A movie where the trailers turned out to be better than the feature.

Rating: 4/10 (23 September 2006)

I saw Independence Day twice in the cinema during the summer of 1996. The first time, i thought it was action packed, with stunning special effects with fantastic set pieces like New York and Washington D.C. being blown to pieces by the invading aliens. Then i had to see it again. This time i went with some friends.
When i walked out after the second showing i realised that the film was disaster rubbish with sit com comedy dominating the entire feature. The proof is in the daft stereotypes. Jeff Goldblum takes the film seriously for about five minutes (during the arrival of the massive ships over the New York skyline) after that as far as Goldblum's concerned its Laurel and Hardy time with Will Smith's fighter pilot when they team up at the end to take on the mother ship. Then there is Will Smith. The director must have just said to smith 'Just be yourself' meaning Fresh Prince of Bel air in a military uniform. Smith is much better in Men In Black (a real comedy) and the excellent i, robot so it is a shame he just made his character into a complete parody of the Hero.
Special mention must go to Randy Quaid for playing one of the most annoying characters in movie history. Rand's character is to this film what Jar Jar Binks was to the later Star Wars prequel The Phantom Menace.
The potential to make a great invasion thriller with measured humour and stunning thrills and chills is lost amid silly comic capers and daft one liners between insipid characters. ID4 made a lot of money but for me (and my friends) it was one of the biggest letdowns of 1996.