Independence Day: Resurgence

Director: Roland Emmerich

Writers: Nicolas Wright, James A. Woods

Stars: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman

Strength: Cast

Weakness: Plot

Runtime: 120 min

Rating: 2.5/5

PLOT: Twenty years after the event of alien invasion, Earth is visited by extra-terrestrials with an advanced unprecedented force that puts mankind's new space defences to question. 

REVIEW: The follow-up on the 1996 classic includes an array of young actors that include Liam Hemsworth, playing the role of a fighter pilot, Jake; Travis Tope, who is Jake's partner; Maika Monroe, who is engaged to Jake and plays the role of the former President's daughter; and Sela Ward, who plays the role of a speechwriter for the current president. The new cast brought in energy to the film, but it was not enough to save the film from the frail plot. 

Director Roland Emmerich crosses too often between characters and storylines that disrupted the coherence of the film. The pace was unadjusted for as whenever something important was about to take place, a mix of suspense, seriousness and silliness is introduced that makes the segment lose its importance.

The characters in the film are flimsy, with dialogues that are very stiff and showcases destruction that are unreasonably extreme. The CGI was visually impressive, but it has been taken a bit too far. The director attempted to follow the original film's strategy to incorporate humour amid great peril that was successful in the original one, but felt inconsistent and forced in this sequel. 

Overall, the film did not have enough to offer and the incredible CGI is only pleasing to the eye for few moments, after which it becomes too hard to watch. Provided with a better script, the talented cast could have provided a much more entertaining experience.

Reviewed by Syed Ahnaf Sadeed