Poll: Independence Day

[tehweave]

So, if anyone watches the "Nostalgia Critic" on thatguywiththeglasses.com, you'll know that he just did his review for Independence Day. Now, he's commented on the movie before, saying he didn't like it, (his "Godzilla" review) but not only that, it got really bad reviews when it first came out.

Wait... Really? Bad reviews? I saw it as a kid, (8 or 9 I guess) and loved it. I've seen it several times since then and still really like it. In fact, I could say that this is the perfect example of a 'good 90's action blockbuster.' It's entertaining, and has a nice ensemble cast. It's absolutely ridiculous, but that 'fun' level of ridiculous.

But does this put me in the minority? Do most people hate this film? Were the reviewers in 1996 full of crap, or were their claims legit? I for one am curious. So what about you? Did you like Independence Day the movie, (still do?) or do you hate it?

 

[RangerSERE]

Well, everything done retrospectively wont have the same sentiment as those formed back then. I don't care what the review said, everyone and their mom saw that movie back then, it made a whole lot of money. It was a success, doesn't really matter what people say now, it doesn't affect what happened.

 

[Richard Hannay]

It's a throwback to the alien invasion films of the 50s (and their main inspiration, Wells' War of the Worlds), but, in trying to replicate the so-bad-it's-good fun and charm of those films, it tried to replace the pratcially-omnipresent cold war allegories of sci-fi in those days (which obviously would have been a touch out of date in '96) with stuff blowing up and an "America, fuck yeah!" attitude. So, no, I guess I don't like it. I mean, I don't hate it or anything, but I'd never watch it if I could just pop in my War of the Worlds (1953) DVD, which I usually can.

 

[BrailleOperatic]

It was okay. Nothing really special.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

It was okay watching major buildings get blown up as a kid but now thanks to Michael Bay blowing things up has gotten boring and so has this movie.

 

[tomvw]

I did enjoy watching it, mostly for the campy factor. Then again, I did enjoy Bad Boys II, so maybe I'm not one to talk.

 

[GundamSentinel]

I loved it when I was a kid, saw it a dozen times, but now I can see how paperthin it really was. I still like it and watch it when I want to see some awesome destruction, but it's not the same anymore.

 

[tehweave]

I just realized I put this in the wrong discussion board... This is an off-topic discussion. I'll post it there.

 

[L4hlborg]

I thought it was pretty cool. Nothing amazing, but it had aliens and lots of stuff blowing up. That's a good basis for an action movie, atleast in my oppinion.

 

[Terramax]

Was enjoyable enough.

The special effects were the best ever seen.

Will Smith was funny.

There weren't that many big sci-fi films around at the time, so it stood out from the crowd.

Funnily enough I did try watching it again about a month or two ago, and it wasn't all that entertaining, but it's still better than much of the stuff in cinemas today.

 

[Wolfram23]

I loved it. I watched the white house blow up in slow mo many times lol.

"Welcome to Earth!"

 

[Vuljatar]

It wasn't "good", but it was "fun".

Much like the recent G.I. Joe movie.

 

[WINDOWCLEAN2]

It would have failed if not for Will Smith.

He helped to give the film just a bit of style.

"Now thats what i Call a close encounter"