With a $71 million budget and mind-blowing special effects, INDEPENDENCE DAY is a grand, high-tech throwback to such films of the 1950s as THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL and WAR OF... more
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Independence Day [1996]
In Independence Day, a scientist played by Jeff Goldblum once actually had a fistfight
... more
with a man (Bill Pullman) who is now president of the United States. That same president, late in the film, personally flies a jet fighter to deliver a payload of mi...
Independence Day [1996]
In Independence Day, a scientist played by Jeff Goldblum once actually had a fistfight
... more
with a man (Bill Pullman) who is now president of the United States. That same president, late in the film, personally flies a jet fighter to deliver a payload of mi...
Independence Day [1996]
In Independence Day, a scientist played by Jeff Goldblum once actually had a fistfight
... more
with a man (Bill Pullman) who is now president of the United States. That same president, late in the film, personally flies a jet fighter to deliver a payload of missiles against an attack by extraterrestrials. Independence Day is the kind of movie so giddy with its own outrageousness that one doesn't even blink at such howlers in the plot. Directed by Roland Emmerich, Independence Day is a pastiche of conventions from flying-saucer movies from the 1940s and 1950s, replete with icky monsters and bizarre coincidences that create convenient shortcuts in the story. (Such as the way the girlfriend of one of the film's heroes--played by Will Smith--just happens to run across the president's injured wife, who are then both rescued by Smith's character who somehow runs across them in alien-ravaged Los Angeles County.) The movie is just sheer fun, aided by a cast that knows how to balance the retro requirements of the genre with a more contemporary feel. --Tom Keogh
Independence Day [1996]
In Independence Day, a scientist played by Jeff Goldblum once actually had a fistfight
... more
with a man (Bill Pullman) who is now president of the United States. That same president, late in the film, personally flies a jet fighter to deliver a payload of missiles against an attack by extraterrestrials. Independence Day is the kind of movie so giddy with its own outrageousness that one doesn't even blink at such howlers in the plot. Directed by Roland Emmerich, Independence Day is a pastiche of conventions from flying-saucer movies from the 1940s and 1950s, replete with icky monsters and bizarre coincidences that create convenient shortcuts in the story. (Such as the way the girlfriend of one of the film's heroes--played by Will Smith--just happens to run across the president's injured wife, who are then both rescued by Smith's character who somehow runs across them in alien-ravaged Los Angeles County.) The movie is just sheer fun, aided by a cast that knows how to balance the retro requirements of the genre with a more contemporary feel. --Tom Keogh
Independence Day [1996]
In Independence Day, a scientist played by Jeff Goldblum once actually had a fistfight
... more
with a man (Bill Pullman) who is now president of the United States. That same president, late in the film, personally flies a jet fighter to deliver a payload of missiles against an attack by extraterrestrials. Independence Day is the kind of movie so giddy with its own outrageousness that one doesn't even blink at such howlers in the plot. Directed by Roland Emmerich, Independence Day is a pastiche of conventions from flying-saucer movies from the 1940s and 1950s, replete with icky monsters and bizarre coincidences that create convenient shortcuts in the story. (Such as the way the girlfriend of one of the film's heroes--played by Will Smith--just happens to run across the president's injured wife, who are then both rescued by Smith's character who somehow runs across them in alien-ravaged Los Angeles County.) The movie is just sheer fun, aided by a cast that knows how to balance the retro requirements of the genre with a more contemporary feel. --Tom Keogh
Independence Day [1996]
In Independence Day, a scientist played by Jeff Goldblum once actually had a fistfight
... more
with a man (Bill Pullman) who is now president of the United States. That same president, late in the film, personally flies a jet fighter to deliver a payload of missiles against an attack by extraterrestrials. Independence Day is the kind of movie so giddy with its own outrageousness that one doesn't even blink at such howlers in the plot. Directed by Roland Emmerich, Independence Day is a pastiche of conventions from flying-saucer movies from the 1940s and 1950s, replete with icky monsters and bizarre coincidences that create convenient shortcuts in the story. (Such as the way the girlfriend of one of the film's heroes--played by Will Smith--just happens to run across the president's injured wife, who are then both rescued by Smith's character who somehow runs across them in alien-ravaged Los Angeles County.) The movie is just sheer fun, aided by a cast that knows how to balance the retro requirements of the genre with a more contemporary feel. --Tom Keogh
Advantages: The price and the special effects, Plus the fact its an amazing film Disadvantages: The sound quality, Picture quality and so forth
About two years ago, I saw this film for the first time on VHS and then decided to buy it on dvd to see how much better the quality was. To say the least, I was disappointed. The quality isn't improved at all, The makers have just added extra features to the disc(s).
