Top 10 Most Ridiculous Things About the Movie Independence Day
Admittedly, when I first saw Independence Day in theaters, I thought it was absolutely amazing. Almost 30 years later, however, each time I watch it, I find myself enjoying it a little bit less and being perturbed by the stupid little things all the more.As is the case with all alien invasion movies, enjoying Independence Day requires you to overlook some key issues inherent to the genre. These issues stem from the fact that any alien species capable of interstellar travel would have technology and intelligence so superior to our own that we would never stand a chance in a confrontation. But one would also hope any species so advanced would possess an equally advanced sense of morality and be beyond war and suffering.
Not to mention, a species capable of traversing the universe would likely have no need for Earth's resources, as they probably already possess the technology to manipulate atoms to create whatever they need. Of course, that wouldn't make for a very compelling movie.
But I digress. This list is about the movie Independence Day and not the genre as a whole. It focuses on the scenes or ideas specific to the movie that are so silly you simply cannot suspend your disbelief any longer.
Apple isn't exactly the first brand that comes to mind when you think of cross-platform compatibility. They've even had issues with successive versions of their own products. So expecting people to believe a Powerbook will interface with alien technology when I can't use the same charging cable on an iPhone 4 and an iPhone 5 is a bit hard to swallow.
This drove me insane when I saw it the first time. Really?!?!
Nothing to add. Spot-on BS scene.
Okay, maybe these aliens with their advanced brains are more prone to having their lights put out and slower to reboot afterwards, but this dude was wearing an armor suit. What kind of piece of crap armor lets you get knocked out cold, for hours, from a single punch?
Not a whole lot to say here other than this woman has a goofy set of priorities. Apparently, satisfying horny men is more important than trying to save the world. At least she seems to be the only one since the club appeared to be completely void of customers.
It's cool that Russell was able to save the day and redeem himself in the eyes of his children. Also cool that the whole world was able to communicate via Morse code. But there were three dozen "city-destroyer" ships in total. Even if the alien communication between the ships was completely shut off, what are the odds that this advanced race would be duped by the exact same trick 36 times in a row? Not good, my friend, not good.
Okay, let's assume all of these armies have electric power and someone who can recognize and translate Morse code. Let's also assume each group has an English-speaking person since Morse code is not actually a unique universal language and is merely a means of sending individual letters of an alphabet. Let's also assume the hard-wire infrastructure necessary to connect each army is intact even though they apparently were unable to communicate using more standard technology.
Okay, now, what are the odds that these armies have an operational Morse code machine plugged in and ready to receive a signal? Zero? Yeah, probably.
WHY? They build a star fleet large enough to transport "millions" of soldiers, including dozens of city-destroyer ships measuring 15 miles across, and who knows how many thousands of fighter ships, but decide to go cheap on the communication system integral to the entire operation? Sorry, can't get over that one.
Remember that emissary helicopter blown to bits over the White House? We were told it was trying to communicate with the invaders, but what in the world was it trying to communicate? I've lived on Earth my entire life and I have no idea.
Sure, maybe the era of Norton and McAfee has come to an end in the alien world, but one would think this is because the operating system is so well designed that they are no longer required.
The blast generated by the alien ship's primary weapon is able to incinerate entire cities, but Jasmine is able to outrun it and survive by ducking inside a small concrete room. Perhaps this room is particularly reinforced and resistant to heat, but she left the door open! Heat doesn't simply bypass a space, and even if it had, fire consumes oxygen, so she would have suffocated.
The Newcomers
Practice in video games paid off.
How could the military possibly have a shortage of pilots, but a surplus of aircraft? How could crop duster pilots possibly learn to effectively fly and command an F-18 in less than 5 hours?
Sure, you're saying, but they have some advanced alien propulsion that uses energy in a way we can't comprehend. These aren't Harrier planes that have to move massive amounts of air in order to hover.
However, when the ships passed by the moon, there was a significant disturbance in the sand, enough to destroy evidence of the moon landing. And that was without atmosphere.
I don't care who they are. They can't operate outside the laws of physics. There must be a force pushing down if they are going to stay up.