| I remember seeing this movie for the first time in | | | | "While You Were Sleeping", rises to the occasion |
| a theater not too long after opening day. I was all | | | | as a president who leads not only the United |
| by myself, and nearly twenty five minutes before | | | | States, but the entire world in a battle to end all |
| show time, the large theater was already a | | | | battles -- a war of the worlds even H.G. Wells |
| quarter full -- a heartier matinee audience than | | | | would admire. Pullman brings something to the role |
| any movie had a right to expect. The air vibrated | | | | of the President of the United States that is |
| with sound -- the thrum of a multitude of | | | | often lacking in movies of this nature -- dignity |
| conflicting conversations, the rise and fall of | | | | and humanity. He is a husband and father as well |
| laughter, and the crunch of popcorn being | | | | as the president, and he balances the dual aspects |
| devoured long before the movie even began. | | | | of his character's nature with charm.Will Smith, |
| Although a large portion of the audience consisted | | | | whose claim to fame before "Independence Day" |
| of teenage boys, the cross-generational slice that | | | | was as a comedic actor, was a surprisingly |
| turned out to see "Independence Day" was | | | | successful choice for one of the male leads, that |
| surprising. Senior citizens sat side by side with | | | | of a gifted fighter pilot with aspirations to become |
| seven year olds. I was impressed long before the | | | | an astronaut. As Marine Captain Steve Hiller, Will |
| opening credits rolled.I've seen the movie on video | | | | Smith brings an easy humor to the role, providing |
| many times since, and love it still. It is a science | | | | an oft-needed oasis of comic relief in a desert of |
| fiction thriller of epic proportions, at once both | | | | high suspense. With some of the most disarming |
| entertaining and awe-inspiring -- that rarity of a | | | | lines in the film, Smith's delivery does not |
| movie where the audience holds its collective | | | | disappoint.A less surprising casting choice, Jeff |
| breath until the closing credits role and the lights | | | | Goldblum, who is known for his quirky film roles |
| come back up. It is the story of an earth that is | | | | such as the chaos mathematician in "Jurassic |
| struggling valiantly to survive against all odds. | | | | Park", is not to be overlooked. He portrays David, |
| From the initial appearance of the extraterrestrial | | | | the super-bright, environmentally conscious cable |
| visitors in a fiery, turbulent sky, the cards are | | | | technician who first discovers an alien signal |
| stacked against humankind's survival, and by the | | | | embedded in the earth's failed satellites, and |
| time the visitors' intentions are made clear, all | | | | subsequently becomes a major player in the fight |
| seems hopeless. That is the mark of a good | | | | to save humankind. As another |
| thriller -- pitting your heroes and heroines against | | | | less-than-conventional male lead, Goldblum gives |
| seemingly insurmountable odds, and keeping the | | | | the performance that audiences have come to |
| suspense at a feverish pitch until either good or | | | | expect from him, playing a character that is at |
| evil triumphs. After all, these days not all stories | | | | once endearing and multifaceted.But without a |
| have happy endings.In this way, "ID4" hearkens | | | | doubt, one of the shining stars of "Independence |
| back to a sub-genre of science fiction several | | | | Day" is Randy Quaid as Russell, a decorated |
| decades old and represented by such classic films | | | | Vietnam veteran turned drunken crop duster. |
| as "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "Earth | | | | Russell is a character that inspires more curiosity |
| Versus the Flying Saucers", all with the main | | | | than sympathy, and a whole lot of expectation. |
| theme of Us against Them. It is a sub-genre | | | | While Russell's claims of alien abduction years |
| worthy of a renaissance in an age of magical | | | | earlier may serve to discredit him, watchful |
| special effects and in a time where there is more | | | | viewers see right from the start that Russell's |
| of a reason than ever to ask the eons-old | | | | brightest moment may be yet to come.Rounding |
| dramatic question -- Can humankind unite against | | | | out the cast are Margaret Colin as Constance, |
| a common enemy."Independence Day" is a | | | | David's ex-wife and trusted White House aide, |
| groundbreaking effort in the use of models, | | | | Robert Loggia as General Gray, Vivica Fox as |
| stunts, and computer generated imagery. The | | | | Steve Hiller's girlfriend, Jasmine, and Brent Spiner |
| film's pyrotechnics are without equal. Produced by | | | | as the eccentric Area 51 scientist, Dr. Okun. One |
| Dean Devlin and directed by Roland Emmerich, the | | | | of the films major successes in characterization, |
| scenes of nationwide devastation, of major cities | | | | however, is the relationship between David and his |
| flattened by massive, atomic-scale fireballs, | | | | father, Julius, who is played with great gusto by |
| vehicles spiraling like missiles through the air, | | | | an old favorite, Judd Hirsch. The chemistry |
| people fleeing urban streets in terror, are a | | | | between the two actors is irresistible and |
| pyromaniac's dream-come-true. But as spectacular | | | | refreshing. It is the subtleties in these relationships |
| as some of its stunts are, "Independence Day" | | | | that propel "ID4" forward and keep the audience |
| does not hide an inferior plot behind its special | | | | breathless, wondering what fate awaits these |
| effects -- nor do the special effects eclipse the | | | | characters. It is characterization that in the end |
| strength or drawing power of the lead | | | | usually makes or breaks a film, and |
| characters."ID4" brings to screen a cast of likeable | | | | "Independence Day" has characters that bring the |
| characters, and not since "The Terminator" have | | | | story home.Another crop of summer movies |
| characters displayed more out and out gumption | | | | waits just around the bend this year, including |
| in the face of great adversity. From bit parts | | | | several promising science fiction flicks, I'm sure, |
| through to the movie's leads, "Independence Day" | | | | but even the best of them will have trouble living |
| includes a cast of well-known actors. Casting | | | | up to the breadth and scope of "ID4". After all, |
| choices for the major leads run to the peculiar, | | | | eager science fiction lovers everywhere got |
| with Bill Pullman as the unlikely choice for the | | | | plenty of fireworks this "Independence Day".Lisa is |
| young, controversial President Whitmore. Pullman, | | | | an author on which is a site for Creative Writing. |
| well-known for his role in the romantic comedy | | | | |