At the time of purchase I paid £11.99 for this 2 disc DVD, which is quite good considering the price you pay for DVD's these days lol.
Disc one is entitled ''The Invasion''. It includes:
... ...the original theatrical version.
*Scene-specific commentary by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin
*Commentary by Oscar-Winning Special Effects Supervisors Volker Engel and Doug Smith
Disc one also contains the full feature film 'Independence Day'
Disc two is entitled ''Supplemental'' It includes: *Video previews
*Game previews
*Image previews
Did I enjoy it? : I actually did lol the film is a superb action thriller/Comedy and will smith is a ...
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03.10.2007
Brilliant Review ofIndependence Day (Special Edition)by
katygriff
Advantages: Brilliant effects Disadvantages: A bit too long
This film is brilliant but a few may say about half hour too long. As alien lifeforms descend onto earth, a few random people are thrown into saving millions of helpless people from alien attack. Jeff Goldblum plays computer geek David Levinson who actually realises that the alien ships were arriving and that all ships are communicating with eachother. Bill Pullman plays the US president who realises Levinsons importance in stopping the invasion. ... ...fighter pilot attack on the alien ships leading to no avail. A counter attack by the ships leads to disaster on earth but can they be stopped?
This film is great and highly enjoyable. I am an alien fan so this film appealed to me but i realise it will not appeal to everyone. Will Smith is hugely enjoyable and this film is very funny!!! The film is fast paced and will leave you feeling breathless. The special effects are amongst the best i have ever ...
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28.06.2005
Times up! Review ofIndependence Day (Special Edition)by
rhidassa
Advantages: Special effects, great cast, interesting plot Disadvantages: Bit lengthy
...22-Minute Mock-umentary; "HBO First Look: Independence Day" 28-Minute Feature, Hosted by Jeff Goldblum; Original Biplane Ending Sequence; Storyboards, Original Artwork and Production Stills.
Subtitles are available in Danish, Czech, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portugese, Swedish and English for the hearing impaired.
EXTRA DETAILS
In the Special Edition Version, available on this disc, when David is searching for his ... ...such as "Heresheis Avenue". Another difference is that Vivica A. Fox's character, Jasmine, gets fired from her job as a stripper, and says 'Nice working for you, Mario' which is a jibe from Roland Emmerich to producer Mario Kassar, who forced Roland and 'Dean Devlin' to cut some scenes from their last film, Stargate.
Again, one day I will sit down and watch all of the extras - I dont tend to find much interest in them, so often dont know enough ...
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Advantages: Amazing special effects, Great casting, Real bad aliens. Disadvantages: Not long enough.
Before I start this review can I just say that this is an astonishing, outstanding, exceptional, terrific, dazzling, excellent film. It is one of the best sci-fi experiences of my life and I am not alone, since this is one of the biggest box office hits of all time (number 20. on the box office hits list. It made $306,124,059).
