INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE
By: John ‘Doc’ Strange
In 1996, the world faced an invasion by aliens. For the first time in the history of this planet we fought back in a united front. The fight for the planet was filled with larger than life people giving their all. We had great talents breathing life into roles that were career defining. President Whitmore’s (Bill Pullman) speech before the final attack on the alien ships was one of the best speeches I have ever listened to, in a film or in real life. The politicians of this country would do well if they could hire the film’s screenwriters to write their speeches.
Jump forward 20 years. President Whitmore’s daughter, Patricia (Maika Monroe), is working in the White House for President Lanford (Sela Ward). The changes in the world due to the merge of human and alien technology are eye-opening and amazing. The advances in transportation and weapons technology appear to be in the forefront of the minds of the world. That is not surprising when one realizes that the world has existed under the shadow of the threat of a new invasion.
Patricia’s childhood friend, Captain Dylan Hiller (Jessie T. Usher), son of Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) and Jasmine Dubrow (Vivica A. Fox) is now the squadron leader of advanced aerospace craft that will be based at the military base on the moon. That base is but one of the installations overseen by Director David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) of the Earth Space Defense (ESD).
Director Levinson’s job has been to get the Earth ready for the next wave we know will be coming. When something finally happens, President Lanford’s confirmation to open fire is firm and in control. The ESD personnel are confident they can defeat whatever comes at them until the real enemy ship arrives. It is so large that after destroying the moon base, it settles over the ENTIRE northern half of the Atlantic Ocean.
The damage the ship does to the planet is horrendous. Like the first time, people are lost in huge numbers as the two sides square off against each other. Like the first time, we don’t stand a chance of winning. But we don’t have a choice. We win or we die as a race.
This film has the same feel and look of its predecessor. The science is strong and the CGI is amazing. Many of the characters we loved in the first film are here, reprised by the same people who did such a great job the first time. Bill Pullman as President Whitmore gives us another excellent motivational speech. It doesn’t beat the 4th of July speech but still a very good one!
The story is a logical continuation of the one presented in 1996’s Independence Day. I loved the twists that the screenwriters have slipped into the story. The one-liners abound as the cast slips and slides their way to victory. I watched Independence Day: Resurgence as a double feature with Independence Day. The two films combined with an intermission were nearly five hours long. I can honestly say I had a most excellent time.
Based on the way this film ended (and the fact that Independence Day3 is in “announced” status on Roland Emmerich’s IMDb page) I am looking forward to the next edition of this story. After watching this one, I can’t wait!
Directed by: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Liam Hemsworth, Vivica A. Fox, Maika Monroe, William Fichtner, Jessie T. Usher, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Judd Hirsch, Brent Spiner, Sela Ward, Angelababy, Ryan Cartwright, Mckenna Grace
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of sci – fi action and destruction, and for some language)
Selig Rating: Full Price
Runtime: 120 Min.
The Selig Rating Scale:
FULL PRICE – Excellent movie, well worth the price
MATINEE – Good movie
DOLLAR – OK movie
CABLE – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
FREEBIE – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn't paid for it.
COMMERCIAL TV – Commercials and cutting to the allotted time will not hurt this one.
FORGET IT! – Bad. If you see this one, do yourself a favor and keep it to yourself.
GET YOUR TORCHES – BAD! – Burn the script, the writer, the director and maybe even the actors!
