Independence Day: Resurgence

Movie Name: Independence Day: Resurgence
Year of Release: 2016

Director: Rolland Emmerich

Stars: Jeff Goldblum, Liam Hemsworth, Bill Pullman, Sela Ward, Maika Monroe, William Fichtner, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Judd Hirsch, Brent Spinner, Patrick St. Esprit, Angelababy, Nicolas Wright, Travis Tope, Chin Han, Robert Loggia, John Storey

Genre: Adventure, Action, Fantasy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:

After the poorly received "Stonewall", director Rolland Emmerich is back on familiar ground, with yet another big blockbuster (he has directed big blockbusters such as "Godzilla", "The Day After Tomorrow" and "2012"). The film is a direct sequel to "Independence Day" and the events that took place in 1996. It places us in the midst of the celebration of the victory over the alien invaders. However that menace reappears, this time around with further power and resources than previously, beating even the new and improved defense tactics that the human race has collectively put together. It's up to David Levinson, former President Whitmore, and their allies, to collectively devise a plan to defeat these alien forces intent on destroying the planet.
Rolland Emmerich is a director who has made a name for himself for directing big disaster films, where the focus is more on the destruction being presented, than exactly the human dimension those films have. Though his attention and particular brush focuses on the massive sets and showcasing as much visual effects as possible, there's still definitely a joy on his part in using the vast amount of resources he has to tell stories that reach the widest array of audiences possible. His screenplays are usually not the most subtle, or indicative of the diversity and complexity of human relationships, but there's a definite focus on providing entertainment and escapism to his audience. "Independence Day: Ressurgence" is a very good example of his point of view: a story that is anchored on cliches, and that treads a path that the original film successfully put forth. The cast uniformly boards the film with the intent of giving the story a mix of flimsy fun and some heart. The visual effects almost topple the entire film, but it's nonetheless a film that has few expectations and that manages to be unpretentious and occasionally entertaining.