"Independence Day: Resurgence"
First of all, thanks for stopping by and checking out my review of the long-awaited sequel to ID4. As far as I'm concerned - this is the first big summer movie of 2016.
We've waited twenty years for this movie, and it was (for the most part) worth the wait. Overall, I enjoyed the picture. I do have some problems with it, and I'll be sharing those in this review. Don't worry - no major spoilers here. I won't give away anything you didn't already know from the previews or other media attention.
So, what do we know? It's twenty years later since mankind faced the brink of extinction from alien invaders, only to be saved by a great speech from President Whitmore (Bill Pullman), an awesome plan concocted by David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), and an act of ultimate sacrifice from the unlikely hero Russell Casse (Randy Quaid). It was 4th of July weekend 1996 and damnit - it was good to be 'Merican !
Now - the world has united as one species and as thus has advanced and rebuilt. Director Levinson (never really told what exactly he's the Director of, but he's large and in charge) has spent the last twenty years studying the alien technology and progressing human technology leaps and bounds - particularly in the weapons and planetary defense department. His life's mission has become ensuring the world that if another unfriendly space visitor came knocking - we now had the tools to defend and prevent another near-extinction event. He has even built a base on the moon and a large cannon that mimmicks the primary weapon of the first alien invaders. Honestly, every time I saw the big laser I couldn't help but think of Dr. Evil and want to name the weapon, "the Alan Parsons Project".
Of course this new film must have new, pretty young people to look at. This brings me to one of my issues with the new film. They are just that - pretty young people to look at. Thor's little brother, Liam Hemsworth, is the only one in the bunch to show any promise of developing as a promising actor. Remember little Dylan - Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) stepson? He was so cute, with his hat on sideways and hanging onto his big yellow lab. Do you remember the daughter of the President and First Lady - the "Munchkin" ? Well, they are all grown up now and portrayed by very attractive young people - none of which will be working in Hollywood in the next five years. Well, that's not entirely true, they might be at an all-night gas-n-go or a cocktail lounge waitress within the zip code boundaries of Hollywood CA. Their "acting" careers will be a distant memory.
Every film creates devices to keep the audience keen to the time and location of what you are watching. Sometimes this device can even help build the suspense. Thus was the case with the original ID4. You will remember from the beginning of the film, Levinson finding the signal hidden in our own satellite feeds that was causing all the broadcast troubles. The signal was a countdown timer for the aliens to move into place and coordinate their massive attack on the planet. We know this is happening on JULY 2 as those large letters loom across the screen. After the countdown reaches zero and the initial attack is over, the dust begins to settle, a new day begins - JULY 3. Of course, this culminates on JULY 4 in the film's big finale where, as President Whitmore proclaims, "we will not go down without a fight ... we're going to live on ... today is our Independence Day !" and by God - the world unites and kicks their green lizard butts !
The date across the screen was a great device. It moved the movie (and audience) closer to the finish line. It gave us a good idea where we were in this movement. It built the suspense to the coming big finale we all knew was going to happen. They did not use this device in the sequel and its absence was felt. There is no sense of time elapsed in the events unfolding on the screen, and thus no sense of urgency for the deadlines the heroes have to save the world. Is all this happening over three days or three weeks ? Who knows, they're not telling us.
Here's another thing ... a few months ago a friend and I were looking over upcoming movies and this film came up. My friend asked, "when does it come out?" I laughed and replied, "hello, Independence Day?!" My friend got the last laugh as the sequel did not follow its predecessor and open on the obvious Independence Day weekend. Why? Why would you not open ID4-2 any other time than Independence Day ??? Are you afraid that Tarzan's opening is going to steal your thunder ??? News flash ---- you lost your thunder to a cartoon, as most people this weekend went "Finding Dory" ... 73 MILLION of them.
Do you remember at the beginning of this post I recalled the names and major plot points of several of the first film's primary cast? We remember these characters because of good writing and character development. The writing created time and situations for us to become emotionally involved with these characters so that now, even 20 years later, who can forget Julius and David Levinson? Area 51's top scientist, Dr. Okun ? The Crazy, former alien abductee now turned bottle-sniffing crop duster, Russell Casse?
There are new, fresh faces in this film. Due to a lack of the same good writing from the the first film and hiring fresh faces, NOT good actors. The first film was carefully scribed by the film's director, Roland Emmerich, and the talented writer, Dean Devlin. They are back for this film as well. You can definitely feel their presence in the script. Unfortunately, they are not alone. There is a team of new writers attached to the project, and it is obvious where there "contributions" come in. This is the film's major problem. The writing does not create the emotional attachment to these new characters that we need for this film to really hit the suspense level it needs to. For example, Liam Hemsworth plays "Jake". Jake is a pilot. Jake and the (now all growed up) Munchkin are in love. That's it - there is your character "Jake".
Bottom line - as for the writing - there are too many cooks in the kitchen. Too many "great ideas" competing with each other to the point that the original great idea gets lost in a sea of revisions.
We've waited twenty years for this movie, and it was (for the most part) worth the wait. Overall, I enjoyed the picture. I do have some problems with it, and I'll be sharing those in this review. Don't worry - no major spoilers here. I won't give away anything you didn't already know from the previews or other media attention.
So, what do we know? It's twenty years later since mankind faced the brink of extinction from alien invaders, only to be saved by a great speech from President Whitmore (Bill Pullman), an awesome plan concocted by David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), and an act of ultimate sacrifice from the unlikely hero Russell Casse (Randy Quaid). It was 4th of July weekend 1996 and damnit - it was good to be 'Merican !
