It’s twenty years since the last movie (both in and out of the movie’s universe). What happens now?

– Gee, It’s Good To Be Together Again

The trailer opens with lots of talk about togetherness and the past and I think that’s a good tone to start with for the movie. The idea that the world became cohesive after the first attacks and that they’re working as one now will be important when the aliens attack because you want to feel like it’s a big thing and if it’s a global war against the aliens it increases the scale significantly.

– I Bet His Phone Is An Android

The return of Brent Spiner’s scientist, in my eyes, is a stroke of genius. He was used in the first film to communicate (albeit briefly) on behalf of the aliens. They used his brain and body as a microphone/translator. So, it would make sense, if he had an insight into their ways after such a thing. Plus, we technically didn’t see him die, so it’s fine.

– Not The Fresh Prince

There is going to be ample opportunity in this film to have a million inspirational speeches, so I’m sure everyone will get their moment. It seems we get a glimpse of Jessie Usher, who plays the son of Will Smith’s character here, giving it his all. But I gotta be honest, his voice… falls a little flat for me.

– Goldblum, Jeff Goldblum

I can’t tell if I love his “They like to get the landmarks” line or not. Either way, it’s appropriate. Summer blockbusters aren’t the same without him hamming his way through the action.

———————————————————————————————————————

OVERALL: I hate the term “post 9/11 America” but for once I think the term has meaning and that is towards movies. I’ve notice a trend since 2001 of disaster movies being met with a much bigger disapproval than they did before and it’s completely understandable.
I’m not normally a disaster movie sort of guy but I have affection for the first ID and I actually like the look of this one but I can’t see it being embraced as fully as the first one was anymore. At least not in America. Overseas, it’s going to do gangbusters but… there could be a backlash towards this in the states. Who knows. Either way, I think I’m in.

The director Roland Emmerich has a bit of an obvious kink for disaster movies. He followed up the original with the likes of 2012, The Day After Tomorrow, and the Matthew Broderick version of Godzilla. Subtlety was never in his vocabulary.

What has been in his vocabulary, though, is “yes, more money please”. Both in his budgets and in his box office returns. With an Independence Day 3 already announced, there is a lot riding on his shoulders to keep that trend going.

– Suspension of Disbelief

Listen, when dealing with a movie that is about aliens coming to destroy the earth, you can’t quibble too much with logic. Like for example, the idea that Jeff Goldblum’s character has been brought to a secret location and then shown something so large you literally couldn’t miss it for hundreds of miles.

– Speaking of Large

Everything is going to be huge in this film. The action, the destruction, everything. I have a feeling we’re going to be numb to cities being wiped off the map before we’re even halfway through.

– Shiny

I am kinda impressed though that they thought through the aftermath of the last film. It actually makes a lot of sense that the world would become very militarised after an attack like that and that it would upgrade it’s technology from the alien wreckage. Kudos.

– Jeff Frickin Goldblum

This man deserves to be in more eyeballs. All his movies should make as much money as this inevitably does. Even if he has to dress up in a space-suit with Liam Hemsworth.

———————————————————————————————————————

OVERALL: There is not a lot to tell from this trailer other than; most of the cast are back, there will be explosions, they’ve seemingly found a story that carries on 20 years later. But no Will Smith to please the crowds may mean that this one might not be as much money in the bank as before.