INDEPENDENCE DAY

(1996)

1/2


Sheri Kristen Goh

Also see 50's `ALIENS VS. EARTH' IDEA REVAMPED by Jack Choo.
Directed by : Roland Emmerich
Written by : Dean Devlin & Roland Emmerich
Cast : Will Smith (Cpt. Steven Hiller), Bill Pullman (President Whitmore) Jeff Goldblum (David), Randy Quaid (Russell), Judd Hirsch (Julius)
Produced by : 20th Century Fox / Centropolis Entertainment
Rating : **** out of *****
Theatres : Are you kidding?

SCI-FI DEJA VU

The moment the aliens first cross the screen in INDEPENDENCE DAY, one inevitably experiences a sensation of deja vu. Where have we seen that Mother Ship before? The defensive crafts that function like out fighter planes? The hideously gooey tentacled alien? The technical wizard with the squint? The top-secret hidden governm ent air base hiding evidence of alien life named Area 51?

No, not CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, STAR WARS, ALIENS, JURASSIC PARK (i.e. Jeff Goldblum), nor "The X-files". Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to INDEPENDENCE DAY, or known to the initiated as ID4, and perhaps the most comprehensive mishmash of sci-fi movies ever created. The plot is simple, scavenger aliens from beyon d the stars visit Earth without any warning, and blow up major cities from Washington to Moscow, intending to paralyse the planet and make off with our natural resources. The aliens are, of course, physically stronger, intellectually superior (they commun icate through ESP instead of talking), surpass us technologically by light-years, nasty little creatures who, "like locusts" steal resources from other planets, destroy them, thus sustaining their population. Mankind, being in a situation which totally redefines the meanin g of the word, collaborate as a unified entity and annihilate the aliens to save the planet from certain death.

ID4, which reportedly cost less than US$80 milion to make, is filled with spectacular visuals which bring one closer to an Apocalypse than one would ever wish to be. On the July 2 initial attack by the aliens, scene after scene of downtown LA, New York, The White House, expl ode across the screen with frightening realism. The directors are not entirely compassionate either, killing off maybe a third of the cast during the course of the movie, including a stripper, a gay broadcast station employee, a combat pilot, the first la dy, a scientist, and a alcoholic crop-duster who saves the Earthling refugees huddled inside Area 51 by dying kamikaze-style. Sniff.

The cast, though immense, and carefully politically correct, fails to escape type-casting and stereotypical characters. Bill Pullman plays a Clinton-inspired President, with a wife much involved in State affairs and a young daughter. Will Smith, though pl aying a combat pilot, seems unable to break away from his Fresh-Prince speech patterns, as his constant references to the "fat lady" singing is reminiscent of his dialogue on Tuesday night telly. Jeff Goldblum, is the same squinty science/technology whiz, this time saving the planet with a computer virus. Harvey Fiersten (the gay brother in MRS DOUBTFIRE) is once again, a gay with hang-ups about his mother. It seems like you've seen all these guys before doing variations of the same thing...

Verdict : watch it if only for the mind-blowing special effects. Also, just in case it reaches a Jurassic-Park type cult status, and you feel left out when people talk about it at parties. Check out these ID4 sites.



THE FLYING INKPOT's rating system:
* Wait for the video.
** A little creaky, but still better than staying at home with Gotcha!
*** Pretty good, bring a friend.
**** Amazing, potent stuff.
***** Perfection. See it twice.

Sheri K Goh is a Crusader of the Planet. Drink from a styrofoam cup and DIE!

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