Now - the world has united as one species and as thus has advanced and rebuilt. Director Levinson (never really told what exactly he's the Director of, but he's large and in charge) has spent the last twenty years studying the alien technology and progressing human technology leaps and bounds - particularly in the weapons and planetary defense department. His life's mission has become ensuring the world that if another unfriendly space visitor came knocking - we now had the tools to defend and prevent another near-extinction event. He has even built a base on the moon and a large cannon that mimmicks the primary weapon of the first alien invaders. Honestly, every time I saw the big laser I couldn't help but think of Dr. Evil and want to name the weapon, "the Alan Parsons Project".
Of course this new film must have new, pretty young people to look at. This brings me to one of my issues with the new film. They are just that - pretty young people to look at. Thor's little brother, Liam Hemsworth, is the only one in the bunch to show any promise of developing as a promising actor. Remember little Dylan - Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) stepson? He was so cute, with his hat on sideways and hanging onto his big yellow lab. Do you remember the daughter of the President and First Lady - the "Munchkin" ? Well, they are all grown up now and portrayed by very attractive young people - none of which will be working in Hollywood in the next five years. Well, that's not entirely true, they might be at an all-night gas-n-go or a cocktail lounge waitress within the zip code boundaries of Hollywood CA. Their "acting" careers will be a distant memory.
Every film creates devices to keep the audience keen to the time and location of what you are watching. Sometimes this device can even help build the suspense. Thus was the case with the original ID4. You will remember from the beginning of the film, Levinson finding the signal hidden in our own satellite feeds that was causing all the broadcast troubles. The signal was a countdown timer for the aliens to move into place and coordinate their massive attack on the planet. We know this is happening on JULY 2 as those large letters loom across the screen. After the countdown reaches zero and the initial attack is over, the dust begins to settle, a new day begins - JULY 3. Of course, this culminates on JULY 4 in the film's big finale where, as President Whitmore proclaims, "we will not go down without a fight ... we're going to live on ... today is our Independence Day !" and by God - the world unites and kicks their green lizard butts !
The date across the screen was a great device. It moved the movie (and audience) closer to the finish line. It gave us a good idea where we were in this movement. It built the suspense to the coming big finale we all knew was going to happen. They did not use this device in the sequel and its absence was felt. There is no sense of time elapsed in the events unfolding on the screen, and thus no sense of urgency for the deadlines the heroes have to save the world. Is all this happening over three days or three weeks ? Who knows, they're not telling us.
Here's another thing ... a few months ago a friend and I were looking over upcoming movies and this film came up. My friend asked, "when does it come out?" I laughed and replied, "hello, Independence Day?!" My friend got the last laugh as the sequel did not follow its predecessor and open on the obvious Independence Day weekend. Why? Why would you not open ID4-2 any other time than Independence Day ??? Are you afraid that Tarzan's opening is going to steal your thunder ??? News flash ---- you lost your thunder to a cartoon, as most people this weekend went "Finding Dory" ... 73 MILLION of them.
Do you remember at the beginning of this post I recalled the names and major plot points of several of the first film's primary cast? We remember these characters because of good writing and character development. The writing created time and situations for us to become emotionally involved with these characters so that now, even 20 years later, who can forget Julius and David Levinson? Area 51's top scientist, Dr. Okun ? The Crazy, former alien abductee now turned bottle-sniffing crop duster, Russell Casse?
There are new, fresh faces in this film. Due to a lack of the same good writing from the the first film and hiring fresh faces, NOT good actors. The first film was carefully scribed by the film's director, Roland Emmerich, and the talented writer, Dean Devlin. They are back for this film as well. You can definitely feel their presence in the script. Unfortunately, they are not alone. There is a team of new writers attached to the project, and it is obvious where there "contributions" come in. This is the film's major problem. The writing does not create the emotional attachment to these new characters that we need for this film to really hit the suspense level it needs to. For example, Liam Hemsworth plays "Jake". Jake is a pilot. Jake and the (now all growed up) Munchkin are in love. That's it - there is your character "Jake".
Bottom line - as for the writing - there are too many cooks in the kitchen. Too many "great ideas" competing with each other to the point that the original great idea gets lost in a sea of revisions.
Conclusion
The original, the classic, 1996 "Independence Day" remains one of Hollywood's greatest achievements. It raised the bar on the disaster movie genre, and is a hard act to follow. The simple fact that it took twenty years for Roland Emmerich to find an idea that he thought was a worthy successor to his original film speaks volumes.
This film has its flaws. However, it is a worthy sequel to the original classic. It is a lot of fun. All of the original characters are back (except one) and they are all just as entertaining, if not more so than the original - so that balances out the flat, lifeless pretty faces. As for Will Smith not being included in this film --- he is not missed at all.
It is a shame that the opening box office for the film has been less than impressive, but that is going to happen to any film that opens up against a kid friendly family cartoon film from Pixar/Disney. It should not be a reflection on ID4-2. Sadly, it will.
Go see ID4-2 on the big screen while you can ! It is definitely worth it !
This film has its flaws. However, it is a worthy sequel to the original classic. It is a lot of fun. All of the original characters are back (except one) and they are all just as entertaining, if not more so than the original - so that balances out the flat, lifeless pretty faces. As for Will Smith not being included in this film --- he is not missed at all.
It is a shame that the opening box office for the film has been less than impressive, but that is going to happen to any film that opens up against a kid friendly family cartoon film from Pixar/Disney. It should not be a reflection on ID4-2. Sadly, it will.
Go see ID4-2 on the big screen while you can ! It is definitely worth it !
Bottom Line:
---- "INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE" ----
3 OF 5 STARS
Thanks again for stopping by and checking out the review. I'm going to try and get back to doing this and more stuff like it on a regular basis again. If anyone has an idea - let me know.
John M. Dunlap
John M. Dunlap
"The Hollywood Outsiders"
