ID4orever!

When it comes to alien invasion movies, this one rests near the top for me, thanks to its mix of great special FX (which still holds up in my eyes), a winning cast with favorites like Will Smith, Robert Loggia, and Jeff Goldblum, and a tone that keeps the movie fun and exciting. The story is nothing new, but the execution of it, with it's tense build-up to the alien attack told through various characters and the subsequent large-scale destruction marks this movie a true successor to 50s invasion flicks like George Pal's classic The War of the Worlds and B-movie cousins like Earth Vs the Flying Saucers. I remember the ad campaign for this movie especially well, with each expertly edited teaser ratcheting up the tension with people reacting to the size of the flying ships and shots of it just breaking through the clouds, with the countdown to the fateful day and title of the movie.

The cast is another big selling point of this movie, starting with Jeff Goldblum at the peak of his quirky sci-fi hero powers as the cable-tv technician with the know-how (and ex-girlfriend in the White House) to save the day. Will Smith took to the action hero stage with this movie and he earns his place there with a funny and engaging performance as the fighter pilot who takes "close encounters" with an alien to a new level, with a right punch to the face. The movie is filled with other great character actors like Robert Loggia, Judd Hirsh, Margret Colin, and the unforgettable Brent Spiner as the Area 51 scientist who could have used a vacation and a comb prior to the alien invasion.

The ending is cheesy as hell, but director Roland Emmerich manages to walk the movie to its conclusion along a fine line of fun without sacrificing real tension. Only with Randy Quaid and his alien-probed crop duster pilot character does the movie seem in danger being cartoonish.

I have real fond memories of the movie. I was hyped up to run and get the toy alien action figures (with a PC game on a floppy disk!) and later buy the movie on VHS with its lenticular cover. Knowing that this movie is playing at the Blue Starlite has made my week! I can't wait to see it again on the big screen! Here's hoping the sequel next year lives up to the original.