EARTH. TAKE A GOOD LOOK. IT COULD BE YOUR LAST.

An inflated and flag-waving throwback to the grand space movies and disaster flicks of the 1950s and ’70s; the story, where Earth is attacked by aliens and must retaliate, could be described as the ultimate invasion matinee.

Stirring in the beginning, with visual effects so impressive you wish the writing wasn’t so silly at times. The obliteration of the White House and the Empire State Building is frighteningly forceful. But the movie doesn’t come up with much of its own; we’re too easily reminded of the films that inspired this one.

When we finally get to see the aliens, it is also a bit of a letdown; after all, we fear the unknown. 

1996-U.S. 145 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Roland Emmerich. Screenplay: Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich. Music: David Arnold. Visual Effects: Volker Engel, and others. Cast: Will Smith (Steven Hiller), Bill Pullman (Thomas J. Whitmore), Jeff Goldblum (David Levinson), Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch, Margaret Colin, Randy Quaid, Robert Loggia, Vivica A. Fox, Harvey Fierstein, Adam Baldwin, Harry Connick, Jr. 

Trivia: Co-executive produced by Emmerich. The special edition runs 15 minutes longer. Ethan Hawke was considered for the lead; Matthew Perry for a minor role. Followed by Independence Day: Resurgence (2016).

Oscar: Best Visual Effects.