Independence Day
Independence Day (also promoted as ID4) is a 1996 American science fiction action film directed by Roland Emmerich, written by Emmerich and the film's producer Dean Devlin, and stars an ensemble cast that consists of Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch, Margaret Colin, Randy Quaid, Robert Loggia, Vivica A. Fox, James Rebhorn, and Harvey Fierstein. The film focuses on disparate groups of people who converge in the Nevada desert in the aftermath of a worldwide attack by a powerful extraterrestrial race. With the other people of the world, they launch a counterattack on July 4—Independence Day in the United States. While promoting Stargate in Europe, Emmerich conceived the film while answering a question about his belief in the existence of alien life. Devlin and Emmerich decided to incorporate a large-scale attack having noticed that aliens in most invasion films travel long distances in outer space only to remain hidden when reaching Earth. Shooting began on July 28, 1995, in New York City, and the film was completed on October 8, 1995. Considered a significant turning point in the history of the Hollywood blockbuster, Independence Day was at the forefront of the large-scale disaster film and sci-fi resurgence of the mid-late 1990s. It was released worldwide on July 3, 1996, but began showing on July 2 (the same day the film's story begins) in original release as a result of a high level of anticipation among moviegoers. The film received mixed reviews, with praise for the performances, musical score and visual effects, but criticism for its characters. It grossed over $817.4 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1996 and the second-highest-grossing film ever at the time, behind Jurassic Park (1993). The film won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Sound. The sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence, was released 20 years later on June 24, 2016, as part of a planned series of films.
[Bullet Ricocheting] Steven: What the hell are you doing? I'm sorry. My fault. My fault. That Coke can was protected by the craft's shield, and we can't penetrate their defenses. We know that already. What's your point? Right. My point is, if we can't beat their defenses, then we gotta get around them. Major, one more time. Anytime. [Takes Deep Breath]
Independence Day
How did you do that? I gave it a cold. I gave it a virus. A computer virus. Are you telling us you can send out a signal that will disable all their shields? That's right. Just like they used our satellites against us, we can use their own signal against them. If we plant a virus into that mother ship, it's gonna then filter down into all the corresponding ships below. I--I'm sorry. I don't understand. Just how, exactly, do we infect the mother ship with this virus? Well... we're going to, uh... have to, um, ahem, fly their alien craft out of our atmosphere and dock with it. We can enter here, as shown in these satellite photos. We then upload the virus. We then set off some kind of explosion, which will disable it, and that'll disorient the smaller ships below, and that could buy, I think, at least some time to, uh... to take 'em-- take 'em out. Take 'em down. Do your... do your stuff. This is ridiculous. How long would their shields be down? Uh... I don't know. A matter of minutes. You want us to coordinate a massive worldwide counterstrike with a window of only a few minutes? With the shields down, that might be possible. Oh, please. We don't have the manpower or the resources to launch that kind of a campaign. Not to mention that this whole cockamamie plan is dependent on a machine that no one in this world is qualified to operate. I wouldn't say that, sir. I've seen these things in action, and I'm well aware of their maneuvering capabilities. With your permission, General, I'd like the opportunity to try. That thing is a wreck. Crash-landed back in the fifties. We don't even know if it's capable of flying. Jim, uh, remove the clamps. [Clicking]
Independence Day
Hoo. I understand you are upset over the death of your wife, but that's no excuse for making another fatal mistake. The only mistake I ever made was to appoint a sniveling little weasel like you as secretary of defense. I don't think you understand-- However, that is one mistake I'm thankful to say that I don't have to live with. Mr. President-- Mr. Nimziki...you're fired.
Independence Day
Command has attempted to compile a list of casualties and losses, but information is sketchy at best. Well, we know we've lost the Belgian contingent in the Sinai. There's a strong possibility there may be more reinforcements hiding in the Golan Strait. [Speaking Arabic] What the hell's he saying? It seems they're getting a signal. Old Morse code.
Independence Day
We have confirmed reports of combat-ready divisions in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. That's impressive, considering it's all being done with, uh... Morse code. Are our forces here? We have sufficient aircraft for the battle plan, but... But what, General? Pilots are coming up short. Well, then find 'em. TV: Ham radio operators from New York toJapan trade rumors of military forces in hiding, unwilling to reveal themselves for fear of annihilation...
Independence Day
All right, guys, listen up. Mitchell: All right, pay close attention. These F-18s are very different than the jets you've piloted before. It's kind of strong. You'll have to forgive the expression, but you're about to get a crash course in modern avionics. Ugh! Keep it coming. Keep it coming. OK. You got it. All right, listen up. Before we can begin, we're going to have to get a little background information on your flight experience. Uh, let's start with you. Who, me? Uh... Well, I'm, uh, ahem, Russell Casse, sir. Um...and, uh, after 'Nam, I, uh, got into crop-dusting. And, uh, been doing that ever since. Oh, and on a, uh, personal note, sir, I'd just like to add that, uh... ever since I was kidnapped by aliens 10 years ago, I've been dying for some payback, and I just want you to know that, uh, I won't let you down. You have one tactical nuclear missile we're loading into this launcher we're installing under the right wing. This is the firing mechanism, to be attached to the ship's main console. Just like the Amraam launch pad on the Stealth. Except the nuke will not detonate at impact. You'll have 30 seconds to get your asses out of there. Good luck, gentlemen.
Independence Day
30 seconds. Tell me. Tell me. It was the strongest radio transmitter we could get. It'll tell us when you've uploaded the virus. 30 seconds. Don't you think that's cutting it a little too close? Oh, we're gonna be well on our way back home before we shoot that thing off. Why you? David! I don't--Excuse me. I don't understand why you can't show someone else how to plant the virus, someone who is trained-- No, no. Something may go wrong. I may have to think quickly, adjust the signal. Who knows? Hey, you know how, like, I'm always trying to save the planet?
Independence Day