An icon of the decline of Western Civilization

Rating: Null/10 (4 July 2002)

In 1996, I decided not to see Independence Day, because I was afraid it would be a long, overblown cliche with predictable subplots, emotionless performances, and special effects that would never let me forget I was watching computer animation. This year, I decided to go ahead and rent it, along with Men In Black (another movie featuring Will Smith and extra-terrestrials). What I found out was that Independence Day is a long, overblown cliche with predictable subplots, emotionless performances, and special effects that would never let me forget I was watching computer animation. The best part of the movie, for me, was the allusions to other, better movies ("Looks like I picked a rotten day to quit drinking" made me wish I had rented Airplane!). On the other hand, even they were a reminder that there was not a single original moment in this picture. The bad guys look like "Alien" meets "E.T." With the exception of Pullman as the president, every other cast member looks like he or she was pulled out of another movie.
It's a terrible, terrible shame that this is the kind of movie Hollywood wants to make anymore. Rather than try new movies on new subjects with new ideas, the majors are interested only in hitting the lowest common denominator of its audience. If you are interested in seeing Will Smith "whip ET's ass", watch the original (and I mean that in every sense of the word) Men In Black.