Independence Day 1996

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Independence Day ★★★ 1996 (PG-13)

The biggest of the new wave of disaster flicks paying tribute to the Irwin Allen celebrity-fests of the ‘70s finds an alien armada descending on Earth to create some fireworks on the July 4th weekend. The fate of the world rests in the hands of an unlikely band of Earthlings led by President Whitmore (Pullman), a computer expert (Goldblum), and a Marine fighter pilot (Smith). Special effects, despite forgoing some of the more expensive newer technology, don't disappoint. Strong (if not Alist) cast and plenty of action. Devlin and Emmerich wrote the script while promoting “Stargate,” after a reporter asked Emmerich if he believed in aliens. 135m/C VHS, DVD, UMD . Bill Pullman, Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Judd Hirsch, Margaret Colin, Randy Quaid, Mary McDonnell, Robert Loggia, Brent Spiner, James Rebhorn, Vivica A. Fox, James Duval, Harry Connick Jr., Harvey Fierstein, Richard Speight Jr., Adam Baldwin, Bill Smitrovich, Mae Whitman, Kiersten Warren, Giuseppe Andrews, Devon Gummersall, Leland Orser, Raphael Sbarge, Bobby Hosea, Dan Lauria, Robert Pine, John Capodice, Lyman Ward; D: Roland Emmerich; W: Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich; C: Karl Walter Lindenlaub; M: David Arnold. Oscars ‘96: Visual FX; MTV Movie Awards ‘97: Kiss (Vivica A. Fox/Will Smith).

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