Independence Day in November?
November 18, 2008 11:51 am action, science fiction/fantasy 
Tonight, aliens blow up the White House
“Independence Day” seems like an odd choice for a November movie screening.
As a holiday and a film, “Independence Day” is tied pretty closely to the fight for “liberty, justice and the American way.” It’s stirring, patriotic and action-packed. It’s got fighter pilots going against aliens mano a mano.
After all, the mega-popular flick did open in theaters July 3, 1996.
When an alien invasion wipes out Washington D.C., Los Angeles and New York City, a forlorn group of survivors led by President Whitmore (Bill Pullman) meet in the Nevada desert to launch a desperate counter-attack. Their only hope lies in the plan hatched by a cocky Marine pilot (Will Smith), a computer whiz (Jeff Goldblum) and a goofy Kansas crop-duster (Randy Quaid).
“Independence Day,” which won an Oscar for its stunning visual effects, ushered in a whole crop of alien invasion and disaster flicks like “Armageddon” and “Dante’s Peak.”
It also launched the grand tradition of the Will Smith Summer Blockbuster — ensuring that Smith would churn out a best-selling blockbuster every summer ad infinitum. He’s delivered on that promise with “Men in Black,” “Bad Boys II” and “I, Robot,” following up this July with the lukewarm “Hancock.”
(”Hancock,” about a hard-living superhero, pulled in $62.6 million when it hit theaters. In contrast, “Independence Day” grossed $50 million — in 1996 dollars! — during its opening weekend and has raked in $817.4 million in worldwide box office receipts so far.)
“Independence Day” screens tonight at 7 p.m. at the Fremont theater, 1025 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo. Show up a half-hour early for trivia and prizes.
Tickets are $7.50.
***
Image courtesy of this blog. Thanks, Dr. Richard Parent at the University of Vermont!
Tyrone Huevo :
Date: November 18, 2008 @ 1:15 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t this movie introduce the effect of flying cars — cars that fall out of the sky and crash into other cars? In Twister, there were flying big-rig tanker trucks AND flying cows.
Sarah :
Date: November 18, 2008 @ 3:58 pm
I’m not sure about flying cars versus flying cows …
However, “Independence Day” beat out “Twister” for best visual effects at the Academy Awards AND was the highest grossing film of 1996. Take that, tornadoes!