Anyway back to reviewing this product. It has enormous depth of acting talent; at the time in which it was made (1996) ... ...Pullman which gave actors like Will Smith the chance to develop on the screen. This special edition contains a never before scene extended version. On the first disk it allows you to watch the original theatrical version or the special edition which has the extra scenes. The first disk in this set has on its interactive menu the ability to hear commentary by Roland Emmerich (the director) who is joined with Dean Devlin (the producer). Another commentary ...
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Advantages: Kick ass Action as it should be Disadvantages: Somewhate Predictable
The Plot:
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What appear to be very large space ships, more than a mile in diameter are positioning themselves over the major cities in the world, washington, London, Paris, you get the picture. The Americans try to make contact in order to make peace, however unsuccessfully. The Space craft begin to destroy everything in their path. When the United States Air ... ...force field which cannot be penetrated, it is up to Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum to save the world.
Whilst the plot and storyline may not be the most original in the world, it certainly works and i dont think that there is a film like this which is as extravegant as this. The story is gripping from start to finish.
The Cast:
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The three 'main' characters in ...
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Actor(s): Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch, Margaret Colin, Randy Quaid, Robert Loggia, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Fierstein, Harry Connick Jr., James Rebhorn, Vivica A. Fox, Harvey Fierstein
Director(s): Roland Emmerich
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Classification: 12 years and over
Production Year: 1996
Running Time: 2 hours 19 minutes
Video Category: Feature Film
Plot: Mysterious spaceships appear in the sky and satellite communication systems cease to work. The population at large is unaware of the visitors' hidden agenda. Only one man knows what's really going on...
Release details
DVD Region: Region 2 (Europe)
Studio(s): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; Deluxe Video Service - Fox
Release date: 03/05/2004
No of Discs: 2
Catalogue No: 04147 DVD
Editor: David Brenner
Barcode: 5039036004114
Production Designer: Patrick Tatopoulos, Oliver Scholl
Screenwriter: Roland Emmerich, Dean Devlin
Composer: David Arnold
Executive Producer: Roland Emmerich, Ute Emmerich
Director of Photography: Karl Walter Lindenlaub
Producer: Dean Devlin, Peter Winther, Ute Emmerich, Roland Emmerich, Lincoln D. Hiatt, William Fay
Author: Roland Emmerich
Costume Designer: Joseph A. Porro
Languages
Main Language: English
DVD Description
With a $71 million budget and mind-blowing special effects, INDEPENDENCE DAY is a grand, high-tech throwback to such films of the 1950s as THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL and WAR OF THE WORLDS. Here, aliens, in numerous gargantuan spaceships, arrive without warning and hover over the world's most important cities, creating global panic. The nasty visitors use death rays to blow New York, Washington D.C, and Los Angeles to smithereens. A handful of plucky Americans, including the Clinton-esque President, a gung-ho fighter pilot and a computer geek named David, attempt to devise a strategy against the invaders. On July 4th, their risky plan is put into effect, as dozens of fighter pilots (including the President) wage an assault on the spaceships. However, their success (and the fate of the world) depends on David, who is attempting to disarm the aliens's mothership.
Technical information
Special Features: Original Theatrical Trailer, TV Spots, Featurettes CREATING REALITY The Making Of Independence Day, HBO FIRST LOOK, ID4 INVASION Mockumentary, Alternative Ending, Stills Gallery, Storyboards, Production Stills
Sound: DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound: DTS 5.1 English Dolby Digital 5.1 English
"...For fun, fright and thrills, there's not a wilder joy ride around..." (Rolling Stone, p.68, 08/08/1996)
"...INDEPENDENCE DAY fulfills the promise of the movies: to deliver the audience out of the everyday and into the sensational..." (Sight and Sound, p.53-4, 01/08/1996)
"...A rousing state-of-the-art cartoon capped by an aerial-combat climax..." (USA Today, p.1D, 02/07/1996)
"...A spectacularly scaled mix of '50s-style alien invader science fiction, '70s disaster epics and all-season gung-ho military actioners..." (Variety, 01/07/1996)
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