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Paul on June 9th, 2004
As someone who switches off any connection to the real world when I walk into a cinema, who enjoys Bond films, and considered Independance Day to be worth getting on DVD, I can honestly say I just didn't care abut this film. Did someone live or die? Who cares ? Even an effects movie should make you feel some bond with the characters, maybe just to laugh at them? But with this film nothing. Great effects but 2/10 as a film
Christopher Rooney on June 7th, 2004
I wish I had read some of the reviews on here before paying money to watch this. A complete waste of a Saturday night. SFX were good, so what, they always are these days, story was pathetic. 2/10.
Angus, UK on June 6th, 2004
Hmmm....well, I got bored. It was good but I found myself worrying more about getting Deep Vein Thrombosis and wondering how to retieve popcorn from down my girlfriend's top than concentrating on the film. Yeah, the FX were good but the whole human interest/storyline/plot was weak. I mean, no-one really batted an eyelid when LA got ripped apart by multiple giant tornados or when massive chunks of ice were falling out of the sky in Japan or even snow in India but only when good old NYC was about to be flooded! Crazeeee! And!!! a decent chunk of the film's time was in Scotland, where were the Scots??!?!? 5-6/10
Patrick Kavanagh on June 5th, 2004
Don't believe people who say this film is bad. Sure, it has that whole predictability of an end of the world action movie, but come on, what did you expect? Jake Gyllenhaal's acting quality has shockingly degenerated since Donnie Darko, but other than those two minor problems, the film is mind-blowing. The special effects will blow you away, and some of the cheesy subplots will also make you a bit weepy, even if you won't admit it. Definitely a worthwhile trip to the movies.
Rob L: London on June 4th, 2004
The most unbelievable line was by the football commentator when he said "It's Celtic 1 - Manchester Utd 3". Absolute tosh and 3/10 for cheek
Richard Everett on June 2nd, 2004
Dont get me wrong, I like a braindead effects extravaganza as much as the next moviegoer. However, this film insults the intelligence so much with its risible plot and awful script that I found myself chuckling in general disgust. Good tidal wave effects though!
Sukikingfisher on June 2nd, 2004
I agree with Brad123 from Wandsworth. If you to see these disaster movies expecting to have to use your brain then you will be disappointed and end up spending time like other reviewers pulling the plot apart. This film is an enjoyable two hours if you want to see some breathtaking big screen special effects and lots of action. I didn't come away worrying about the next ice age but I didn't go to see this film to find out if it could really happen!! Don't take this film seriously and you'll love every minute. Well worth the price of a couple of glasses of wine. 8/10
Nicky on June 2nd, 2004
I agree with brad123, this movie is a complete popcorn movie...go to the cinema and for 2 hours you can forget about the outside world and immerse yourself in the FX. You just have to look at Roland Emmerich's other films to see that the storyline wasn't going to be great but the FX make up for it. I'd give this 7/10 as well.
Phil, London on June 1st, 2004
You knew full well going into this that it's not going to have a plot, dialogue or any character development. That's really not the point. If you want something intelligent and classy, go and see something in French, preferably filmed in black and white with lots of long pauses and silences. If you want something to switch off from the world, enjoy the F/X and you can't go far wrong with something as big as TDAT. Enjoy it for what it's meant to be!
Stephen O'Donnell, Glasgow on June 1st, 2004
I thought it was great. Who cares about the script and plot. It is a great action movie. I went went purely to see this getting blown up and destroyed. 8/10
Declan Greaney on May 31st, 2004
Great FX, lousy script. You've got an hour of Quaid in meeting after meeting telling his head honchos what disasters are coming and you're thinking, GET ON WITH IT. Characters are introduced and then vanish never to be seen again,the dire-logue is excruciating...The scizophrenic story telling has the feel of about twenty different writers on it..AVOID...
Brad123 Wadsworth on May 29th, 2004
Far too many people go see these type of films expecting great scripts and oscar winning performances. It's not, it's a pure popcorn movie, if you can switch off from reality for 2 hours you wil love this. It's been made to entertain and it does that well. Don't expect a shawshank redemption or vanila sky, its plot is paper thin yes but who cares, you get to see 2 hours of pure mayhem and destruction. It kicks off straight away which is good, unlike deep impact whch makes you wait and then you just get 5 minutes of sfx. If you understand beforehand what this film is about and you can switch off and just enjoy the ride you will realy enjoy this. 7 out of 10 for me.
Paula G on May 28th, 2004
The special effects are the winners in this movie... from the truly spectacular opening scene in Antarctica to the mind blowing tidal waves and hurricanes that permeate this movie. British Actor Ian Holm takes home the acting award for me, his portrayal of the Professor based in the weather station in Scotland is beautifully portrayed. As for Denis Quaid.. I dont know what was worse for him, the knowledge of the impending disaster coming his way, or the script handed to him. There is something wearying about the formula that goes with disaster movies. There is always the expert that knows the proverbial s**t is about to hit the fan... and always the Guys in Charge who never listen. I was taken right back to Richard Dreyfuss in Jaws as he tried to explain to the dumb mayor that there was a killer shark in the waters, but would he listen NOOOOOOO. In this drama, Denis Quaid was repeating the same old plot, trying his best to persuade the Vice President of the looming disaster, but would he listen, NOOOOOOO. We also had the inevitable "I promised my son... and I wont let him down" saga...... typical of the American disaster film... only our hero Denis can make his way through a blizzard that would kill all other human life in five seconds flat, and WALK to New York in search of his son, and make it there, if you dont mind, without as much as a chapped lip. It would be wonderful one day to see a disaster movies that had the same level of expertise and input put into THE PLOT, as is put into the special effects. For me the first scene of all as the camera sweeps along the extraordinary scenery of the Antarctic was worth the visit, but after that... formula took over... and well.. you know the rest...
Aaron Bradbury on May 28th, 2004
I'm not quite sure what to make of this film. There is a superbly pathetic scene in the film where characters attempt to 'out-run' ice, which is chasing them down in the eye of the storm. The thing is, they've been told people can freeze to death, and yet some of them aren't even wearing gloves... the special effects are fantastic, but the storyline lets this film down badly. One week there is a scientist telling the worlds leaders that a massive climate based disaster could take place in 100 or 100,000 years... but then it just happens the next week, and the scientist guy tells his son to "sit it out".... ice ages usually last a couple of days, don't they! It was good for the special effects, but I don't believe it’s worth a re-watch. 2 years of hype and build up, and I came away disappointed. 4/10
Dr. James E. Coalfield on May 27th, 2004
If you thought Independence Day was bad, then you are in for a real shock. Forget the hype, forget what the press is saying, this movie is not worth the film it is printed on. Donnie Darko is sadly misplaced in his role, and that goes for most of the actors in the movie. It is similar to Van Helsing insofar as that it is all about special effects, very little work has gone into writing a good script. This just could be the biggest flop of the year, maybe even rivalling Waterworld as the most expensive flop of all time. 3 out of 10 from me, this movie really does not deserve any more, see it at your own peril.
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