Independence Day: The DVD
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
Do you value your independence?
It's been said there are no new ideas, and the film Independence Day is a great illustration of that thought. Serious sci-fi fans will recognize bits and pieces of several other films and stories in this script by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich, including War of the Worlds, Star Wars, and even a bit of Mars Attacks.
That's not to say that this film isn't worth seeing again and again. Many of the special effects are just plain amazing, and the flying sequences are excellent. Stars Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum add just enough comic relief to keep the movie from getting too heavy. Smith and Goldblum have a love/hate relationship, as do Goldblum and his father, played by veteran Judd Hirsch. While this film may be a conglomeration of other classic sci-fi scripts and ideas, it is still a great summer film to share with the kids and family. Smith's cocky characterization mixed with Goldblum's incessant fussing worrying make them great partners and great entertainers. Also note the cameo by actor Brent Spiner, who plays "Data" on Star Trek.
DVD Features
Fox has released this film in anamorphic widescreen version, with a Dolby 5.1 Surround sound track, and captioned subtitles in English and Spanish, and a French, Spanish, or English sound track. This DVD is excellent, with sound that matches the special effects in vivid color, quality, and detail.
DVD Additional Features
Not content to add some additional features, this 2-DVD set includes nine minutes of restored footage, and another DVD containing original artwork, alternate endings, three documentaries on the making of the film, and links to online games and content. The family can spend hours just viewing all the additional content, and it really makes you want to watch the film again, too. Two DVDs for the price of one make this an outstanding entertainment value.
