If you want a fun alien apocalypse, Independence Day is the gold standard of an empty alien apocalypse that probably does not mean more or less than what is on the screen. There are big name stars. It was pre 9/11 when it was still fun to watch notable landmarks get destroyed. I saw it in the theaters with my mother and repeatedly at home. After major dental surgery, I rewatched it and realized that I needed to take my pain medicine and go to sleep because I was weepy at all the loss of human life. I understand that Independence Day is not a good movie, but it is a fun one without psychological consequences for the viewers.
I knew that Independence Day: Resurgence was going to be bad. I still wanted to see it in the theaters for nostalgia’s sake, but it understandably did not stay in theaters long enough for me to do so although I found other people who were willing to pay money to knowingly see crap. When Independence Day: Resurgence became available for home viewing, mom and I decided to watch it. Independence Day: Resurgence was not a movie that was so bad it was good. Independence Day: Resurgence was just bad, a deeply cynical movie that accurately took the political pulse of the US today, (unconsciously) agreed with the sentiments that placed an uneducated, unsophisticated , morally bankrupt individual into the highest office in the land and slapped it on screen for a lengthy time. Even if you are a completist, do not watch Independence Day: Resurgence. Just keep rewatching Independence Day.
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Independence Day: Resurgence gives us a jingoistic female POTUS who kills an alien, whom we are used to thinking of as our enemy, but is actually our friend (Russia). She is killed and sidelined as soon as possible so Bill Pullman, POTUS in Independence Day and now a possible madman, can set Earth’s forces on course to save the day. When guys make mistakes in Independence Day: Resurgence, it is noble or a sign that they are mavericks. Black people are seen as the haves, i.e. Will Smith, who will always be given a place at the table whereas more naturally gifted guys like Liam Hemsworth are not. Hemsworth is the underdog. Damn it, why is the world of piloting dominated by black and Chinese men!?! Sure there are female pilots, but they are too emotional and get too weepy when her uncle dies. The only other female pilot is mainly a fiancé or a caretaker to her dad. The example of another image of messed up female leadership is the alien queen. By the end of the movie, she is chasing a school bus of kids. She has conquered galaxies…seriously! I get that we have to defeat her, but make it impressive.
Instead of watching Independence Day: Resurgence, watch Fallen Skies, Aliens and maybe the short version of District No. 9. Independence Day: Resurgence clearly ripped out complete pages from each work’s script so you may as well cut out the middleman. It has been twenty years-our technology advanced, but the aliens’ technology didn’t! The aliens just built a bigger boat. Did Independence Day: Resurgence ripoff Jaws too?!?
Independence Day: Resurgence’s most egregious sin was wasting Maika Monroe after facing controversy of recasting her instead of Mae Whitman who originally played POTUS’ daughter. Monroe was unrecognizable-her appearance and her energy. Even in The 5th Wave, I may not have recognized her, but her riveting onscreen presence was as magnetic and distinct as it was in It Follows and The Guest. Monroe is not simply the love interest or the afterthought even if she gets an 11th hour moment of rescue. Sad!
Independence Day: Resurgence creators are pushing for a franchise, but I hope that studios say no because clearly there never should have been a sequel.