Independence Day

The Hollywood high-budget blockbuster of the 1990s in its full and immaculate glory. I’ve seen it at least thirty times, but the intensity of the experience remains unrelenting and the internal scheme of the narrative as a mediator of a global catastrophe is exemplary. There are dozens of characters, but each of them has an important function in communicating with the viewer, who learns about the alien attack from the point of view of the president, a brilliant scientist, a verbose soldier and the general population, so the presentation of the plot is really incredibly complex and well thought out. It may reek of American pathos and naivety, but Independence Day is simply so well constructed, scored and acted, supported by amazing visual effects and the ultimate adrenaline rush, that I will watch it thirty more times in the future and the general term "Legend" will increasingly come to mind. An incredible romp that will never get old and, above all, will never be surpassed within the genre. (09/24/2011)

I believe that at the time it was released, it was a fine innovative blockbuster that managed to shock. Today, however, Independence Day doesn't impress at all, because we've seen everything in it a thousand times and better. The acting is average, the visuals were fine for the time, but today they are rather laughable, and the completely formulaic plot doesn't add to its appeal either. Roland Emmerich's sci-fi vision, which he spins over and over again in each of his films, also slowly comes across as his pure egotism and personal ambition to make films "for himself", I guess I can't really explain it any other way. I was thinking that this particular piece is quite famous, well-known and praised, but for me it's just a below average misstep that I'd rather not remember tomorrow. (04/14/2023)

"Comrades, ugly enemy agents have landed in our country from outer space in order to plant potato mandelins in our harvesting pools. Comrades, we're not going to subvert the States! Moreover, we have the victorious July, so get them!" Capitalist realism in full force, as demented as Bolshevik agitations, as spectacularly pathetic. Plus, the characters. A good-humored "nigga," a heroic president-pilot, a drunk with the heart of a Don Cossack...an... intrepid cowboy... Just a case of brilliantly making a stinking ball out of a pathetic fart. A film about nothing with nice effects. The glamour and misery of Hollywood in full swing. It wasn't custom made for the White House??? Edit 2011: I have to admit that (like many Bolshevik agitations) I enjoy this film and fills me with a special pleasure of absolute foolishness. So, in hindsight, I'm giving it an extra star, compared to Battle Los Angeles, it's royal fun, and it doesn't deserve the same rating... (01/25/2004)

“I steal, you steal, we steal.” Or how Emmerich and Devlin got together, dumped their brain concoctions into a common cauldron, stirred it properly and prepared an inedible slop. I turned off my brain and just wanted to have fun, but even a lobotomy wouldn't have helped. The massive avalanche of clichés and stupidity swept me away in such a way that I wouldn't want to repeat it. (05/11/2003)

A visually stunning masterpiece with fantastic music and a likeable cast. The script is packed with action and there isn't a single dull moment, there’s always something happening, one twist after another, and some scenes are truly fantastic (Area 51, city destruction, the scenes after the apocalypse, etc.). In addition, Roland Emmerich brilliantly combines visuals with music in a way similar to Michael Bay, for example. The pathos must be taken with a grain of salt, and whether we like it or not, we have to admit that Bill Pullman has charisma. It's not smart sci-fi, it's popcorn entertainment, but damn well directed, well acted, and decently told. Overall, Independence Day is unequivocally Emmerich's best film, or rather, his only truly good film. (09/04/2005)