Independence Day BS2

ID4

GENRE TYPE: Dude With a Problem -- Earth and all of our characters are innocent heroes. The alien attackers are the sudden problem.


OPENING IMAGE:

The flag impaled into the moon. It instantly establishes the patriotic theme that will be bludgeoned over the head with throughout this flick. A large shadow is cast over it...the aliens have arrived.


SETUP:

At SETI they're detecting communication signals from the moon.  The military is called. We meet the president, a former Iraq War Pilot, a loving father and husband, who seems to be in a bit of a political crisis. "We wanted a warrior and got a wuss". We rapidly meet our characters -- as this is an ensemble -- the chief of state, her ex-husband science dude Jeff Goldblum who never reached his potential and still wears his wedding band plays chess with his dad Judd Hirsch who has lost his religion, drunken dad./crop duster Randy Quaid who embarrassingly is dusting the wrong crops.


THEME STATED:

The theme is stated early on as a pundit says "We need a warrior not a wuss".

My first take at the moral premise is -- Politics and compromised principals leads to ineffectiveness and disaster; but leadership and working together leads to victory.


The movie's MP seems to suggest that by working together for what's important we can do amazing things -- like put  a man on the moon(shown in the opening image) or defeat alien invaders...but unless we all get on the same page we won't even be able to save the world from ourselves(ala Golblum's frustration over recycling).

The movie seems like a 'Save the Planet' allegory (especially given the future work of the film's creators -- specifically -Day After Tomorrow).


Unfortunately, the theme doesn't hit deeper levels because the theme is 'told' more than shown. Really, the alien attack isn't something that is either caused by our lack of unity or could even be prevented...but it is the thing that brings the world together. And has humanity prove they're capable of seemingly impossible things.


CATALYST:

During the President's cabinet meeting it's discovered the UFOs are about to enter earth atmosphere. Sightings are reported all over the globe (this is key, as the patriotic message will shift from the US to a sort of global patriotism).


We meet fighter pilot Will Smith and his girlfriend and her young son -- it's a late introduction, but the script is so stacked with characters and plot we just haven't had time for him -- he sees the spaceship hovering above, all his neighbors are out staring.


DEBATE:

The debate section is longer than normal, mainly because it's a combo of fun & games style 'trailer moment' and the question of 'what do these aliens want' and how the world reacts to their sudden appearance.

The President decides to stay put in Washington but sends his wife and kid away.

Goldblum realizes that the aliens are using the satellites as a countdown.  They're planning an attack. He heads to Washington to tell his Secretary of State ex-wife and warn the president.


We're treated to press conferences, news reports, shots of the UFOs moving into place,  looting, and lots of UFO's appear over earth fun.

Goldblum gets to Washington D.C. and convinces the President about the impending attack. The President organizes an evacuation.


Will Smith learns he didn't get into NASA. A bit of 'theme stated' as his buddy says you need to kiss ass to get in those places. Politics vs. Progress.

Meanwhile some military craft are attacked by the aliens and then...


BREAK INTO ACT 2:

The UFOs attack. They blowup national monuments and the white house, challenging our patriotism. They also attack major cities turning them into fireballs.


B-STORY:

As an ensemble film -- there's a few secondary threads to track -- Will's girl and her son who are on a trek for survival and find the President's wife. Also, Randy Quaid and his family and the caravan they're leading. Plus, the love story/father-son relationship of Jeff Goldblum.


FUN & GAMES:

People react, survivors escape, and the military plans a counter attack.


Will's team gets briefed and then gets sent out. A squad of fighter planes approaches the big spaceships and run into their powerful force-fields.


We see all the b-story characters flee the destruction of their major cities. In particular Will's girlfriend heads towards the base he suggested she go to.


The fighter jets get their butts kicked. While fleeing Wil tricks one of the bad-guys into crashing right after he himself ejects from the plane. On the ground he knocks the alien out.

Aboard airforce 1, everyone  -- including the President -- finds out that Area 51/Roswell isn't a myth. They set course for the base.


Will's girl drives a truck/leads a survivor caravan including the President's wife/daughter. They continue toward the military base.


Will hitches a ride with Randy Quaid's caravan. Will points them toward Area 51.

The President arrives at Area 51. Turns out they have one of the Bad-Guys spaceships, and some bodies of the aliens. We get some exposition about what they're like. "Similar to us". They can be killed. And they use telepathic communication.


MIDPOINT:

Will's Caravan arrives merging the B-Stories. Plus they have the alien in tow. There's hope!


But in the next beat, Jeff Goldblum reveals that the alien plan is an extermination that will culminate in 38 hours. The dreaded TICKING-CLOCK is set!


BAD-GUYS CLOSE IN:



During an autopsy/dissection of sorts, the captured alien attacks and kills the science team. It eventually telepathic communicates with the president -- he sees their plan -- they exterminate planets, use up their natural resources, and then move on.


ALL IS LOST:

The president agrees to use nukes against the ship. They don't work. It's hopeless...they have no other means to attack.


DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL:

Will steals a chopper and heads back to the decimated military base where he was supposed rendezvous with his girlfriend. There he reunites with his girlfriend and her kid and the president's wife and daughter.

The President's wife dies.


Goldblum breaks down, frustrated at humanity and their inability to save themselves. Judd Hirsch admits he lost faith when his wife dies.


BREAK INTO ACT 3:

Goldblum gets a crazy idea from his talk with Judd...maybe we can infect the alien ship with a virus.


FINALE:

The plan is hatched. A global counterstrike with all the nations of the world participating is launched. All our heroes are involved -- Goldblum will go up in the ship with Will to implant the virus. The President and Randy Quaid will fly fighters.


The President gives a strong Moral Premise enforcing speech about how July 4th will forever be a worldwide holiday celebrating humanities battle to exist!


The battle commences. Fighters vs. Spaceship. Goldblum and Will insert the virus. Shields drop. They take down the ships.


On the ground the victorious pilots reunite. Worldwide celebrations ensue.


CLOSING IMAGE:

Streaks of Spaceship debris rain down on the earth -- fireworks for the new worldwide 4th of July.