REVIEW: Independence Day: Resurgence

The Fanboy SEO reviews Independence Day: Resurgence from 20th Century Fox. Stars Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman.

Please note that there are spoilers here in this review. Thread carefully folks.

The movie is set 20 years after the events of the first movie and introduces a cast of new and old faces. I loved the premise for the film about how these aliens from the first movie fly back to Earth in retaliation for what happened in the past. Yeah, its all cute and nice and interesting but I felt like the film missed an “oomph”.

From an external point of view, the movie comes well-equipped with all the shiny visuals. Everything gets an upgrade here from the fighter planes to the setting (they actually have scenes in the moon for crying out loud). But from an internal POV, its all bluster and hot air.

Wait. I’m not saying ID: Resurgence is a bad movie. In fact, I’d say its an OK sci-fi movie. Just remove the “Independence Day” branding though. If you’re to ask me whether its a worthy successor to the first movie then I would flatly say no. But if its a good popcorn muncher then yes, you’ll get your money’s worth.

I came to the theater with managed expectations. I’ve read early reviews and that certainly did not faze me. Me and the wife wanted to see the movie. By the time we got to the second act though, I started to ask if this was a good decision. The humans were written to NOT think like humans, the comedy gets dry from time to time and the “military” types were as boring as hell. Not even Liam Hemsworth’s good looks can save them from that. The pacing is hobbled.

Independence Day: Resurgence felt like it was scared to get out of the comfort zone. They wanted to succeed (which is all good) but they didn’t want unnecessary risks in all aspects including story and execution. Which is why we get updated version of scenes like the White House and Aliens; the man-gets-out-of-car-on-the-bridge scene, that sacrifice play and a whole lot more.

Lastly for the bad points is the deus ex machina promise of a new race that the aliens fear only to switch places and become the damsel in distress. That was the weirdest part for me. Not to mention that it these critters look a lot like those flying bots from the game Portal and Portal 2.

And now for the good points, the design on the new “mothership” looked bad ass. It was meaner and meant business and ready to kill Earthlings for their goal; lets not even get started on the queen in this movie; design-wise, I would probably pee my pants if I see her in real life. Then probably pee a bit more when I see her running at top speed.

The Alien Queen Has Arrived In New Independence Day Resurgence TV Spot

All the disaster porn they put in this movie is also worth noting. Emerich definitely retains the top spot as Hollywood’s favorite destruction movie head. That shot of the alien mothership hitting the moon as well as the ocean is one for the books.

VERDICT: 7/10

Independence Day: Resurgence is an interesting movie, a good popcorn muncher but a poor sequel. Still worth watching if you want to be entertained.