Is it a Classic: Independence Day

[Frank Drebin]

I memba watching the Super Bowl and seeing this teaser:

<iframe width="854" height="510" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/rVs1vKr9-x0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

and thinking "whhhooooooo!!" Really a template for the modern day sci fi blockbuster. Quotable lines, esssplosions, career launcher, the works. But I don't think I've ever seen this in anyone's dvd/blu ray collection.

So before I say "Welcome to Earf" I will ask....is Independence Day a "Classic"?

http://images.thehollywoodgossip.com/iu/t_full/v1372179180/independence-day-poster.jpg

<iframe width="854" height="510" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gHhlaspXVgo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Lock Jaw]

Absolutely a classic. So many classic scenes, lines, etc. Music is also classic.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Yes, it was the forerunner of the big summer blockbusters that we sometimes enjoy. I must have saw this in the theater at least two or three times when it first came out.

[Nowhere Man]

I'd say that Independence Day is proof-positive that a movie can be a classic without actually being good.

I mean, there's no denying that it's a horrendously stupid movie-- I mean, this is the same guy that did The Day After Tomorrow, 2012, and the '98 Godzilla. There's really no point in analyzing the plot, the characters, the dialogue, etc, because they all exist solely to have an excuse for Roland Emmerich to blow up a bunch of monuments. And that's not even getting into the absurdity of an interstellar alien species using computers that are compatible with 90s MacOS.

On the other hand, there's also no denying how much of it is ingrained in pop culture to this day. Sure, the destruction was nothing but pure disaster porn, but it was fun disaster porn. Sure, the characters were almost all one-note stereotypes, but at least they were really quotable. And this movie did wonders for Wil Smith's career, exposing him to the huge summer-blockbuster audience in numbers that the R-Rated Bad Boys couldn't.

Plus, y'know, there's probably the single greatest corny-inspirational speech in movie history:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QoLywiaM6PA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The guy saluting so goddamn hard at the end is what really sells it.

So yeah, I'm gonna say ID4 is a classic. It's also stupid as hell, but not every movie needs to be Ingmar Bergman.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

To be fair Bad Boys Made 141 million on a 20 million dollar budget.

[Bobholly138]

Fuck no. It is one of the worst films I saw in a theater. Over hyped and has plot holes,bad acting and just flat out sucks.

[El Vaquero de Infierno]

I put it over the Michael Bay tosh that appears every few summers.

[road doggy dogg]

I'd say that Independence Day is proof-positive that a movie can be a classic without actually being good.

I mean, there's no denying that it's a horrendously stupid movie-- I mean, this is the same guy that did The Day After Tomorrow, 2012, and the '98 Godzilla. There's really no point in analyzing the plot, the characters, the dialogue, etc, because they all exist solely to have an excuse for Roland Emmerich to blow up a bunch of monuments. And that's not even getting into the absurdity of an interstellar alien species using computers that are compatible with 90s MacOS.

On the other hand, there's also no denying how much of it is ingrained in pop culture to this day. Sure, the destruction was nothing but pure disaster porn, but it was fun disaster porn. Sure, the characters were almost all one-note stereotypes, but at least they were really quotable. And this movie did wonders for Wil Smith's career, exposing him to the huge summer-blockbuster audience in numbers that the R-Rated Bad Boys couldn't.

Plus, y'know, there's probably the single greatest corny-inspirational speech in movie history:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QoLywiaM6PA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The guy saluting so goddamn hard at the end is what really sells it.

So yeah, I'm gonna say ID4 is a classic. It's also stupid as hell, but not every movie needs to be Ingmar Bergman.

oh my god I would hate to do anything fun in life ever (re: movies, amusement parks, dinosaur stuff, activities) with you

fucking buzzkill deluxe mode here

[Nowhere Man]

THINKING AM HARD, MAKE ANGRY

[The Vindicator]

Objectivity is not a buzzkill. It's being objective. You can still like things that are, objectively, not good.

[JimmyMess]

"NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A CLOSE ENCOUNTER"

[Emperor Smeat]

I'd say yes.

While not great, it was still decent enough to be memorable and cult classic worthy.

[Nark Order]

Welcome to Erff

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Icanflyimpilot.

[Droford]

its probably a classic cause they're making two unnecessary sequels without Will Smith 20 years too late