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So how come everyone hates Independence Day?

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J

Jazzy Network

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This is one of my most enjoyable movies to watch multiple times. Granted it's not a great movie, but I enjoy it alot and one of those movies I can watch multiple times. And yea I realize Jeff Goldblum and Will Smith are in it. Big deal. It's actually one of the Will Smith movies I can really tolerate.

So let me ask you GAF, why did you not enjoy this movie?















JIMMY NOOOO!!!!!
 
It's a good (very)guilty pleasure movie. It's retarded as hell, but I didn't know that back when I was 14.
 
I think GAF hates the idea that a computer virus written in English and compatible with our technology was somehow compiled to run on alien computers. I on the other hand realize it's a brainless summer movie and enjoy it for what it is.
 
It's corny and dumb instead of cool and testosterone filled.



Alien or Aliens is a nice basis for comparison to see it done the correct way.
 
meh i really don't care about what others say. i watched this movie when i was in the 8th grade. IMO it kicked serious ass, as i really enjoyed it (computer effects were mind blowing). and it had Fresh Prince. nuff said

Dali said:
I on the other hand realize it's a brainless summer movie and enjoy it for what it is.
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exactly. sometimes you should watch movies to have a GOOD time people. not everything should be dissected and criticized.
 
1. It's one of the worst pieces of garbage ever put to film.

2. They spent a fortune making said garbage. At least Uwe Boll has low budgets.

3. Fire that can't make right turns, viruses uploaded from Apple Powerbooks into alien spacecraft, Judd Hirsch as a horrible Jewish stereotype(Oy Vey!), The US government entrusting an alien spacecraft to Will Smith because he saw one fly once, and Randy Quaid managing to embarass the image of dudes who live in trailers(no small feat).

I can go on, but I'd have to find my thesis.

One last thing, the phrase "popcorn movie" does not excuse any piece of trash you want to stick in your DVD player. Jaws is a good popcorn movie. Big Trouble in Little China is a good silly popcorn movie. Independence Day is rancid juvenile popcorn.
 
And yea I realize Jeff Goldblum and Will Smith are in it. Big deal.
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It's good BECAUSE Jeff Goldblum and Will Smith are in it... not in spite of them.

Besides that, it has a great - if cheesy and overly patriotic - score, a collection of hilarious one liners, and a few unintentionally funny speeches.
1. It's one of the worst pieces of garbage ever put to film.
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I don't disagree, but unlike you, I find it thoroughly entertaining.
 
"We're going to give them a virus. It's like giving the computer a cold!"

Nevertheless, I still enjoy the movie despite its absurdity.
 
OpinionatedCyborg said:
It's good BECAUSE Jeff Goldblum and Will Smith are in it... not in spite of them.

Besides that, it has a great - if cheesy and overly patriotic - score, a collection of hilarious one liners, and a few unintentionally funny speeches.

I don't disagree, but unlike you, I find it thoroughly entertaining.
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I wouldn't care if people en masse thought of it a unintentionally funny, cheesy movie, like Roadhouse, or Battlefield Earth. But there are people who genuinely like Independence Day, and the thought burns.
 
Dali said:
I think GAF hates the idea that a computer virus written in English and compatible with our technology was somehow compiled to run on alien computers. I on the other hand realize it's a brainless summer movie and enjoy it for what it is.
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They managed to use our language and our systems to send their signal through our satellite system. They basically uploaded something that would stop that, forcing everyone to lower their shields. Totally believable - :D
 
Tobor said:
One last thing, the phrase "popcorn movie" does not excuse any piece of trash you want to stick in your DVD player. Jaws is a good popcorn movie. Big Trouble in Little China is a good silly popcorn movie. Independence Day is rancid juvenile popcorn.
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you sound like you got rejected after auditioning for a part in the movie... so bitter.
 
I'm aware it's a fancy B-movie, and it's my favorite B-movie of all time. I think I've seen it more than the first Star Wars (I need to change that!).
 
