ID4: Independence Day [9]

What a letdown. Maybe it is because I neglected to see it in the theater, but I purchased the video of ID4 expecting great things. Many friends and co-workers expounded on the greatness of this movie to me over the months as we eagerly awaited its release on video. Granted, the effects are superb and state of the art. (Kudos to the guys at ILM... Effects Oscar for sure.) It is just that the story has way too many holes in it for my taste. That list of the "Top forty things I learned from ID4" that is going around the internet is pretty accurate in pointing out the flaws in the script. A virus written on a Power Mac takes down an alien computer? 12 - 15 mile wide ships crash to the earth and there aren't aliens popping out for some hand-to-hand combat? Everyone and their brother is now welcome at Area 51? (Just bring an unconscious alien with you when you come... it helps to get in the gate.) I just couldn't suspend my disbelief enough because of the absolute lack of reality here. Mabye if it was supposed to be on another planet? Don't bother renting, or buying. Wait 'till it is on HBO 3 times a day. Or better yet, wait 'till it is on USA network's midnight movies. {SD}

See Also:

• ID4-CERT Warning
• 40 Things I Learned from ID4

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Added: April 7th 2004
Reviewer: SD
29 Point Scale Score:    [9]

Related Link (IMDB): IMDB
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Language: english