Consider this film the ultimate popcorn movie. It is the quintessential summer blockbuster. Starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, and Jeff Goldblum, Independence Day is an extremely watchable and highly entertaining film. It has all the high intensity explosions that will surely catch your eye. It features plenty of alien intrigue that will suffice for any sci-fi fan. It also boasts some incredibly catchy quotes like, "Welcome to Earth." Classic. It's a wild ride that never bores. It does precisely what a movie should do, and that is entertain us.

     I like this movie's attempts at creating some legitimate thrills and a cohesive progression. The film never deters from its conclusion, and everything wraps up pretty neatly. There are some sad moments, but they don't overshadow the bigger picture. You may consider this a spolier, but, for the most part, there is triumph, and I respect the decision. There certainly seems to be a real struggle and a very dour situation at hand, but the pull for perserverence is rather uplifting and keeps the audience engaged in the action. The characters are extremely likeable, well written and very well acted. After watching it again in its entirety from beginning to end, I felt that the characters were really so well portrayed, and boasted some impressive depth considering this is a big budget blockbuster movie.

     As I alluded to, the cast is terrific. Will Smith, who has a stellar resume of hugely successful films under his belt, is awesome all throughout the film. Jeff Goldblum is also superb as the quirky scientist - something he seems to play very well! I like when Goldblum explains things in a movie, it just all seems so plausible, does it not? Judd Hirsch has a great character role as Goldblum's father in the film. He plays a doting Jewish father who makes numerous wise-cracks, and cavetches with the best of them - it's great. Also, there is Bill Pullman as the President of the United States. Certainly Pullman's president is one of the better iterations of the Commander In Chief that I've seen in recent memory. There is also a pretty solid outing by Randy Quaid in the movie as well. To put it simply, the cast - either lead or supporting - is all around excellent.

     I really don't have many negatives things to say about Independence Day. What's there not to like really? It may not be the most thought-provoking, emotionally moving motion picture ever, but it doesn't need to be. I respect this movie for a lot of reasons, and one of the primary reasons is that it doesn't feel like your typical overloaded blockbuster. It has some depth, it has some tragic moments, but also numerous comical moments to lighten the tension. It wraps up everything rather neatly. It has some proposterous moments, but does that matter either? No. Watch this film and have a great time. You'll certainly enjoy it - from beginning to end.

-Kurt L.

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