The Last 'Fourth of July'

Rating: 10/10 (21 November 2005)

What an excellent, different approach to the science fiction/apocalyptic thriller genre!
Spectacular special effects highlight this interesting film (the first from director Roland Emmerich) about aliens who want to take over Earth by killing its human inhabitants -- which include Bill Pullman (the U.S. President), Mary McDonnell (the First Lady), Will Smith (a fighter pilot), Jeff Goldblum (a cable man who has a lot of smarts), and Judd Hirsch (his father).
The movie is not only exciting and scary, but also touching and funny (Hirsch, Smith, and Randy Quaid provide the most effective sources of comedy relief). Tingles going up your spine cannot be helped when the aliens attack the major cities (i.e. New York, Los Angeles), and the overall warm, feel-good feeling cannot be helped when Pullman gives his climactic speech to some of the surviving Americans.
A real good time!