Independence Day: Resurgence
Director: Roland Emmerich
Stars: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman
Duration: 120 mins
Class: 12A
KRS Film Releasing Ltd

1996’s Independence Day was certainly an event film, epitomising as it did the resurgence of popularity in sci-fi/disaster films that occurred in the 1990s. Its breathtaking special effects, astonishing scenes of mass destruction, and a strong ensemble cast came together to create the highest-grossing film of the year, and a template that would be oft-imitated in the years following – to the point that ‘famous world landmarks being destroyed’ has become monotonously frequent in films of this ilk.

Twenty years later, the sequel arrives, the original film’s director Roland Emmerich stating that “enough time has passed that it all felt fresh to me”, while prompting him with the advances visual effects have made in the interim… advances he has exploited to the full.

And so, as the film opens, we are given substantial back story that in the 20 years since that first devastating attack, mankind has rebuild the world and lived together in unprecedented peace and harmony.

Nevertheless, governments across the world had no doubt that the aliens would return, and using recovered alien technology, have built a mammoth defence system to protect the world – yet even this may not be enough when the aliens decide to strike back.

“It’s definitely bigger than the last one,” says David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) as the impending new apocalypse is heralded by an approaching gargantuan space craft. That can be said of the film as a whole, starting from its considerable ensemble.

The cast includes several returning members from the original film, including Goldblum’s Levinson, once more charged with saving the world, former US President Thomas J. Whitmore, (Bill Pullman) still haunted by the events two decades ago and now having painful visions about the aliens’ return, Brent Spiner’s wildly eccentric Dr Brackish Okun, Judd Hirsch’s Julius Levinson, David’s father and a number of minor characters.

They are joined by a posse of newcomers, including fighter pilots Jake Morrison (Liam Hemsworth) and Dylan Hiller, played by Jessie Usher, (stepson of Will Smith’s character, who does not appear here, and whose absence is explained away rather curtly), Maike Monroe as President Whitmore’s daughter and a former pilot herself, Charlotte Gainsbourg, unusually to be found in an action movie of this ilk, Sela Ward as current President Langford and many more.

It’s a bit surprising that five writers – Emmerich, Dean Devlin, Nicholas Wright, James A. Woods and James Vanderbilt couldn’t come up with better characterisation for the ensemble, and with so many characters jostling for attention, there is little chance to really connect with them, with most struggling to have the same impact, of, say Smith’s Captain Hiller who was a true hero in the original, his chemistry with Goldblum fodder for much banter, and while Bill Pullman made an impact with his inspiring and rousing ‘today, we celebrate our independence’ speech.

Good enough to be one of the protagonists at the summer box office.

There is certainly much emphasis on jingoism here, but it mostly sounds like empty rhetoric, while despite its emphasis on the idealistic notion of world peace having existed for two decades, and the presence of two Chinese and one African minor characters it is also rather notable for the absence of any Middle Eastern characters. There is also less humour than I would have hoped for, although Spiner’s revived Okun and Judd Hirsch and his interaction with a bunch of school-kids raise a few giggles, while Goldblum still does deadpan like no other.

On the plus side, the writers keep the basic plot relatively straightforward in their explanation of the aliens’ return and the discovery of what can be done to stave them off. Moreover, what it lacks in character development and playfulness, it does make up for in the action stakes.

For the spectacle on display here is undoubtedly exciting – the sight of alien craft the size of a small country looming overhead remains impressive, and the afore-mentioned famous landmarks being destroyed trope given a novel twist as said landmarks are used pretty much as weapons against other landmarks, as the aliens anti-gravity thingamajig certainly causes mind-blowing havoc as buildings are hurled across countries, oceans rise to terrifying heights and slam back down with unstoppable force.

It is here that the film delivers, and while Independence Day: Resurgence proves that bigger is not necessarily better, it is big enough to provide a couple of hours of solid blockbuster entertainment and good enough to be one of the protagonists at the summer box office.

Also showing

Sing Street: The film takes viewers back to 1980s Dublin as seen through the eyes of a 14-year-old boy named Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) who is searching for a break away from a home strained by his parents’ relationship and money troubles.

Lucy Boynton and Ferdia Walsh-Peelo in Sing Street.

He is forced to move from private school to the inner-city public school where he has to get used to the kids being rough and teachers being rougher. He finds a glimmer of hope in the mysterious and beautiful Raphina (Lucy Boynton) and, with the aim of winning her heart, he invites her to star in his band’s music video. The only problem is he is not part of the band... yet.

Inspired by writer/director John Carney’s life and love for music, Sing Street is a feel-good musical which has received very positive reviews. The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatos reads: “A delightful film that is almost impossible to watch without a smile on your face.”

Guy Lodge of Variety described the film as “a heart-melting adolescent romance that gives teenage garage bands everywhere a better name”, while Rolling Stones film critic Peter Travers said: “Sing Street is the most romantic movie you’ll find anywhere these days, brimming over with music, fun and the thrill of first love.”