Independence Day (1996) & Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

It’s 20 years later, and the aliens are back and looking to start another fight. I’ve always been a fan of ID4 because it left a lasting impression on me. I enjoyed it immensely when I first saw it as a wee lad. It’s fun, cheesy, and a good summer popcorn flick. I remember being ecstatic when my folks picked it up on VHS from Walmart many years ago when they were selling off all of their VHS tapes. For about a decade or so it sat around collecting dust, that is until I decided to find it, dust it off, and pop it in my newly acquired VCR for a re-watch, because it helps to revisit the first before you see the new one, right?

Independence Day (1996)

It’s the prototypical summer blockbuster/popcorn flick that’s more focused on spectacle than substance, but damn is it entertaining. Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, and Will Smith are all great and charismatic in their respective roles. Will Smith must have had a thing for aliens back in the mid-90’s, because he starred in Men in Black just a year later. Brent Spiner is great in his small role too as the geeky Dr. Okun. Also, who can forget Judd Hirsch and Randy Quaid? The effects were great for the time and have held up mostly well 20 years later (some of the CGI looks a little cheesy, but nothing awful). The aliens themselves look really cool too. As for the story, it’s not particularly great and there are plot holes galore and elements feel contrived, but the fun factor kind of makes you overlook them. There’s a lot of cheesy dialogue too, but damn if Pullman’s empowering speech doesn’t get you excited and pumped. Overall, it’s just a fun alien invasion flick. If you like 50’s sci-fi films, you’ll more than likely enjoy this one. Also, it wouldn’t make for a bad double bill with Tim Burton’s purposely cheesy Mars Attacks!, which was released the same year.

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

The aliens are back for round two, and it’s mostly unimpressive and cheesy as hell (like that cheap spray cheese you buy in the can, not the higher quality stuff). Like with its predecessor, it’s more focused on spectacle, and the story suffers because of it. Also, was there a need for so many characters? There’s nothing wrong with introducing a few new faces, but at least develop them. Jeff Goldblum and Brent Spiner return and give solid performances, as does Bill Pullman. Will Smith’s presence as Captain Stephen Hiller is missed, and Jessie Usher doesn’t quite step up to the plate as his stepson, Dylan Dubrow-Hiller. He lacks the charisma of Smith, but to be fair, matching the charisma of Smith is no easy feat. Maika Monroe is good as Patricia Whitmore, but why/how Mae Whitman didn’t return is a bit of a head scratcher. Also, this film suffers from the “let’s set up future sequels” formula by including some contrived story and plot elements. There’s absolutely no subtly. Are the effects good at least? Yeah, they’re good, but they lack the “wow” factor like the effects in the first one. We as filmgoers have grown accustomed to seeing overblown CGI summer blockbusters, so it’s nothing special anymore. Is it entertaining at least? Of course, but it lacks the charm of its predecessor. If you liked the first one you’ll probably enjoy this one, but don’t expect it to leave a lasting impression, because it won’t.