The Return of the Blockbuster!

Rating: 9/10 (31 May 2013)

Independence Day is clearly aimed at a US market- the patriotic chest-thumping practically never lets up, and it's easy to criticise the film for it. However, it is also surprisingly well-thought out in terms of story, has some very good performances, tremendous action, and is a lot of fun.
It's a big film- long, crammed with large sets, huge set-pieces, and a build-up that, whilst actually quite long (the explosions don't start till about an hour in) is very well done and sets the film up nicely for its second act.
The city-destruction sequence manages to look both horrific yet dazzling at the same time, the fighter attacks are well done, and you can't help but be swept away in it all. Few films have managed to convey the same sense of scale as this.