DVD Collectors Online

Independence Day, a review by Tom

Title: Independence Day
Year: 1996
Director: Roland Emmerich
Rating: FSK-12
Length: 147 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 3, Commentary: Dolby Digital 3
Subtitles: Commentary, English, German

Stars:
Will Smith
Bill Pullman
Jeff Goldblum
Mary McDonnell
Judd Hirsch

Plot:
July, 2nd. Some aliens come in a huge ship. They place their UFOs all over the world and blow everything apart. July, 3rd. We try to strike back and fail miserably. July, 4th. We give them a cold and blow them apart.

Awards:

Academy Award	1996	Nominated	Best Sound	Chris Carpenter, Bill W. Benton, Bob Beemer, Jeff Wexler
Academy Award	1996	Won	Best Visual Effects	Volker Engel, Douglas Hans Smith, Clay Pinney, Joe Viskocil
AFI	1996	Nominated	100 Years... 100 Thrills (2001)
Amanda-prisen	1997	Won	Beste utenlandske spillefilm	Roland Emmerich
BAFTA	1996	Nominated	Achievement In Special Visual Effects	Tricia Ashford, Volker Engel, Clay Pinney, Douglas Hans Smith, Joe Viskocil
BAFTA	1996	Nominated	Sound	Bob Beemer, Bill W. Benton, Chris Carpenter, Sandy Gendler, Val Kuklowsky, Jeff Wexler
BMI Film & TV Music Awards	1997	Won	BMI Film Music Award	David A. Arnold
Cinema Audio Society Awards	1997	Nominated	Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Feature Film	Chris Carpenter, Bob Beemer, Bill W. Benton, Jeff Wexler
Golden Raspberry Awards	1996	Nominated	Worst Written Film Grossing Over $100 Million	Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich
Grammy Awards	1997	Won	Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television	David A. Arnold (For "Independence Day")
Hugo Award	1997	Nominated	Dramatic Presentation
MTV Movie Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Action Sequence
MTV Movie Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Breakthrough Performance	Vivica A. Fox
MTV Movie Awards	1997	Won	Best Kiss	Will Smith and Vivica A. Fox
MTV Movie Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Male Performance	Will Smith
MTV Movie Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Movie
Satellite Awards	1997	Won	Best Film Editing	David Brenner
Satellite Awards	1997	Won	Best Visual Effects	Volker Engel, Douglas Hans Smith
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Actor	Jeff Goldblum
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Actor	Will Smith
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Costumes	Joseph Porro
Saturn	1996	Won	Best Director	Roland Emmerich
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Music	David A. Arnold
Saturn	1996	Won	Best Science Fiction Film
Saturn	1996	Won	Best Special Effects	Volker Engel, Clay Pinney, Douglas Hans Smith, Joe Viskocil
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Supporting Actor	Brent Spiner
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Supporting Actress	Vivica Fox
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Writing	Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Younger Actor	James Duval
Young Artist Awards	1997	Nominated		Ross Bagley

Extras:
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Kinofassung (139 min)
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Trailers



(From Tom's Random Reviews on May 8th, 2010)

Marley & Me, a review by snowcat

(From Emma's Film Reviews (snowcat) on December 30th, 2009)

Angel Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Spike and Angel have to got to Rome, to retrieve the head of a demon clanlord. But there is not just the head in Rome, there is also The Immortal (and old enemy of two), Andrew, Dawn - and Buffy.

My Opinion: Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the episode. But it was another episode about Buffy without Buffy. This becomes a running gag without actually being funny.

Synopsis: Angel's friends are more and more concerned about his actions. When the warden of the "Deeper Well" (the prison in which Illyria was held) comes to L.A. and accuses Angel of attempted assassination, they demand answers - including one to the question whether Angel had anything to do with the death of Fred.

My Opinion: Good episode that promises a thrilling finale. Luckily I was right. The show seems to end in a big bang but at least Angel isn't on the wrong side. Now I want to know who is going to die - that someone will die is to be expected by anyone who has seen the finale of "Buffy" and the movie "Serenity".

Synopsis: Angel and the gang plan to assassinate each and every member of the "Circle of the Black Thorn". Illyria and Lindsey join their mission in the knowledge that the Senior Partners's revenge will come swift and will be horrible.

My Opinion: "I take it the odds are against us and the situation is grim." (James T. Kirk, "Star Trek: Generations") Wow, what an exit. This was an excellent end to this series because it was no explicit end. Wesley's death was unfortunate but far better staged than the death of Anya. You can only wish that he will find the peace in death that he hasn't found in life. I have already ordered the comic book which will be released in July.

The Season - My Opinion: This was without doubt my favourite season of "Angel". The new setting, the changed situation and Spike did help a lot. Even more than in previous seasons the world has become grey instead of becoming more black/white.

The Series - My Opinion: I liked the series as a whole a great deal, although you have to (even more than in "Buffy") take leave from the idea that it could have played in our world. The demons were way to public for this. The series had a deadbeat in the middle (season 4) but recovered very well with the fifth season. In direct comparison to "Buffy" I prefer the latter one.

(From Angel Marathon on February 28th, 2008)