Top 25 Movies Countdown — No. 24


Today I continue my countdown of my Top 25 favorite movies of all time. