While there is some entertainment value, it doesn’t have a great impact, 4/10.The first inanity in Independence Day: Resurgence - and what is this sequel to the 1996 smash Independence Day if not an endless stream of inanities? - arrives when it’s revealed that the entire global community felt so connected in a United Colors of Benetton sort of way following the defeat of the invading aliens 20 years ago that everyone has lived in peace ever since. However, the great impact of the original placed an impossible standard for the sequel to meet, and the film fails because it tried too much and focused on the wrong aspects far too often. If it was its own film, it would have been viewed in a more credible manner. Overall, Independence Day: Resurgence was harmed by the success of the first film. Furthermore, the idea of newer and newer technology suggests a focus on the wrong aspects, removing the ability for humanity to win through perseverance and sacrifice, which made the original so important. Although it is interesting, it does not outweigh the problems, and the whole battle with the Harvester Queen. Patricia’s role as part love interest and part female warrior leaves much to be desired, and unfortunately falls on its face.īy adding a second kind of alien, the film does expand the universe of the film and offers for a possible line of sequels, but it does overly complicate the plot. Similarly, the former president Whitmore (Bill Pullman) and his daughter Patricia (Maika Monroe) seem to have been shoved in as an attempt to establish continuity that seems unnecessary. Okun (Brent Spiner) has more of a role, they do nothing for the overall film. Although Julius Levinson (Judd Hirsch) brings a little charm, and Dr.
The supporting cast is equally a bit flat. The loss of Will Smith is a mixed blessing, as it is uncertain if his charisma would have the same impact as the original, and it is always good to bring in new cast. However, keeping Jeff Goldbloom as David Levinson does drag a little, as he gets almost too much time, even though he retains his same goofy charm. Jake Morrison (Liam Hemsworth) and Dylan Hiller (Jessie Usher) are not great replacements for the original team, but they are okay actors. Instead of a grounded reality, Resurgence feels more like a Star Wars wannabe of the prequel kind, and fancy ships flitting around without the ability to keep up has replaced rateable characters struggling just to survive.Īs for the characters, they are acceptable but not where they should be.
This is okay, but it does not do a lot for a film as a whole. It seems that Emmerich understood this basic problem and went the other direction: build up the Earth’s forces to a level that could have allowed them to defeat the original threat but still make them utterly powerless (at first) to face the new one. There is no way to make such a threat more intense or more dramatic, because the first film already had the ultimate threat.
Although the universe is out there, the Earth is us, and our home is either here or it isn’t. The original Independence Day threatened the destruction of the Earth, and it is impossible to really get more grand. However, the film misses out on a lot of what made the original so good, which is the chemistry of the different characters and the overarching theme that inspired the audience. In general, directors feel that they have to make sequels bigger, and in a way Resurgence does just that. 2016’s Independence Day: Resurgence by Roland Emmerich is an okay film.