Independence Day: Resurgence

The 90´s, remember those glorious days of british pop rock albums, awful hair cuts and the latest MTV videos ? I don´t remember how many hours i spent watching Headbanger´s Ball on MTV, but i did enjoy my share of metal, death core and other metal styles. Of course this was the time when action movies also gave me a lot of joy in cinemas. I used to run down to the cinema in Uddevalla ( my hometown ), to get my share of the latest big action film. At some point i got the chance to see some films in bigger cities, like in Gothenburgh or Stockholm, because they would show every single premiere. Let´s go back to the year of 1996. This was the year when brittish pop rock band released their wonderful debut album K, that i still love until this day. This was also the year when Pamela Anderson decided to mix action with naked breasts in Barb Wire, a film that swedish politician Gudrun Schyman would probably want to burn into ashes. But let us focus on one film especially, a science fiction action film called Independence Day. This was one of the biggest box office successes of 1996, and both audiences and film critics worldwide loved the film, with the amazing special effects, the massive action scenes, and all the great actors. Back in 1996, when this film came out, i remember how i told everyone i knew that they had to go and see Independence Day, because it was a damn good film. When the film finally came out on VHS, i bought myself a copy straight away, and i can´t remember how many times i have seen it since then. Director Roland Emmerich was of course well known in the 90´s for his work, especially for the first Universal Soldier film, and for the epic science fiction action adventure Stargate. So you knew he was the right man to take on Independence Day. As we entered the end of the 90´s, and came closer to a new millenium, ( skipping talking about his Godzilla film from 1998 ), Roland Emmerich continued to make big budget action films. The Patriot, The Day After Tomorrow, 10.000 BC, 2012, and of course White House Down ( that did not do very well at the box office ). You can tell that director Roland Emmerich have a passion for action, and special effects, ever since his earlier work in the 90´s. So about a year ago, there was some rumors about a sequel to Independence Day, something i did not expect to happen. There have been discussions in the past about this, but nothing ever happened. Then we finally heard that Roland Emmerich would be directing a sequel, and taking some of the actors with him from the first film, i did feel curious. Could he do a sequel, worthy the 90´s classic ? I just had to find out for myself in the cinema. Did we finally get a sequel that everyone was hoping for, or is this sequel not worthy to be a part of such a classic film ?

20 years have passed, since the world defeated aliens, that tried to destroy Earth. The united nations have set up the Earth Space Defense ( ESD ), a global defense and research program, who are set out on different locations on the Moon, on Mars and Rhea. The ESD Headquarters are located at Area 51. On July 2nd, 2016, the whole world is preparing to celebrate 20 years anniversary since they defeated the aliens in 1996. But that happiness is about to change. In Africa, ESD Director David Levinson ( Jeff Goldblum ) meets with Dr. Catherine Marceaux ( Charlotte Gainsbourg ) and warlord Dikembe Umbutu ( Deobia Oparei ). Dikembe shows them inside an alien ship, where they find out that there is a distress call, to the aliens home planet. David knows that this is a bad sign, so he knows that they must act fast. On July 3rd, the ESD base on the moon is attacked, as the aliens are heading towards Earth once again. On July 4th, the alien mothership enters Earth, where they plan to end what they started 20 years ago. But former president Thomas J. Whitmore ( Bill Pullman ) knows that they have to fight back, and have no other way out. A new generation of people, will have to lead the battle this time, no matter what it takes. 

I am that kind of guy who love explosions, science fiction, aliens, laser guns, all the stuff you want at the church on a sunday morning for a great sermon. It takes a lot for me not to enjoy myself in a box office blockbuster, but Independence Day: Resurgence is just too much for me. This is supposed to be a sequel to the 1996 classic, and it fails on so many levels. Considering that the budget is supposed to be around 165 million dollars, you cant see anything unique in the action scenes. The special effects looks old, even the first film looks much better, and it came out 20 years ago. At least we have Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Vivica A. Fox, Judd Hirsch and Brent Spier, back in the cast from the first movie. So that must save this film, right ? No, almost none of the actors from the first film are not even trying to do their characters right. And Will Smith is not even here, so there we have another problem. Since i really enjoyed the first film, i expected director Roland Emmerich to make a sequel, even bigger, more cool than last time, with some unexpected surprises. so what do we get ?

An awful shitty sequel that should not have been made this way, this is the best way i can describe what i have experienced.

I am pissed right now, what the hell were you thinking Roland Emmerich? Considering that you have given us some great films over the years, especially with Stargate and Independence Day, i can´t believe how you decided to do a sequel like this. Did you just stop caring about the importance of the first film, and how it made an impact on millions of people worldwide ? Some films just need to be respected, and if you make a sequel, you have to do it with respect. To be honest, i don´t see any respect here for the first film. There are influences here, that is supposed to be from the first film, but even that fails. So is there anything good to say about this film at all ? I am trying hard to find something good, and the only scene i enjoyed is in the end, with the Alien Queen running around. That´s it ? Yes, i am afraid so. You see, you don´t really care about the characters, or the story itself. The massive action scenes does not even feel interesting, or look that fantastic. To be honest, i have seen much better science fiction action made in a much smaller budget, like the film District 9 by director Neill Blomkamp. It is really good looking, and some really good acting included, on a budget about 30 million dollars. That is a very big difference, towards the budget of Independence Day: Resurgence. With so many great actors on board, with such a big budget, you would think that we would have another classic in our hands. But no, this is one of the worst science fiction action films i have seen in many years. When you notice that Liam Hemsworth and Jeff Goldblum, don´t really care about being in this film, you know it was doomed from the start. I heard rumors about a third film could be made in the future, if you decide to do this Roland, please make things right so we can leave this second film behind us. I want to believe that there is a future for a good Independence Day sequel. But this one is not the one we should remember.  So for everyone worldwide, don´t go and see Independence Day: Resurgence, spend your ticket money on the upcoming Jonah Hill film War Dogs instead. That film actually looks great, so i suggest you wait until that film comes out instead. Or you could just watch the first Independence Day on blu ray again, it will also guarantee you a good time. Just promise to stay away from this sequel. 

Rating: D