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HUGE EXPLOSIONS!

Nothing gets your attention better in a summer blockbuster film than explosions. When I first saw the previews for "Independence Day" (or ID4 as it would later be called) during the Superbowl I was blown away (so to speak). It showed incredible destruction of the White House, The Empire State Building, and that really tall building in Los Angeles (sorry, I don't know what it's called). I knew that when it came out I had to see it! The opening date was originally going to be July 3rd, but later on they moved it up a day so they could make more money (who could blame them?).

I was there on opening day, waiting in line for an hour. I knew it was going to be cool - and I wasn't disappointed.

Let me set the stage for you: It starts with a bunch of guys hanging out at an antenna farm at SETI (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) suddenly getting readings that something big in space is heading toward Earth.

Next you see the President (played almost convincingly by Bill Pullman) at the White House speaking with his aids about the event. Some scientists are saying it's great, military guys are saying it's dangerous, and his spin doctors are trying to find a way to use it for political advantage.

Then, you're swept to New York where we find a scientist/cable guy (played by Jeff Goldblum because no one plays a scientist better, I guess) playing chess with his father (played by Judd Hirsch). There's reports at the cable company of strange signals interfering with everyone's viewing pleasure. Jeff Goldblum figures out that the signal is degrading.

Meanwhile, in space a bunch of smaller ships (if you can call three miles in diameter small) ships disengage from the mother ship and settle over major cities all over the world (including New York, L.A., and Washington D.C.). They park above the most prominent buildings in the cities. The President is urging calm, but the media is using at as an excuse to criticize him (don't they always?). One of his advisers (who is supposed to be Goldblum's estranged wife) is trying to reassure him that every thing's okay and he should just ride it out.

On the west coast a young Marine captain (played by Will Smith) is being recalled to his fighter wing. He reassures his fiance that every thing is fine and it's just routine.

Back in New York Goldblum figures out the nature of the cable interference and quickly grabs his father and rushes to Washington D.C. where he's able to somehow reach his wife's secure cell phone. He urges

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