Good for the genre

Rating: 7/10 (30 August 2011)

Nowadays, the genre of sci-fi blockbusters is an element of cinema which is best avoided. It is a far cry from Star Wars or Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In 1996, the big hit was Independence Day.
Earth is invaded by aliens, who destroy major city after major city. The special effects are terrific at times, particularly the attacks on iconic landmarks such as the White House and the Empire State Building. The actors have fun in their roles, especially Jeff Goldblum and Will Smith as the satellite genius and amazingly talented pilot respectively.
Roland Emmerich's film, although great fun, contains several unbearably cheesy moments. One which springs to mind is the President's call for the world to declare July 4 as their independence day. Many of the battle sequences, although visually great, seem unrealistic. The dialogue is also poor for the most part.
Watching it now, many of the film's elements seem stereotypical, although it is difficult to tell if this is because of the several similar films since, trying to replicate the success of Independence Day. It is a prime example of the thrilling action films we have become accustomed to. Despite this, Independence Day offers more substance than its counterparts, and is at the forefront of the sci-fi blockbluster.