Independence Day: Resurgence

Aliens invading planet Earth: we have seen this scenario countless times before. Roland Emmerich’s long-awaited follow-up to his 1996 alien invasion blockbuster gives audiences a run for their money, providing a huge £110 million feature dedicated to humans kicking alien butt.

Independence Day: Resurgence takes place 20 years after the last encounter with an invading alien force and shows how the human race has adapted their technology, taking weapons from the invaders to prepare in case of future attacks. All of the nations have come together, putting aside their differences in order to create a union of strength, with a Hilary Clinton-like president (Selma Ward) at its center.

The moon and further reaches of the solar system have since been equipped with weapons, giving the film a Star Trek feel, with countless space stations armed and ready, making humanity a force to be reckoned with. Nostalgia from the previous invasion is rife, displayed in patriotic speeches of the past fallen. Cast members from the original reappear including Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman and Vivica A Fox, adding Liam Hemsworth and Maika Monroe to the spectacle. Hemsworth plays the stereotypical macho-man at the front line of the action and his romance with Monroe is handled well, with emphasis placed on the action packed scenes, rather than the corny.

However, it seems the human race’s efforts were in vain as the alien invaders return with a bee-like ship 3,000-miles-wide. It is in these moments of destruction that Emmerich’s direction shines, as long slow-motion shots of iconic landscapes are crushed under the alien spacecraft, which will leave even the toughest of us gripped to our seats.

At times the film felt too predictable – and clichéd at worse. Lines like “it’s the 4^th of July so show them fireworks” fell miserably flat. However, overall Independence Day: Resurgence is an impressive spectacle that will surely go down well with young audiences.

Ella Wilks-Harper

Independence Day: Resurgence is released nationwide on 23^rd June 2016.

Watch the trailer for Independence Day: Resurgence here: