I Watch Films: Independence Day: Resurgence

Independence Day was big back in 1996. It was exciting, cool, apocalyptic, had a lot of spectacle. Unfortunately that was most of what it had and other films have taken those ideas and run with them. It’s not aged well is what I’m saying.

This is sad because what would have been a perfectly good sequel if it came out a couple of years after now looks a bit rubbish. Every attempt to go bigger than the original kind of falls flat; a ship 3000 miles wide landing in the Atlantic just looks odd. It’s a geographical landmark, not a threat.

A fair number of the original cast are back (not Will Smith though) and a bunch of new generation kids are introduced to fill out the ensemble. And perhaps the cast is too big because no one gets to do more than establish their character and maybe a relationship with another character, do something funny, and then fight aliens. Maybe too many comic reliefs as well? The two scientists and the auditor paired with the African warlord and Jeff Goldblum’s dad and the kids. They all have funny scenes but do we need so many?

Anyway, it’s been twenty years since the aliens came and they’re back. Despite the addition of vast amounts of alien technology to the repertoire, it turns out humanity isn’t ready. Cue explosions, mass destruction, and desperate last stands.

A bit of fun, nothing to write home about.

Watch This: For enormous explosions, the odd amusing scene, and some aliens getting shot.
Don’t Watch This: For actual characters with actual relationships.