 actually started as Stargate 2, but they decided to make it a separate film.
Captain Hiller was originally O'Neil, David was Dr. Jackson etc.
The original sequel premise was what if Ra's people came to earth for revenge.
Awesome indeed. One of my all time favourites!
I first saw this movie on the 4th of July in a packed theater. It was one of the best movies experiences of my life. An absolute blast. The movie is certainly not perfect but it was a rocking good time
For British fans in particular, I'd like to shine a light on the almost entirely forgotten "Independence Day UK" - an hour long audio drama that was broadcast on Radio One as an official tie-in with the film. It was later released on cassette, from which people have since digitised it and uploaded it to youtube.
The first 25 minutes are a 'War of the Worlds' style mock live broadcast, while the remaining 35 minutes take on a more typical radio play style while embracing the more larger than life tone of the film.
It's an interesting listen, particularly if you want to hear Colin Baker in an non-Doctor Who science fiction role, or if you like the idea of Sir Patrick Moore getting into a fist fight with an alien (yes, seriously).
Great film. “4th of July is humanity’s Independence Day”. Love it.
The excellence of this movie is in the music. It's in the category with the original Rocky and a episode of Star Trek the original series, "The Doomsday Machine".
This movie defined my childhood. I loved this movie so much. Idk if I’d be into space and astro physics if it wasn’t for this movie
Another great review. 👽
The first half of the movie is almost perfect. It culminates in the destruction of the White House. From that point onwards, it turns into melodramatic schlock, but it's still entertaining. I loved the movie as a child and I still watch it from time to time. I watched it for the first time back in 96 with my dad, he was a huge sci-fi fan and introduced my to so many great things in that regard. So it also reminds me of him, RIP dad. :/
I couldn't agree more, Independence Day has always been a favorite of mine.
And it's still holds up after many years.
Just good solid entertainment with a good story.
I never had a point where I liked this movie.
As a kid, it wasn't a cartoon, so I hated it.
As a teen, I thought it was too corny.
And as an adult, I find alien invasion stories to be painful in their predictability.
But I will 100% agree with RJC: the visual effects in this movie are outstanding, and I wish studios would put funding back into movies to make these kinds of practical effects the norm again.
Great takes!!
7:00 say what you will about the rest of the movie, this speech by Pullman is one of the most inspiring in film.
My FAVORITE genre is disaster thrillers, & ID4 is my favorite movie in general; I was 17 when it came out!
I saw this in the theater, knowing nothing about it other than it was a movie about aliens. I didn't know whether the aliens were hostile or not, until they blew up the welcome wagon. It was one of the best theater experiences I ever had, and I'm sad that most people didn't get to see it blind.
Only time I ever saw a movie 3 times in theaters. I was 13. Love this movie.
This and jurassic park were my favorite movies as a kid. You should do one jurassic park, the making of that movie and its special effects have to be amazing
It's still an awesome movie. I'll die on that hill.
I loved this damn movie, and still do. Big part of my childhood.
I agree, it is the ultimate popcorn movie. Don't think too much, just lean back. ;)
One major plot hole you didn't mention is the installation of the computer virus on the alien mothership, thus winning the battle. (Lucky the aliens also used Windows XP.) 😂
Glad to see someone else defending ID4. Bob Chipman did a great video on this too. Im right there with you on Resurgence. Its not bad I just think they should have gone another way. Though the good aliens leading a resistance movement is an intriguing idea and one I hope we get to eventually see.