The original Independence Day remains one of my favourite films.
Not because it had a brilliant story or stellar acting, but simply because (way back in 1996) it was perhaps the first blockbuster action film that I saw at the cinema.
Fast forward 20 years and director Roland Emmerich is back with Resurgence, a sequel that stays true to the much-revered original.
It’ll not win any prizes for ingenuity and never really gets close to being better than the first slice of July 4 action, but Resurgence is a whole lot of fun (albeit big, dumb and cheesy fun).
With the timeline intact, we’re introduced to a technically enhanced and unified earth. They’ve harvested the alien technology that almost brought the world to its knees in the original – and have plenty of measures in place to stop a similar attack happening again (including a huge WMD on the moon!)
Life seems pretty good for the masses, but former President Thomas J Whitmore (Bill Pullman) – who has gone a little crazy since his chest-thumping speech in the original – is convinced that the alien invaders are coming back to settle the score.
Whitmore isn’t the only character returning from the original. Indeed, Resurgence is packed full of characters old and new and, as a consequence, we don’t get to spend a huge amount of screen time with any of them.
Jeff Goldblum returns as scientist David Levinson (who has had a healthy promotion), while Judd Hirsch is also back as his dad Julius, who often serves as the comic relief.
Another to return is Brent Spiner as Doctor Okun (he’s still sporting the long grey locks, too). His turn is once again very enjoyable.
With Will Smith opting out of the sequel (his absence is explained), Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games) takes over the cocky pilot gig (and delivers well).
Completing the main cast (there are numerous others that get plenty of screen time too) are Dylan Dubrow-Hillier (Jessie Usher) and Patricia Whitmore (Maika Monroe), playing older versions of characters that appeared in the original.
The basic premise here is that the aliens wiped out by the humans decide that it’s now time to return and finish what they started.
Naturally, they send another huge mothership to get the job done – only this time it’s even bigger and brings much more carnage.
Indeed, the scene when the ship returns to earth and levels city after city is an absolute CGI marvel.
Be it landmarks being destroyed by gravitational pull or huge tidal waves, the destruction is impressive.
Once again, it’s down to the Americans to find a way to stop their alien adversaries – and (of course) the plan is very far fetched.
There’s a nice (if not a little ridiculous) curveball thrown into the equation to make the story a little different to the original, but this is largely a re-heat of a premise that worked superbly well two decades ago.
If that sounds like a negative, it really isn’t.
Independence Day is/was popular because it was absolutely bonkers – and this sequel certainly doesn’t let us down in that regard.
I was a little disappointed by the fractured nature of the storyline, though.
I couldn’t really decide who the lead character was supposed to be, though both Hemsworth and Goldblum turned in solid performances.
Saying that, Resurgence delivers that wow factor when it comes to effects and destruction – making it a film you should check out at the cinema.
While not likely to be a cult hit like the original, it’s still very good fun.
Voice Verdict (reviewed at Boston’s West End Cinema): 7.5/10
+ Stays true to the original
+ Lots of fun
+ Destruction is impressive
– Too many characters
SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, July 1 to Thurs, July 7)
**ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE 3D (U)
10am (Sat/Sun), noon (Sat/Sun), 2.15pm (Sat/Sun)
**ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE 2D (U)
10am (Sat/Sun), noon (Sat/Sun), 5.30pm (Sat/Sun)
**THE LEGEND OF TARZAN 2D (12A)
12.30pm (Wed), 3pm (Wed), 5.45pm (Wed/Thurs)
**NOW YOU SEE ME 2 (12A)
2pm (Wed), 8.40pm (Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs)
**ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS (15)
2.15pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 4.25pm (daily), 6.35pm (daily), 8.45pm (daily)
**CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE (12A)
10.30am (Sat/Sun), 3.30pm (not Thurs), 4.30pm (Thurs), 8.30pm (daily)
INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE 2D (12A)
3.15pm (not Thurs), 8.40pm (daily)
INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE 3D (12A)
12.30pm (Sat/Sun/Wed), 6pm (daily)
SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2D (U)
12.30pm (Sat/Sun), 2.50pm (Fri/Sat/Sun), 6.40pm (daily)
SECRET LIFE OF PETS 3D (U)
10am (Sat/Sun), 4.30pm (daily), 8.45pm (Fri/Sat/Sun)
THE CONJURING 2 (15)
5.30pm (Fri), 8.20pm (not Thurs)
ME BEFORE YOU (12A)
1pm (Sat/Sun)
KIDS’ CLUB
Sat/Sun 10.15am – Zootropolis 2D (PG)
SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – Independence Day: Resurgence (12A)
**FREE LIST SUSPENDED
