By Bernie ‘The Movie Guy’ Ment

Contributing Writer

Twenty years ago, aliens invaded Earth, destroyed our landmarks, killed our people and nearly devastated our planet in the movie “Independence Day.” Brave men and women stood up against them and drove them away. Now here it is, the modern day, and scientists have figured out how to incorporate the alien technology into our weaponry, making us a potential force to be reckoned with should they ever choose to return.

And return they do, with a larger ship than the one they first attacked with in the sequel, “Independence Day: Resurgence.”

In staging this chapter, director Roland Emmerich shows the resilience of the human spirit. In this alternate ‘present day,’ all of our landmarks have been rebuilt (there are subtle differences, though, that if you look closely enough you can pick out) and the new technology makes our familiar ships and aircraft look significantly improved. We’re going to need those upgrades if the aliens come back, but the question raised is, are we truly ready to take them on?

I didn’t have any high expectations for this sequel, but I was pleasantly surprised by it and overjoyed that it wasn’t completely predictable. Noticeably absent, however, is the presence of Will Smith who played Captain Steven Hiller in the first installment. Without him, the ace flying responsibilities fall onto the next generation of aviators which includes Liam Hemsworth as Jake Morrison and Jesse T. Usher as Dylan Hiller, the grown son of Smith’s character who was introduced as a child in the original film.

Their rivalry forms the basis for some major character tension that helps to elevate this movie past the ‘just for kids’ stigma attached to some otherwise great science fiction filmography. Throw in Maika Monroe as the grown daughter of former President Tom Whitmore (Bill Pullman) and you’ve got a trio of hotshot pilots who more than compensate for Smith’s departure.

Also back from the brink are Jeff Goldblum, playing scientist David Levinson, who just may have the solution for how to kill the new alien queen, although he still doesn’t like to fly.

Judd Hirsch returns as Julius Levinson, David’s father, who is failing miserably on the book circuit as he struggles to keep senior citizens awake while he regales them with stories from his book as he tries to huckster copies at old age homes.

Pullman is back too. His character has become old and grizzled from his constant state of worry over the impending return of the aliens. Unable to sleep and constantly babbling about the potential looming crisis, his family, doctors and friends have chalked it up to aging and dementia, although the underlying causes may bear more truth than anyone cares to accept.

The new effects are extraordinary and as you would expect, the attacks by the new mother ship are devastating to the planet. Fortunately, some of our people do manage to ‘connect’ with the aliens, including President Whitmore.

But even more in tune with the aliens is Brent Spiner (Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation) who returns as Dr. Brakish Okun who stole the first movie as the eccentric scientist who is rarely allowed to leave the facility at Area 51. His own psychic links with the aliens still thoroughly intact, he might very well hold the keys with which to fight them and perhaps even go further than anyone might expect from our technologically inferior planet.

This isn’t a perfect sequel, but then again, there rarely are, especially when we had to wait two decades to see these characters in action once again. It’s still a fun romp, though, and it sets the stage for yet another entry in the franchise. I suspect we won’t have to wait quite as long this time for the next one.

Let the fireworks continue. I give “Independence Day: Resurgence” four out five stars.