Jinfash said:
you sound like you rejected from taking a part in the movie... so bitter.
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Not really, it's just a movie I love to hate. Everybody has one. That one movie that people love that just rubs you the wrong way.

I meant what I said about the phrase "popcorn movie" though. It doesn't have to be synonymous with "shitty movie".
 
Tobor said:
I wouldn't care if people en masse thought of it a unintentionally funny, cheesy movie, like Roadhouse, or Battlefield Earth. But there are people who genuinely like Independence Day, and the thought burns.
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Take heart at least that every passing year it loses more and more "luster" and becomes cheesier and cheesier. In another decade it will be like those airplane disaster movies or burning hotel movies of the 70's are viewed ;)
 
Stoney Mason said:
Take heart at least that every passing year it loses more and more "luster" and becomes cheesier and cheesier. In another decade it will be like those airplane disaster movies or burning hotel movies of the 70's are viewed ;)
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This is true. I watched one of the Airport movies('70 maybe?) a month or two ago, and it was hilarious. Time heals all mental wounds.
 
I liked it. But then again, I was only a kid when I first watched it and I know not to take it too seriously. If you hate it because of lack of believability or plausibility (e.g. the alien computer virus from an Apple Powerbook or the Will Smith being given the job of flying the craft etc.), something like Jurassic Park or Indiana Jones must burn with the fire of a thousand suns.

I like it for its excellent use of special effects. Seriously though, seeing the scene where the cloud broke and the ship cast a shadow over Washington for the first time gave me chills. Chills. The design of the alien crafts, the areal battles, the ruined cities etc. more than make up for what it lacks in seriousness.
 
viciouskillersquirrel said:
I liked it. But then again, I was only a kid when I first watched it and I know not to take it too seriously. If you hate it because of lack of believability or plausibility (e.g. the alien computer virus from an Apple Powerbook or the Will Smith being given the job of flying the craft etc.), something like Jurassic Park or Indiana Jones must burn with the fire of a thousand suns.

I like it for its excellent use of special effects. Seriously though, seeing the scene where the cloud broke and the ship cast a shadow over Washington for the first time gave me chills. Chills. The design of the alien crafts, the areal battles, the ruined cities etc. more than make up for what it lacks in seriousness.
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Nope. Enjoyed both immensely(Except for the kids in JP). Raiders is one of my favorite movies of all time.

Quality increases suspension of disbelief.
 
I remember being pissed when my mother made me go see it instead of whatever else it was i wanted to see.


I left so fuckin' glad I saw it...I still don't hate it, even though when i go back to watch it I can't help but to wonder how the fuck they greenlit the dialog in that script.
 
It's almost as if it were created to be a parody of typical Hollywood crap. Had me looking carefully in the credits for a "j/k"
 
ID4 set the standard of crappy summer blockbusters that we have today. It showed how Hollywood could easily market to the lowest common denominator and make butt loads of cash.
 
Because it is bad and you should feel bad.
 
Gantz said:
ID4 set the standard of crappy summer blockbusters that we have today. It showed how Hollywood could easily market to the lowest common denominator and make butt loads of cash.
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I think it set the standard that hype and a cool image for a trailer is enough to snow people. Once they showed the white house blowing up it was like the buzz film that had to be a hit or something despite the quality. It also was the rise of Will Smith who was sort of a sleeper star waiting to hit it big.
 
Just want to throw one more thing out there. There's a funny scene in the first X-Files movie. Mulder comes out of a bar drunk to take a piss, and if you look carefully, he's pissing on an Independence Day poster. Chris Carter put it in on purpose. :lol
 
I can never hate this movie. It just totally blew me away when first seeing it, so grandiose epic.

Of course it's hard for me to watch it again, simply because I'v seen this movie far too many times growing up.
 
viruses uploaded from Apple Powerbooks into alien spacecraft
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This. Oh man, i didnt know what to think about that, laugh or cry, but hopefully the movie was almost over.


