America saves the world AGAIN, but at least people suffer first

Rating: 7/10 (4 August 2005)

SPOILERS The biggest, and most annoying thing about Hollywood is the way that so many of it's films feature humanity saved by America. Self obsessed, and often stereotypical, these films can range from entertaining disaster movies to mindless drivel. Luckily for 1996's 'Independence Day' it is closer to the first classification. Explosive and action packed, it is also entertaining at points and well worth someone's evening.
After alien ships appear in the sky, humanity is divided in their opinions. When scientist David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) discovers a timer counting down to an event however, he fears the worse and rushes to the White House. Showing his ex wife (Margaret Colin) and her boss President Whitmore (Bill Pullman) his evidence, Levinson shows them the truth of an impending attack. Unfortunately for humanity though, the aliens are already prepared.
Violent and explosive, 'Independence Day' will always be remembered for the moment the White House is blown up. Impressive effects for the time, that scene is just one of many occasions throughout the film when graphics take over from the human element. For this sort of film, this can only be a good thing. Whilst actors like Goldblum, Pullman and personal favourite Judd Hirsch, all pull their weight during the film, people don't watch for them, they watch for the special effects and the occasional Will Smith quip (of which there are many).
People also watch to see humanity come out on top. It's a strange state of affairs that irrelevant of what fate befalls the world, humanity, and especially America, always manages to survive and thrive. We loose some characters along the way, but for the most part we prove to the universe that we are here to stay. Pessimists amongst us dream of the day when a decent disaster movie exists where humanity doesn't actually thrive (weak films like 'Deep Impact' don't really live up to expectation) and we are on the verge of annihilation. A depressing thought yes, but all too often in these films, there is no way humanity would, or should, survive the situation in hand. Still, that's the Hollywood fantasy for you.
If you love watching monuments get blown up from around the world, then you are never going to run short of options. Over the years practically every single monument has been destroyed. Few films manage this with such panache however as 'Independence Day'. Well acted, but who really cares, and constantly entertaining, it is a violent, explosive movie with some stunning special effects. It is a film well worth watching, although just for once, it'd be nice to see humanity loose.