Rating: 
Summary: Made me sick
Review: I mean that, literally. This is one of the worst movies that it has ever been my displeasure to have to sit through. Message to the director: Next time, try adding a plot to your movie.
Rating: 
Summary: I'd give it a "1," but then what would I give Stargate?
Review: When I think of awful science fiction movies, three come to mind. Plan 9 From Outer Space, Stargate, and this "gem." Written to the lowest common denominator, and unintentionally hilarious, this is as bad a science fiction movie as you can make with a hundred million dollar budget--except, perhaps, for Stargate.Want to learn how not to write a screenplay? What bad dialogue sounds like on screen? How to insult the viewer's intelligence? It's all here. Will Smith can add this to his "bad" movies column, right next to Wild, Wild West (ugh). Rent this just for a laugh if you're a glutton for punishment.
Rating: 
Summary: Great special effects and a bit of suspense
Review: While there may be a plot hole here and there, this is an enjoyable film that will not leave you hanging at the end. A worthy addition for the discriminating sci-fi aficionado.
Rating:
Summary: Great sci-fi thriller/comedy...
Review: I thought that this was a very enjoyable movie. It's one of those movies that you watch again and again because there are several moments that are just unforgettable. The effects are top-notch, especially in the early parts of the film, as we see city-sized spacecraft appearing almost out of nowhere to hover over major world cities, and then once all is ready, blasting them into rubble. (Of course, the shot of New York City on the morning after the destruction, with the World Trade Center damaged but still standing, is especially poignant now.) However, the movie as a whole is hardly a deep science fiction drama. I agree with those who maintain that the plot is paper-thin, with several gaping holes in logic. But, if you can suspend your disbelief successfully for a couple of hours, this movie is a lot of fun to watch. The cast is pretty good. Will Smith shines as the gung-ho Marine Steven Hiller. Jeff Goldblum is also great as David Levinson, the computer geek who just happens to be the ex-husband of the President's press secretary. Bill Pullman is suitably George Bush-like as the President. James Rebhorn is the creepy defense secretary who almost seems like he is on the aliens' payroll until the President finally gets fed up with him. The underrated Robert Loggia is the Chairman of the JCS. But, the two actors who steal the show are Judd Hirsch as Jeff Goldblum's cranky dad, and Brent Spiner as a whacked-out alien research scientist, who really should have had some security in his operating room. To me, the best parts of the film are all the sly in-jokes that parody other movies. Some of the best ones include: (1) The point where Randy Quaid flies over a rural road - the shot from his point of view is EXACTLY the same shot as when Kal-El's rocket from Krypton crashed to earth in Superman:The Movie. (2) Right after that, Randy comes in for a landing on the same road - just like John Belushi with his P-40 in 1941. (3) "Good Morning, Dave" - right out of 2001. (4) Those alien spaceships have more than a passing resemblance to the ships from the "V" TV miniseries. (5) The sequence where Jeff Goldblum and Will Smith infiltrate the alien mother ship in their captured fighter is reminiscent of the V'ger flyover from Star Trek: The Motion Picture. There's plenty more where those came from, but I think you get the idea. Basically, this movie is not too deep, but then, it never intended to be. If you can just relax and enjoy it for a couple of hours, you will love this film. If, on the other hand, you are one of those who just climbs the wall every time Jeff Goldblum is able to plug his laptop into the alien ship's computer and instantly interface with an alien computer network, then you should give this one a pass.
Rating: 
Summary: Some other considerations.
Review: I wonder why Arthur C. Clarke wasn't given a nod for the idea of the mother ship and baby ships. That scene seems to have come directly from 'Childhood's End'. I haven't read all the reviews, but it seems some points have not been addressed; for example, world unity. The world is so divided by ideologies, language, beliefs, economic conditions, currency, etc. that it would take a world-wide threat (like an alien attack or another black plague) to unify all the people. This film, shallow as it is in other respects, illustrates that. Also, this film was 'centered' in America, so the filmmakers naturally concentrated on America, with 'cameos' of members of other countries. I resent being told that 'the worst part of the movie was America' (see above comment about devisivness, rudeness and negativism). Obviously, I am American, but I have Swedish and English (and other) roots. I actually consider myself a citizen of Earth. The Earth, this little blue planet is my home. So, let's try to take that 'think globally' seriously.
I rather liked the movie with it's humor and special effects (I guess I'm easily entertained), and my wife always cries at the sad parts. Movies are like beauty - in the eye and ear of the beholder. It's easy to find fault with things, but much harder to find the good, the higher ground, the motivation. Makes you wonder what kind of movies the reviewers rave over...
Rating:
Summary: what a brainless movie!
Review: this is an ok movie, the FX are great, but the characters are thin as paper. And there were some parts that really didn't add anything to the plot. For example, the presidents wife dying. And does anyone out there honestly believe that someone wouldn't prevent the president from risking his life? its just not realistic. but then again, the entire plot isn't realistic come to think of it. A piece of fluff, but an entertaining piece of fluff I suppose. The acting isn't that great either. The acting on the part of everyone is overdone.
Rating:
Summary: Writers need to think like aliens
Review: One reviewer noted a parallel between ID4 and "Big Trouble in Little China" - which was hilarious in its joke on itself but still satisfied the need for explosions and sword fighting. Sadly, ID4 either didn't realize its auto-paradox, or they went too far into the seriousness category. Incidentally, some of my cinematic colleagues disagree as to whether "Hudson Hawk" with Bruce Willis was such a film. I maintain the producers of HH thought they were just brilliant. The idea that an armada of ships with vastly superior technological could be beaten by a handful of F-15s is very insulting to alien intelligence. As every schoolchild knows, aliens have anti-gravity technology. A side effect of anti-gravity technology is that the pilot can make the equivalent of a 50G (50 times the force of gravity - humans usually pass out at 3-5) turn without even shifting their weight. Secondly, the fact that these aliens were able to travel several light years means they have faster than light technology. This means they are able to enter a dimension of timelessness. The fact is that in a situation such as this were to occur, we would be annihilated in the blink of an eye and we wouldn't even see them coming. Third, the aliens telepathic ability obviously would not stop with them. Since they knew exactly what were our most sentimentally important buildings, they evidently made contact with us. This can be confirmed by the fact of the US military's capture of a (scout?) ship - presumably some time ago. Was I successful in self-parody?
Rating:
Summary: I'm sure you've seen this by now
Review: but if you haven't it's good. I'd advise renting it instead of buying it, but whatever you like
Rating:
Summary: Goofy and corny but fun.
Review: Perhaps not as repeatable as some films. Some of the actors are just too stiff and it gets to be a little like a "Love Boat" plot with aliens. The DVD version, somehow does not add that much if you've already seen the movie. I don't know exactly what I mean here but there is perhaps an economy and repetition of visuals whereas a movie such as "The Fifth Element" always has something new that you did not see before. The music and sound also is not as interesting as in some other DVDs that I will re-watch.
Rating:
Summary: Great FX!! Very Stupid!
Review: Great FX!! This was fairly good in the begining with the mammoth ships comming to earth which maybe they might be like this, but then it turns very stupid after this, like when will smith got into a dog fight with the alien and lucky won, after landing going over to the ship and punching the alien in the face!? it just get more stupid as the movie moves on! it was almost a space comedy!
| 
