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Thursday, June 30, 2016

#JustaQuickiePlease: Independence Day: Resurgence Review

Roland Emmerich returns twenty years later in the much-anticipated sequel to the 1996 Sci-Fi blockbuster.  With him, much of the original stars make a determined appearance, minus Smith whose absence is remarkably apparent.  With that said, the younger cast is unable to capture the genuineness, wit, or affection of their predecessors as any real character development is sorely lacking.  Hemsworth is not his brother's equal in presence or talent, and Jessie Usher feels utterly lifeless as a replacement to Smith’s iconic portrayal.    The remaining newcomers fare just as disappointingly, with their collective, unmistakably stale performances.   However, Goldblum, Paxton, and Spiner steal the show, reliving their leads with a renewed zeal, with Spiner as the undisputed standout in his extended role.   
                        

Where Emmerich fails is in his reliance on CGI over the heart that made the first film so very special.   The effects are stunning, but the lack of the soul of the original eclipses their massive presence.  Add to that some glaring plot anomalies, a predictable ending, and a lack of the feeling of real danger, this second falls monumentally short.  Even the emotion and humor are forced, as the script drags through another orgy of global destruction.  What a shame.  Of course, they leave open the possibility of a third, which, depending on revenues, may or may not happen.  3 out of 5 Kernels; still a cosmic sized joy ride, but after two decades in the making, they should have delivered another modern day classic instead of an inferior counterpart.  

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