Three years ago as I sat down for an interview with German-born director Roland Emmerich in Singapore, he was very excited as he shared details of his upcoming film, Independence Day: Resurgence, the sequel to his 1996 box office hit Independence Day.
“Part of the sequel will be set in China,” he said.
I had asked why and Emmerich said it was simply because more nations are involved in the battle against the extraterrestial invaders. I jokingly asked if Malaysia would be involved in the battle and “maybe” was his answer.
That “maybe” has turned into a two-second scene featuring the iconic Petronas Twin Towers which is destroyed in the new film.
The last time the Towers had a big setting in a Hollywood production was in Entrapment (1999), which starred Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones, three years after Emmerich’s Independence Day.
When Independence Day was first released in 1996, both adults and children couldn’t stop talking about it.
Some even went as far as imitating Bill Pullman’s iconic presidential speech as President Whitmore before declaring war on the invaders.
One of the best shots in both the first and new film is the vast foreboding shadow that falls across Earth, signaling the arrival of the alien invaders.
But Resurgence isn’t just a copy of the 1950s sci-fi genre or of panicked people running into the camera frame while skyscrappers behind them toppled over.
The alien threat is intercut with stories involving colourful characters, with ethnic and sexual diversity, who have chosen to put themselves before others in order to
defeat the invaders.
“We had 20 years to prepare... so did they”, is the tagline for Resurgence. Picking up after the first attack, the nations of the world have set aside their prejudices and differences, uniting against one common enemy, aliens.
The world is at peace and its population enjoy the technological advancements left by the invaders. As Earth celebrates its 20th anniversary of triumph against the invaders, the aggressive extra-terrestrials are also planning for a much bigger invasion, with a bigger ship.
Will Smith’s fighter pilot Steven Hiller is assumed dead and he is succeeded by his son, Dylan (Jessie Usher). As the captain of the US Air Force, he is helped by former first daughter Patricia Whitmore (Maika Monroe, who replaces Mae Whitman in the 1996 version) and Jake (Liam Hemsworth), a rebellious pilot with a devil-may-care attitude.
As the skies darken during a celebratory speech by new US President Lanford (Sela Ward), satellite enginner David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), who is investigating strange sphere-like drawings left in the aftermath of the 1996 invasion, picks up clues on a fresh alien intrusion.
Meanwhile, the eccentric scientist Brackish Okun (Brent Spiner) wakes up from his 20-year coma. Elsewhere, Levinson’s father Julius (Judd Hirsch) is tasked with ferrying schoolchildren to safety after the aliens’ first wave of attack.
Also joining them are Hong Kong singer, actress and model Angelababy and Charlotte Gainsbourg, the latter as Levinson’s love interest.
As expected, the visual effects in Resurgence gets a massive upgrade. The special effects are more elaborate, realistic and detailed.
Emmerich has gone all out to recapture that winning feel from the 1996 spectacle. Bigger and better are the words to use and with all the excessive explosions and destruction, Resurgence is one chaotic film but in a good way.
The giant saucer Mothership has a looming presence as it hovers over the Pacific ocean. The smaller fighter ships used by the aliens comes with an upgrade as well. Less clunky in appearance, they look like cool futuristic cars.
The storytelling is swiftly delivered with a quick pace. Emmerich being the maverick director that he is, knows when to give in to the fantastical demands of his audience.
It’s unashamed visual fan service that will please lovers of the sci-fi invasion genre. Whether it is Dylan leading his team to blow up the Mothership while shouting “get ready for a close encounter”, followed by an expletive, or injecting his own brand of humour, you know there is a genuine feeling of excitement.
Plus, in all of Emmerich’s films, he lightly touches on social satire and political gags, just enough without getting bogged down by heavy details.
One downer would be the reveal of the leader of the aliens. I’d not spoil it but I was disappointed. Maybe Emmerich was just taking a jab at the typical look and concept of a villain.
Despite some minor plotholes in the mix as well, Resurgence is still a fun movie to watch. As iconic landmarks around the world are obliterated by the Mothership, the dazzling effects allow viewers to revel in the sheer giddiness of seeing familiar things from a different perspective.
As with its predecessor, Resurgence has its shortcomings but that shouldn’t stop fans of the first film from enjoying themselves.
As for the next generation of moviegoers, welcome onboard!
NOW SHOWING
INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE
Directed by Roland Emmerich
Starring Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Jessie Usher, Liam Hemsworth
Duration: 121 minutes
Rating: P13