One of the worst movie ever, cheesy as hell, the president going in a aircraft to fight aliens ? wait what? Plus the usual crap, like when Will Smith punchs fome Alien in the face, what the fuck.

Maybe a fun movie to watch if you were a kid when it was released. :lol Im glad i watched it on dvd years later.
 
Kandrick said:
This. Oh man, i didnt know what to think about that, laugh or cry, but hopefully the movie was almost over.


One of the worst movie ever, cheesy as hell, the president going in a aircraft to fight aliens ? wait what? Plus the usual crap, like when Will Smith punchs fome Alien in the face, what the fuck.

Maybe a fun movie to watch if you were a kid, but fuck, that sucked hard.
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What an awesome review.
 
I loved the movie and still do. I dont know what about it that makes me do, I just can't help but enjoy it.:lol
 
I used to watch the big disaster scene over and over again when I was younger. I even had that crappy Playstation game.

Ugh, I wish 9/11 never happened. Disaster films seem to have lost their balls ever since.
 
Stoney Mason said:
Take heart at least that every passing year it loses more and more "luster" and becomes cheesier and cheesier. In another decade it will be like those airplane disaster movies or burning hotel movies of the 70's are viewed ;)
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You still sure about this Stoney? :lol
 
It seems like this movie is on TV all the time.

Whenever I'm flipping through the channels -- "oh, there's Independence Day."
 
Stoney Mason said:
Yep. Talk to a lot of people now and they'll tell you how kick ass Transformers was. Give it a decade or two. Time is on our side ;)
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Until the release of Transformers 2. :D
 
It's a fun movie to watch as long as you don't go all super geek and point out all the sifi rules that were broken. Same as 10,000 BC.
 
* Look, I really don't think they flew ninety billion light-years to come down here and start a fight, and get all rowdy.

* No, sir, I'm just a little anxious to get up there and whup E.T.'s ass, that's all.

* Knights we are ready free. Knight one FOX 3!

* Oh, no. You did NOT shoot that green shit at me!

* That's right! That's right! [He is pulled back by his tangle parachute] Get off me! Get off me! [Frees himself] That's what you get! Look at you! Ship all banged up! Who's the man? Huh? Who's the man?! Wait until I get another plane! I'm lining all your friends up right beside you!

* [punches the alien as it emerges semi-consciously from its spaceship] Welcome to Earth!

* Now that's what I call a close encounter.

* Y'know, this was supposed to be my weekend off. But noooo. You got me out here, draggin' your heavy ass, through the burnin' desert, with your dreadlocks (tentacles) sticking out the back of my parachute. You gotta come down here with an attitude, actin' all big and bad…and WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SMELL?! [screams and kicks the alien] I could've been at a BARBECUE! But I ain't mad.

* [Remembers at the last moment to grab two cigars] Almost put a hex on the whole damn thing.

* I have GOT to get me one of these!

* That's right say hello to the earthling!

* [Just before launching a nuke at the alien] Peace!

* We’re not hit! We’re not hit! Stop side-seat driving!

* WHOOOOO!!!!!!!!! Elvis has left the building!

* [To Dylan, looking at the exploding alien ship] Didn't I promise you fireworks?

------

Good morning. [Turns on mic] Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world, and you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. Mankind. That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom… Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution… but from annihilation. We're fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice: We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!
 
Dali said:
I think GAF hates the idea that a computer virus written in English and compatible with our technology was somehow compiled to run on alien computers. I on the other hand realize it's a brainless summer movie and enjoy it for what it is.
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But but the signal was in binary and Jeff Goldblum found it because they were transmitting it with Earth's own satellites, so if they used a binary signal in the first place why wouldn't it work in reverse?

Yeah there are a ton of ways the suspension of disbelief could be broken but it's a movie about aliens. Big deal. :P
 
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