Heckuva good movie!

Rating: 8/10 (30 November 2013)

I'll tell you how I know that this is a REALLY good movie. First, I very rarely enjoy science fiction films; less than a handful in my entire life...and I'm 64 years old. Second, I very rarely enjoy military movies. Third, I rarely enjoy disaster films. And those genres are what this movie is. And I love it! The cast does a terrific job here. I was never much of a fan of Jeff Goldblum, but here as an MIT-educated computer expert, he's really good. In fact, there's only a handful of films I've really enjoyed him in, this being the principal one. This film, and "Six Degrees Of Separation" were the two movies that led me to realize that Will Smith was a lot more than just a sitcom actor and a rapper. I've enjoyed him ever since. He is wonderful here as a Marine pilot. Bill Pullman is no favorite of mine, but he does well here as the President and former war fighter pilot. I always enjoy seeing Robert Loggia, and no less so here as a general and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Randy Quaid is good as comic relief, but his role here is just a little deeper, and he handles it well...though the role as an alcoholic crop duster and veteran Vietnam War pilot who claims to have been an alien abductee is illogical. James Duval, as Quaid's son, does well here. To bad he's just a little too weird to be more Hollywood mainstream; he showed potential. Judd Hirsch...well, too stereotypical as an old Jew in this film for me to enjoy his performance. Mary McDonnell is low key as the First Lady. Vivica A. Fox...this was probably the first time I ever noticed her, though it took quite a few years before I became fully aware of her.
The special effects here are quite stunning.
The story? Well, as with all science fiction, there's a lot to swallow here. The biggest of which being that during a war for survival the American president would actually get involved in the battle by flying a jet...even if he had been a former military pilot. But, don't over-think the film. Just enjoy it. It's fun and exciting.