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Independence Day
Roland Emmerich
(1996)
138min
12 Certificate
Wednesday 9pm - 11:50pm
Film4
See Repeats
Sun 25 Apr,
3:30pm - 6:15pm
Film4
HD
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Review
Our Score
by
John Ferguson
No film had presented the destruction of the Earth on such an epic scale before this preposterously successful smash-hit sci-fi adventure came along. Of course, when we say Earth we really mean the USA - the rest of the world barely gets a look in. The story is simple: gigantic alien spacecraft take up positions above major cities and then set about destroying everything below. Those plucky Yanks, however, won't go down without a fight. There are subplots focusing on the fate of ordinary folk, but most of the effort goes on the mind-boggling set pieces. Such scenes of digital mayhem are now commonplace, but this provided the template, and the levelling of Washington here is still impressive. Will Smith's charismatic performance as a wisecracking fighter pilot helped make him one of the biggest box-office draws in the western world, while Jeff Goldblum delivers a variation on his boffin role in
Jurassic Park
. Bill Pullman, meanwhile, manfully keeps a straight face as the beleaguered American President. Of the females, Vivica A Fox fares the best, although the likes of Mary McDonnell and Margaret Colin are largely wasted in supporting roles. But this is, after all, a special effects, not an acting, showcase, and a very entertaining one at that.
Summary
A fleet of huge flying saucers launches a devastating and unprovoked attack on Earth. As survivors try to flee the seemingly unstoppable alien invaders, the courageous US president, an ace pilot and a computer genius come up with a plan to take the fight to the enemy and save the human race. Roland Emmerich's sci-fi adventure, starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Randy Quaid, Robert Loggia and Harry Connick Jr.
Cast & Crew
Captain Steve Hiller
Will Smith
President Thomas J Whitmore
Bill Pullman
David Levinson
Jeff Goldblum
Marilyn Whitmore
Mary McDonnell
Julius Levinson
Judd Hirsch
General William Grey
Robert Loggia
Russell Casse
Randy Quaid
Constance Spano
Margaret Colin
Albert Nimziki
James Rebhorn
Marty Gilbert
Harvey Fierstein
Major Mitchell
Adam Baldwin
Dr Brakish Okun
Brent Spiner
Miguel
James Duval
Jasmine Dubrow
Vivica A Fox
Captain Jimmy Wilder
Harry Connick Jr
Director
Roland Emmerich
see more
Other Information
Language:
English
Colour
Guidance:
Edited for violence and language.
Available on:
video, DVD and Blu-ray
Drama
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