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