Independence Day | Joe Szadkowski saw | ENTERTAINMENT
Independence Day
March/21/08 07:24 PM Filed in: Joe Szadkowski
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For reasons not of this world, critics have previously blasted this film almost as though it is a journalistic “right-of-passage.” I, however, cannot look away when ever I catch it as a late night broadcast.
Why my adoration of this film? Maybe, it’s the clichéd characterizations delivered by an ensemble cast led by Will Smith (Captain Steve Hiller), Jeff Goldblum (David Levinson), Bill Pullman (President Thomas J. Whitmore), Judd Hirsh (Julius Levinson and Randy Quaid, as Russell Case, who offers a plausible performance as the bumbling alcoholic ex-Vietnam pilot who drinks in order to forget his tortured abduction by aliens. Which, of course, no one believes.
Providing a believable support system for the aforementioned male cast, are actresses Margaret Colin as Constance Spano, Mary McDonnell as Mrs. Whitmore and Vivica Fox as Capt. Hillers love interest, Jasmine Dubrow.
Add supporting cast members such as Harvey Fierstein, Brent Spiner, and Robert Loggia and the cast assembled for this film makes it one of my perennial favorites.
Why? Maybe, it is just the enormity of the world-wide alien invasion and the amount of stuff blowing up as viewers bask in 150 minutes of knuckleheaded, escapist entertainment.
Or it maybe that I just appreciate yet another attempt to extend the mythology of the Area 51/Roswell legend. They do this very well. In fact, a pivotal scene has the President first learning of the installations existence, and alien guest with the State of New Mexico in the shadow of the giant, invading alien ship.
The whole super secrecy of this area is enhanced with an appearance by Star Trek's Brent Spiner (Data in Star Trek mythology) as the crazed scientist Dr. Brackish Okun, who lives in the underground facility, and who would have benefited from a bit of Sun induced Vitamin D.
It could also be the Mary McDonnell factor, as the President's wife. I’ve had an attraction for her since “Sneakers” and, although she had limited screen time, she manages to warm my cockles.
Whatever, the near conquest of Earth by spindly creatures and the subsequent battle framed by patriotic platitudes along with the ability to overcome a superior intelligence with plain ole’ human perseverance, succeeds through its sheer fun factor.
1. The goods: With scenes that Billy Sol Hurok would love (that White House blowed up real good), the beautiful colors mix with a booming sound track (DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround) to deliver just enough mesmerizing visual and audio moments.
2. The mandatory extras: The brains behind the film, Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich, provide a commentary track (rehashed from a previous DVD release) and the boys are just giddy with memories as they gush about the cast and fondly live the day when “blockbuster” could be attached to their names.
Additionally, some of special effects team offers another commentary track, and their monotonous delivery is a great remedy for insomnia (yeah, its that dull).
However, the included trivia track is great and has a bit of Apollo, SETI and the Emergency Broadcasting System trivia among its pop up, encyclopedic nuggets. Smart viewers will play it along with the Devlin/ Emmerich track to get a well rounded experience.
3. Above and beyond: An incredibly unusual, but interesting, Keyword search function offers a menu of about 100 items to click on and find
associated clips. Click on a term such as “Apple Powerbook,” or “Brent Spiner” and get taken right to the scene. This might work better in a Discovery Channel documentary but I like the effort by Fox.
4. Fuel the disc revolution: An onscreen "Alien Scavenger Hunt" for only the most devoted of “Independence Day” fans demand they watch the entire film and spot and target 12 items during the action for the minor payoff of a bonus film clip.
The interactive interface with the film works seamlessly as the player moves a targeting reticule (with its own sound effect) around the screen with the directional pad to shoot the item with the "enter" button on the controller. The challenge even has some re-playability as players can save their progress and the dozen objects change each time a new hunt is started.