The film “Independence Day” is the cinema event that shook the nineties and quickly became a legendary blockbuster loved by millions of science fiction fans. Even though the movie first appeared in the summer of 1996, it still remains a cult movie for the alien invasion movie fans all over the world.
The general wave of fascination by space adventures has started in the fifties and sixties when humans started to make the first steps on the way of studying the universe and deploying spaceships, satellites and people into the outer space. The cinema immediately reacted to the fashionable interests of the public and started to produce dozens of films and TV series about space adventures, aliens, unknown planets and places “where no man has gone before”. Each decade is known for its biggest and most legendary films about space. To my mind, “Independence Day” is, certainly, one of such movies made in the nineties.
Science-fiction has many definitions. This genre covers many sub-genres and topics, a broad range of themes could be referred to science-fiction. One of the most important features of science-fiction as a genre is plausibility (Definition of Science Fiction Movies). Movies of this genre must present an explanation of why the things in them happen according to a certain scenario, if such explanation is not given – the movie falls into the category of fantasy.
“Independence Day” is a classic science-fiction film as it has the most standard markers of science-fiction: destroying humankind by technology, wars between worlds, arrival of the aliens and, of course, popular since eighties theme of computer hacking and cyber viruses (Dirks).
More carefully the characteristics of the science-fiction genre are presented by Dachary Carey. The author names such themes as space and time travel, futuristic or alternate history, dystopia, advanced technologies and aliens (Carey). What makes the story science-fictional is the fact that it follows the rules and laws of science, to a certain degree.
“Independence Day” presents a global event, the whole planet Earth is facing a deadly threat, and the humankind finds itself several hours away from complete elimination by the alien invaders. The fact that the tragic event is happening on the fourth of July makes the meaning of the movie title deeper. The fourth of July is no longer the Independence Day of America; it becomes the day of the battle for the independence of the whole planet, the day when the mankind unites to fight against the unexpected invasion. The film starts with the series of ruinations to make the things look very bad for the people of Earth, but the standard set of characters comes to rescue the world.
The world saviors’ team is traditionally equipped with a tough fighter-pilot and an incredibly smart scientist that thrive under pressure. Another essential figure for this type of movie is the President whose speech about “the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind” serves as the stimulation for people of Earth to unite and join the forces; it also opens the beginning of the victory over the invaders. Social issues are another typical theme for science fiction genre. In “Independence Day” the human society is put against a major threat and has to make a choice of how to act next, how to defeat the enemy. The human nature makes the people of Earth unite and stand up to the challenge, protect their homes and their Motherlands, this is the message about the nature of humans the film carries (Muir). Anyone could relate to such issues, anyone who has loved ones and a home would protect them from the invaders. The film’s success is based on the director’s global thinking and perfect choice of the theme.
Works Cited
Carey, Dachary. Characteristics of the Science Fiction Genre. Life123, n.d. Web.
Definition of Science Fiction Movies. Explore-Science-Fiction-Movies. Explore-Science-Fiction-Movies, n.d. Web.
Dirks, Tim. Science Fiction Films. Filmsite, n.d. Web.
Muir, John Kenneth. “John Kenneth Muir’s Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV”. Blogspot. 2012. Web.