Blyss's Movie Review for:

Main Cast of Characters:

Will Smith...........Steven Hiller

Vivica A. Fox.........Jasmine Dubrow

Harry Connick, Jr...........Jimmy Wilder

Jeff Goldblum.........David Levinson

Judd Hirsch..........Julius Levinson

Bill Pullman...........President Thomas J. Whitmore

Mary McDonnell...........Marilyn Whitmore

Randy Quaid...........Russell Casse

Margaret Colin...........Connie Spano

James Duval...........Miguel Casse

Brent Spiner...........Dr. Okun

Ross Bagley...........Dylan Dubrow

Mae Whitman...........Patricia Whitmore

Kiersten Warren...........Tiffany

1996. Rated: PG-13. Genre: Sci-Fi, Action; 145 minutes

This exciting sci-fi thriller begins as it should. At the Search for Extraterristrial Intelligence Institute, they begin getting a radio signal from aliens. The people working there get so excited that they awaken many generals and have everyone on alert. The government seems to like the idea. One person does not. David Levins, a man who dated the now-President's aid, breaks the code. Not only will they land on Earth in a few hours, they will destroy the Earth. One huge alien ship breaks into many and starts attacking different places on the planet. The skies in Russia and in Iraq look like they are on fire. President makes an address about the aliens and tells his aides that he wants to stay at the White House which they are totally against and he ends up leaving after David warns them. Chaos starts to spread. Meanwhile, Captain Steven Hiller gets out of bed and goes outside to get the paper. His girlfriend's son says he has been fighting aliens all morning and has his toy gun. Steven is amused until he looks up into the sky and sees a huge alien battle ship. He is then called into work and will not be able to be off work for Independence Day. By July 3, the military has a plan and sends in some of the best pilots after the ship, including Hiller and his friend, Jimmy Wilder. Jimmy is killed and Steven is enraged during the battle, Steven escapes with his life and leads the alien ship away from everything. It then crashes. Both Hiller and the President both find out about Area 51 and are taken there where they have some of the alien's space technology. Now can they crack the code and make it work before the aliens destroy the entire planet?

I saw this movie at the movie theater when it first came out. It was outstanding! You felt like you were right there with them as all of this way happening. Will Smith was up to his same antics. He was mostly serious, but with just enough comedy to break the tension. One of the funniest lines from this movie for me, however, did not come from the lips of Will Smith. It was David's obviously gay friend at his office who started to freak when the aliens started coming. He says "I gotta call my brother, I gotta call my mother, I gotta call my lawyer...Nah, forget about my lawyer!" I thought, "Wouldn't it be great if we could get rid of many of the lawyers in this world. I guess I shouldn't think like that but after you work for some of their cheap butts for so long, you tend to want to think that! Every scene with Will Smith was great though. I loved it when he dragged the alien out of his ship after it crashed. He says, "You gotta come down here acting all big and bad and what the hell is that smell?" I laughed myself silly! One part made me almost jump out of my skin but I won't spoil that for you. I like those parts! Overall, this is a great sc-fi thriller with tons of action! One of Will Smith's greatest films!

I rate this film: 9

Blyss