A pure summer blockbuster

Rating: 7/10 (7 April 2007)

Big, dumb fun. Everything up to the attack is nearly perfect, save for some rather inane subplots. The suspense and gradual horror is terrific. Some of it is kinda silly, but it doesn't ruin the film. Unfortunately, almost everything after the attack is even sillier, and really ruins the film. The inane subplots from the first half are widened to become the bulk of the film in the second half, and logic and reason are more and more done away with. By the end, it's become hopelessly jingoistic and patriotic, and far too cheesy. The cast is pretty good, with some great chemistry between Smith and Goldblum, and the special effects are still stunning today, which make up for the failings of the plot. A pure summer blockbuster.