We had thought of this Movie as a Juvenile project; BUT, "Upon Further Review.............."

Rating: 10/10 (4 August 2008)

WHEN first viewed, this INDEPENDENCE DAY (Centropolis Entertainment/20th Century-Fox, 1996), seemed to be a spectacularly done action flick; aimed at the Saturday Juvenie crowd, the kids. It was, we concluded, a sort of "popcorn" outing that was custom tailored for the demographics of the Saturday Matinée set. Our conclusion: this
INDEPENDENCE DAY and films like it, we reasoned, were especially made as a sort of modern day replacement for the Cliff-Hanger Serials and the Juvenile "B" Westerns series pictures; starring the likes of Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, "Wild Bill" Elliot and Sunset Carson.
WELL we do confess that this first screening was done at the "office" at Chicago Police Headquarters with all of the interruptions of the "Police Procedural" daily routine. Ringing telephones and notifications were the main business of the day; ergo, our attention was divided and with our inability to make any proper evaluation was hampered greatly. We can hear you crying out in sympathy to our plight with, "Poor Babies!" RECENTLY we watched INDEPENDENCE DAY on Fox Movie Channel with an eye toward being both objective and having a fresh and thorough evaluation; with no preconceived notions from the previous experience obstructing the view. Well hush my flannel mouthed face; but, there seem to be many layers of storyline and metaphor present that here to for had gone mostly unnoticed.
CONTRARY to our (really "my") previous pigeon-holing, the Film really has a lot to offer to all on many levels.
FIRST of all there was no expense spared in preparation and in laying the ground work for the telling of what could have been a simple, straight forward story of conflict into a grand, even epic tale related in highly complex and intelligent terms. The story, the cast, the Special FX, the Cinematography and even the music were all given extra refining before being assembled into the finished product.
LOCATION shooting included many sites in the United States; as well as Kenya, Egypt, London, "Down Under" in Australia and some necessary In Studio This gave the films various scenes a truly World-Wide appearance. The highly complementary use of a highly diverse cast of characters as portrayed by an equally impressive variety of Actors and Actresses* made for a perfect fit with the storyline.
MUCH like so many of the previously produced "Disaster Movies", such as EARTHQUAKE (Film Makers Group/Universal, 1974), THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY (Wayne-Fellows/Warner Brothers, 1954) and THE TOWERING INFERNO (Irwin Allen Productions/Warner Brothers/20th Century-Fox, 1974), the main story of the impending doom is made more interesting and human by having several smaller stories contained within its main framework. These sub-plots are almost usually devoted to personal crises that other wise pale by such comparison to the events of the day. You know what we mean; the quarrels, the divorce, corporate greed vs. individual rights, etc.
AS for these said performances by the various cast members, we believe there was an outstanding collective effort by what has proved to be a sort of supporting "Stock Company." But of course, we do believe in giving some particularly deserving players a little extra praise. Captain Steve Hiller (Will Smith) and his affianced Bride Jasmine Dubrow (Vivica A. Fox) provide an excellent story of a couple trying to make it, in spite of so many difficulties. The President, Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman) plays a very human, albeit a highly skillful Chief Executive; well counter-balanced by his First Lady, Marilyn Whitmore, who is loving and supportive, yet a strong and independent, "Her Own" woman.**
LIKEWISE the on-screen contributions of such film Actors as : Judd Hirsch & Jeff Goldblum as a Father & Son Scientific Genius Duo, Robert Loggia, James Rebhorn and Margaret Colin portraying Presidential Advisors, Harvey Firestein as a Super-Scientist and Randy Quaid's interpretation of the alcoholic old crop-duster & actual victim of Alien Abduction. Singer & Band Leader, Harry Connick, Jr., garners our honorable mention award as the "buddy" and flying partner to Will Smith's main character.
ANALYZING the overall effect of the film, we have to say that all characters who wore overalls in it did so quite well. (We just wanted to see if you were still with us!)
MAKING a judgment about just INDEPENDENCE DAY really is on ALL levels, we have come to find that it is much more than the "Bubble Gum" that we had believed it to be; while watching it in the divided attention mode, back at Police HQ's, so long ago. We now find it to be operating on several levels in addition to the very enjoyable battle scenes; like some advice for our Nation and the Free World.
THE World faced an overwhelming threat in the Movie (Alien Invasion by self avowed exponents of Genocide for the Human Race.) The President is plagued with a plethora of advisors, who all seem to be feeding the Chief Executive with conflicting information. The threat is constantly expanding and at one point, President Whitmore states that we are up against an inhuman and ruthless adversary who will not abide with any "Diplomacy". He makes a statement like, "Hell, we should Nuke 'Em!" IN drawing a parallel to our situation Today, we too face an enemy who wants only our destruction and a President may well have to follow what will be an unpopular foreign policy, at least for now; all in the interest of our People. It's sort of like what Harry Truman said about the loneliest job; "This is where the Buck Passing Stops!"
NOTE: * Yeah Schultz, we know; "Actress" is not deemed to be very Politically Correct by the Correct Speech Fascists.
NOTE ** Yes Oprah, that's spelled "W-O-M-A-N!"
POODLE SCHNITZ!!