Independence Day (DVD, 2000, 2-Disc Set, Five Star Collection)

INDEPENDENCE DAY has no moment to spare. It starts out quickly with the sight of a gigantic alien spaceship hovering over the craters of the moon, heading towards the Earth. The film has the usual news on Earth, like all invasion flicks, having the news spread, starting from a small organization investigating extraterrestrial activity, then to the military, who then phone calls The White House, giving it full news to President Thomas Whitmore (Bill Pullman), who obviously remembers Michael Douglas' president performance in THE American PRESIDENT (but I didn't say lampoon), who stares in a moment of shock and disbelief.

Before the sight of the alien spaceship hovering above the cities around the world, we first get a glimpse of the many characters in the film. First, there's computer engineer David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum, in an excellent performance), playing chess with father Julius Levinson(Judd Hirsh) at Central Park. David is divorced from his wife (Margaret Colin), who happens to be the President's Chief-of-staff (see the connections). Then it switches to Kansas, where the focus is a small family. The father, Russell Casse (Randy Quaid), a crop-dust farmer, believes he's kidnapped by aliens and is willing for payback, much to the dismay of his teenage kids. We also get introduced to a soldier (Will Smith), who both longs to return to NASA and reach for the stars (literally), and to propose to his girlfriend Jasmine (Vivica A. Fox).

Well, enough of that. It's time we see an invasion, and, boy, did we get one. After the discovery of the invaders plot (using the Earth's satellites to plan an attack), we get a mind-blowing sequence after another at incredible pace. The destruction at the streets of New York are just the first great effects-laden sequences in the film. Lets see, we get a STAR WARS-inspired dogfight between fighter jets and alien spaceships. And we also get a suspenseful sequence of an alien in laboratory (Talk about a close encounter), INDEPENDENCE DAY doesn't fail when it comes to a good visual feast. Admittedly, some of the effects are cheesy, seeing how much CGI has improved over the years, but they still provide an eye-filling experience.

Ohh This movie is well written! Add in a Great Director, Fantastic actors and GREAT Special Affects and it is a WOW experience!! I STRONGLY suggest you get the wide screen version so you can enjoy ALL the special effects. Some of the effects, when viewed in "Formatted to fit your screen" are lost BUT the action and acting still carries it through. Still even with a TV that shows wide screen in "Letter Box" I cannot stress enough the added wonder of the special effects

This is a good movie for almost all ages. I have viewed it several times alone and with my kids and grandkids! Please Enjoy it!!!! Have a good day.

i LIKED ALL THE STARS IN THE MOVIE. THE PLOT WAS GREAT AND THE SPECIAL EFFECTS SECOND TO NONE!! I LIKE THAT THEY PUT BACK ALL THE PARTS THAT WERE CUT OUT IN THE FIRST RELEASING. BUT ALSO YOU HAVE THE CHOICE TO SEE THE THEATRICAL RELEASE AS IT WAS. I HAVE THE CHOICE AND I THINK THAT IS AWESOME!! JUST A GREAT STORY TURNED INTO A GREAT MOVIE.

This is such a good movie. Action packed and scary to think it could possibly happen. We can't be the only ones in this vast Universe. I would watch this movie everytime it came on TV. Now I can watch it whenever I want and as a bonus it had Day After Tomorrow. Another movie that is excellent and this day and age with the worry of global warming, a believable movie also. Don't miss these movies, if you haven't already watched them!

im not sure why but this is a movie i like because is sci fi and i guess some of the actors have been in other movies i have liked and i guess with them in it and it being sci fi is the reason i like it. its got good action and a couple different side stories like the marriage and the dispute between the husband and the president also the affair of a military officer with a stripper with class and him wanting to be an astronaut and then realizing the love and getting married. you also have a guy thats misunderstood about his abduction by aliens and then becoming a hero to his kids in the end. i guess it had about everything in a movie action sci fi love and a coming together to eliminate the problem.