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Independence Day: A Survival Guide for the Next Invasion

1996; Volume: 26; Issue: 1-4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1353/flm.1996.a395963

1548-9922

Ken Dvorak,

Space exploration and regulation

Dvorak | Independence Day: A Survival Guide for the Next Invasion Ken Dvorak Bowling Green State University Independence Day: A Survival Guide for the Next Invasion Video availible from Twentieth Century Fox. The White House under attack from a force ofincredible magnitude in Independence Day. During the past summer an invasion occurred at movie theaters across America. Independence Day, directed by Roland Emmerich and written by Dean Devlin ( Universal Soldier, Stargate) for 20th Century Fox, roared across America. The film captured millions ofAmericans holding them captive as alien invaders descended on the earth. Reaction was overwhelming as the movie earned approximately $83.5 million during its opening weekend. By Hollywood standards this was a hit unmatched in film history. Set in the not too distant future the plot is deceptively simple: good versus evil. Opening scenes take us to the moon where the relics ofprior human space triumphs lie unmolested. Slowly, dark shadows cover the lunar lander, the United States flag and Neil Armstrong's boot prints. The lunar surface begins to darken as we sense a dark presence 90 I Film & History slowly flying by America's puny space efforts. A peaceful earth appears, but thundering into view is a huge alien spacecraft. Soon huge saucer-like disks hover over every major city on earth. Somehow we know that this film encounter with space aliens is not like E.T. these aliens come with an attitude. Independence Day is a three act play beginning on July 2 and ending two days later on July 4. Each day develops the story line: alien encounter and attack, human resolve to survive and resist, and success in defeating the aliens. This film liberally borrows from such films as Star Wars, Top Gun, Alien, 2001 A Space Odyssey, E.T, Close Encounters, and The X-Files. Paying homage to H.G. Wells and traces of his The War of the Worlds invokes a sense of foreboding in Independence Day. Regular Feature | Film Reviews The story takes place in America and the film makers use themes familiar to American audiences. Duty, honor and commitment make appearances in Independence Day. Character development allows these themes to produce a cooperative spirit that dovetails with the realization ofearth's remaining population that by working together they can thwart the alien invasion. Duty to country is a strong theme in Independence Day. President Whitmore (William Pullman ) a former GulfWar hero, initially seeks a peaceful means contacting the aliens. He reacts decisively when discovering their true intentions. "Nuke the bastards!" He says while personally taking charge of the counter attack. Destroying the aliens becomes the top priority and not a postmodernist argument for accommodation or understanding . American military prowess and computer know how prevail throughout the movie. With modern communications disabled Yankee resourcefulness uses Morse code to rally the remaining earth forces for the final confrontation. Military elan symbolized by Marine fighter pilot Captain Steven Hiller, (Will Smith) whose rejection by NASA has racist overtones, recovers his pride joining in the battle to "kick E. T's butt." Adding suspense to the movie is the infamous Area 51 near Roswell, New Mexico where we learn that, an alien spacecraft did land in 1947. This spacecraft, kept secret kept from the American people, and a computer virus become the weapon that dooms the alien invasion. Honor and commitment to one's marriage, family and friendships are strong secondary themes in Independence Day. President Whitmore is visibly in love with his wife and protective of their daughter. The computer wizard (Jeff Goldblum) still wears his wedding ring although his marriage ended in divorce. A dysfunctional family composed of an alcoholic Vietnam veteran and his three multiracial children are the center ofjokes by their RV neighbors. Suffering from alien abduction flashbacks he nevertheless joins the fight. Sitting in the cockpit of an F-17 this grizzled veteran shouts triumphs in a blazing final trip of redemption. Captain Hiller puts his personal life on hold while worrying about his fiancee and her young child. Faced with certain death, these individuals, thrown together by extraordinary circumstances begin working and trusting one another. In a race Crack marine fighter pilots played by Will Smith (left) and...