All That's Wrong With Sci-Fi - But Still Watchable

Rating: 5/10 (28 May 2008)

Full disclosure: I get sucked into this movie whenever it's on screen. It is proof-positive, much like Paris Hilton, that even the most execrable thing can be made to look good if it's got enough money thrown its way. That said, I thank God this type of schlocky, pseudo-scientific "sci-fi" movie seems to have died out. So, what's wrong with it? Here are the highlights (THESE CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS): Lasers cannot be weaponized -- especially into noise-making kinetic type weapons.
There is no need to try and weaponize a laser. A lot more damage comes from good old-fashioned kinetic and chemical weapons (bullets and missiles). A truly advanced race would just rail gun us into oblivion from well above the Earth's atmosphere.
Which brings up this point: why come down to the surface to attack? I mean, really? How much fuel is it worth to get a close up of the White House, when a well-placed (and free) asteroid can do much more damage? Remember, these are beings that can travel between stars. Moving a big rock, even a galactic-sized rock, should be a trivial matter for them.
And, of course, the "comeback." Any race that kicked our collective arses so hard in the initial encounter would not be taken down by the remaining scraps of the world's militaries. Even with their "shields" disabled.
All that said, if you're in front of the TV on a rainy afternoon, and this tripe is on screen, you'll probably get sucked in and you'll like it. Kudos to Emmerich for creating such consumable packaging. If you want a great alien invasion story, read Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle's Footfall. THAT'S a book that is crying for movie treatment. If you want to watch good sci-fi on TV, catch reruns of Firefly, or watch Battlestar Galactica.