Typically, the Fourth of July weekend is reserved for high-budget fluff, so that everyone can go to the movies, have a great time, and not have to think for a second. This year, however, two movies broke that mold.
“Independence Day,” an action flick featuring Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, and Will Smith trying to stop an alien invasion, and “The Phenomenon,” a “Forrest Gump”-like picture starring John Travolta, are both exceptional films.
For those of you who haven’t seen the trailers a dozen times already, “Independence Day” explores the possibilities of how we, as a nation and a planet, would react to a hostile alien invasion.
I don’t mean hostile like a couple of fighter planes, though. The aliens have several fifteen mile-wide ships that basically demolish whatever target they wish.
Bill Pullman stars as the U.S. President who is being questioned because of his youth. He doesn’t really have a clue how to deal with the approaching alien ships, until the ex-boyfriend of his press secretary (Jeff Goldblum) arrives at the white house and informs him that they are going to attack.
Strangely enough, this film is very believable. Looking back, it seems rather contrived, but upon closer inspection, was very well constructed. One of the biggest gaps in most similar films was covered very well - why the aliens are attacking.
In “Independence Day,” the attackers are moving from planet to planet after destroying all the natural resources on their own. We find out that they are much like us in that they breathe oxygen, and have the same tolerances to heat and cold as we do.
The film takes several leaps in logic that seemed way easier to believe during the movie than after, but that trait defines the summer movie season. “Independence Day” was extremely suspenseful, and the acting wasn’t half bad. Unless you go expecting the next “Forrest Gump,” you won’t be disappointed.
However, if you go to “The Phenomenon” expecting another “Forrest,” you’ll be blown away. “The Phenomenon” would succeed any time of year, and may just earn Travolta an Academy Award. He is given a role even more difficult than the one dealt to Tom Hanks in “Forrest Gump,” but makes it look easy.
Travolta plays George Malley, an average, small town, car repairman who, at his 37th birthday party, walks outside and sees a strange white light. Over the next few days, he notices some very severe changes in himself. He begins to get drastically more intelligent, and understands things he never could before.
Eventually this intelligence gets to be too much for the townspeople. He is soon able to predict earthquakes, and move things with his mind. Most everyone is threatened by him, and either ignore him or make up stupid rumors to explain the unexplained.
Even beyond Travolta’s excellent work, the supporting cast is marvelous. Forest Whitaker, as Malley’s friend, Kyra Sedgewick, as Malley’s dream date, and Robert Duvall, as the town doctor and Malley’s surrogate father, all do more than support the lead. These three are also the only three people in the small town that don’t become afraid of Malley’s extraordinary intelligence.
“The Phenomenon” will undoubtedly receive the same initial criticism that “Forrest Gump” did - in that they both are exceedingly melodramatic and don’t really go anywhere. Perhaps that is true, but “Forrest Gump” is now praised as one of the best movies of this generation. “The Phenomenon” shouldn’t be too far behind.
If you aren’t a frequent moviegoer, this is definitely the time to go. Whether you’re in the mood to watch a ton of stuff blow up, or to cry your eyes out, “Independence Day” or “The Phenomenon,” respectively, will do the trick.
“Independence Day-” Grade: B+
“The Phenomenon-” Grade: A