Independence Day Resurgence

Review Written By: Adolph Vega

 

3D

The stereoscopic visuals are consistent within this movie but were never impressive or memorable. You clearly see and distinguish between a few different levels of 3D, as people and space ships are going in between the different layers of 3D. The 3D visuals look clean and sharp, but I don't remember any specific scene that wowed me or caught my eye.  Overall, I did like how the 3D was presented, even if it didn't impress me. It is evident that they tried to make a good-looking 3D movie, but it just didn't blow me away.

Final Verdict: Good 3D

Movie

First before I begin this review I want to state that I don't have any problem enjoying summer action movies. I can enjoy dumb fun action movies that being said I couldn't enjoy myself when I watched this movie.

Independence Day was a huge summer blockbuster when it released in 1996. I remember enjoying that movie when I watched it twenty years ago. It was a fun dumb action movie that had great special effects and entertaining action scenes. This sequel takes place twenty years after the events of the original movie. In many ways this movie tries to capture the old glory of that movie and ultimately fails. The movie is completely dependent on the first movie and constantly reminds you of that movie. This film can't escape the shadow of the original, so much so that it never feels like it's own movie. 

The movie has many major problems that make it difficult to enjoy even if you "leave your brain at the door". First of all the movie does a poor job of balancing it's huge cast of characters. Very little if any time is given to character development. Most of the character's names are either not mentioned at all or only briefly mentioned. Many characters return to reprise their roles from that previous movie. Sadly all the characters are clichés, stereotypes, archetypes or tropes from a typical action movie. I found none of the characters interesting or above average in quality. One missing character is that of Will Smith as Captain Steven Hiller. The movie spends way too much time referencing this character and it becomes strange, awkward and off-putting. The second major issue I had with this movie was the acting, which was amateurish and badly executed. The lines of dialogue are either delivered in an over the top fashion or fall totally flat. Overall the writing is corny, simplistic and entirely generic.  Brent Spinner's portrayal of Dr. Brackish is especially painful to watch on screen. Dr. Brackish is eccentric and just too over the top it. Dr. Brackish is an annoying and cringe inducing character. Jeff Goldblum is clearly not even trying to act. Finally, the movie has a very cliché and predictable storyline with very few surprises. The movie is essentially everything you expect it to be and nothing more.

The plot of this movie is very simple, as it revolves around space aliens attacking Earth again. These space aliens are the same aliens from the previous movie. Within this movie the aliens are given some basic motivation, and a sentence or two of back-story. These space aliens have no culture or depth and are essentially one-dimensional monsters for the humans to defeat. The aliens do have more powerful weapons and more impressive war ships, which the humans must defeat in elaborate action set piece scenes. When the movie doesn't showcase action, the scenes drag on because I didn't really become emotionally invested with any of the characters. That said, the action scenes are choreographed in an exciting fashion and are entertaining and fun to watch. The special effects are nice and the devastation they cause is a massive visual feast. The feast is entirely empty of substance but it is pretty to look at.

Many scenes are incredibly ridiculous and make little sense. The movie has massive plot holes that can't be ignored. I laughed at and rolled my eyes at campy aspect of this movie. The movie at times is self aware of its over the top nature. The movie is basically proud of its mediocrity and never tried to be anything more than a stupid action movie. I do appreciate that some major characters die within the movie so they up the stakes, but how other characters are able to survive really makes the overall narrative seem ludicrous.

The movie just feels dated and doesn't belong to this era of higher caliber action movies. The movie tries and fails to be campy fun and is just a bland average action movie. Independence Day: Resurgence feels like an unnecessary sequel with totally worthless characters, one page plot and is a pathetic rehash of the original movie. The action and special effects are well done, but it can't carry this movie. This movie is totally lackluster and forgettable silly action movie that simply isn't fun or interesting enough to justify its own existence.

Final Score: 4/10

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