"On July 2 in the mid 1990s, worldwide communications are jammed. Huge objects are headed toward a collision with Earth; at first, they're taken for meteors, but they turn out to be giant alien spaceships. A cable technician who used to be scientist, named David Levinson (Goldblum), figures out they'll attack in a day -- which they do, wiping out Los Angeles, New York, and Washington. Survivors head for Area 51, in the Southwest desert, to plan the humans' response. Capt. Steve Hiller (Smith) and President Thomas Whitmore, a pilot himself (Pullman), lead the battle against the powerful invaders. This 1996 blockbuster relives the classic 1950s alien invader movies, on a much sleeker, grander scale, but with almost no more intelligence. Watch for appearances by Robert Loggia, Harvey Fierstein, Adam Baldwin, Brent Spiner, and Harry Connick, Jr. among the huge cast. A loud, dumb, but thrilling movie."
David Loftus, Resident Independence Day Scholar
"This movie was the first of Will Smith's 4th of July blockbusters (Men in Black would follow a year later). When the Earth is all but destroyed by supersized alien ships, Smith and his surviving fellow humans must defeat the aliens by all means necessary. From then on, the President of the United States declares the Fourth the world's Independence Day! "
Teddy, Resident Scholar
"It is a warm July morning. Suddenly, all over the world, massive alien spaceships appear over major cities. Incredibily powerful energy beams anniliate countless people and the cities. The President of the US,barely escaping the destruction of Washington DC,pulls together a team of the best people he can find. Their mission: to find a way to stop the invasion before mankind's days are over."
Stephen, Resident Independence Day Scholar
"The alien swarm have traveled many-many lightyears... finding other civilizations... destroying them and settling on their now-ruined planets...
But they have always exhausted the resources of those planets and eventually moved on.
And finally: They came to planet Earth.
They have studied us for years, and then, on the 4th of July, they have attacked, destroying all of the major cities in the world, and reducing the human forces to 15% of their original strenght.
But their enormous, city-sized spaceships have energy shields. Every attempts to destroy them fails. Can the human race resist to such a powerful technology? Only the Fresh Prince can save us."
Dimitri Melamoud, Resident Scholar
"Day 1: They are arriving
Day 2: They are attacking
Day 3: We strike back!!!!
"
Knut Ragnar H. Bakke, Resident Scholar
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Overall Review
Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into
dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie Actual chase scenes or violence - 50% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzle - 48%
**Fantasy or Science Fiction?**
- science fiction story
Invasion from human defender POV?
- overt invasion (very visible of monsters/aliens)
War and Invasion
Yes
Major kinds of combat:
- spaceship battles
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- military pilot
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/medium straight
- (man) short/medium curly
Body type
- average (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Black
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- hard edged
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard wavy
Body type
- average build (man)
How much in movie?
- 80%
- 90%-100%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an entire race
Has special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- mind reading
- mind control
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 80%
Setting
Earth setting:
- 20th century (1970's to Present)
- Post-disaster
Spaceship setting:
- one or two man fighter/scoutship
- alien spaceship
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Takes place in spaceship?
Yes
Big cities?
Yes
Misc settings
- bar/restaurant
Kind of city
- Dirty, crime-ridden (like NY)
- Beautiful sparkling advanced city
Small town?
Yes
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
Kinds of F/X
- exploding vehicles
- exploding bombs
- exploding spaceships
- exotic spaceships
- exotic aliens
