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Indepenence Day Four Day "Celebration"

Captain America

Captain America

Sentinel of Liberty
I'm about to pop in ID4 and watch all of the wonderful events that occur on July 1. I'll do the same over the next few days, concluding with the 4th of July.

Does anyone else do this?
 
No, if I'm going to sit and watch ID4, I do it all in one sitting. Haven't even done that in forever.
 
Dammit...didn't remember until I started it that it starts with July 2.

I'm off to bed. I'll start tomorrow and post again after I watch.

Cap
 
Okay, just watched the events of July 2.

Some thoughts:

*This movie's SFX are amazing, and have held up tremendously well over a decade later. It doesn't seem that a whole lot of CGI is used, if any, which is awesome. Take that, George Lucas!

*The acting is, in my opinion, great for this kind of movie overall. But what the hell was Bill Pullman trying to do in his opening scene? It's almost like he doesn't know he's in a movie or he's doing a really shitty impersonation of Bill Shatner.

*Vivica Fox lives up to her name. That brief ass shot in the post-dance scene is...stimulating.

*Robert Loggia is the man. We need more actors like him today!

That is all for now. Discuss.

-Cap
 
Bill Pullman is a wierd guy. He always seems that very same way in interviews and certain performances. It is as if he only knows how to do comedy and heavy drama; anything in between and his wierdo self shows through. A very attractive man.
 
^^^He does have those old Hollywood good looks. And you're right about his seeming polarity of film roles...I loved his performance in Malice.

The perfect president for this movie would've been Morgan Freeman. He was great in the role in Deep Impact.

Cap
 
Captain America said:
The perfect president for this movie would've been Morgan Freeman. He was great in the role in Deep Impact.
Click to expand...

Aye, but I cannot picture him in the cockpit of an F/A-18 Hornet.

I know what you're thinking 'Like you could picture Randy Quaid?!?'. Different part, and it's like comparing apples to oranges. Randy Quaid's character was one you were supposed to question being in that cockpit.

But I honestly can't see Morgan Freeman as a fighter pilot.
 
Seems that speech was one of only two times he wasn't just phoning it in or doing whatever it was he was doing.

The other time was when his wife dies. That scene, and the accompanying scene where he comforts his daughter, is extremely moving and well done.

I always use those scenes in particular to defend the "hatas" when they attack this movie. It's cheesy, but it's got a lot of heart. A lot of movies could use some of that these days.

Cap
 
July 3:

The second act dealing with the aftermath of the attack is powerfully done.

Things I didn't like:

*Bill Pullman is just too weird in this flick. He looks like he can't stand to look at Dr. Okun (Spiner's character) when they meet, and the other actors are looking at Pullman as if trying to discern what the hell he's doing. He's also really barely emoting when his wife dies and he consoles his daughter.

*I like that Hiller goes after his girlfriend, but when he gets out of the chopper and calls for her, and she's conveniently there, it's too much. He should've just exited the chopper calling for anyone, and then had her appear in the chopper's lights. Would've been more dramatic and less cheesy.

*I'm watching the SE, and I don't much care for the scene with the religious nut with the crucifix and bible. Really, isn't there something more original we can do with end of the world people? And if not, leave it alone. I can see why that scene was cut; it's completely useless.

*I like the cut scene with Casse trying to get help for his son. A good scene on the part of all involved and it works well.

*The dogfight with the alien ships was well done. IMDB says not one actual plane was every launched for this film, and no CGI was used. Amazing stuff, which today would've all been CGI, and would've lacked the realism and "heart," if you will. Great stuff.

*Tomorrow's the big finale! I really like the structure of this movie. It's a target for a lot of unnecessary hate.

Cap
 
Forgot to "report" after watching the July 4th finale last night:

*The Much-Lauded Speech: Fucking amazing job. I got goosebumps, chills, everything. Awesome stuff, got a few rewinds.

*The virus: I know a lot of people malign this part of the film, but it's a brilliant homage to the original War of the Worlds. If those aliens couldn't use their advanced tech to determine that something in Earth's atmosphere would kill them, then it's safe to say these aliens would be vulnerable to a less-advanced society's computer virus. I also like the David vs. Goliath angle.

*I read on IMDB that most of Goldblum and Smith's dialogue was improvised. Those two are great together and yet again, I wonder why Jeff doesn't get more work and more Oscar nominations.

*The SFX are amazing in the final sequences, esp. the destruction of the Mothership and the other craft. And the interior of the Mothership was more terrifying and magical than anything in the Star Wars Prequels...

*Love the ending, but it leaves you wanting more. I would love to see a sequel film or series, focusing on different characters and showing how a united Earth works out (or if it works out) and what happens with the inevitable reverse-engineering of the alien tech left all over the Earth.

Cap
 
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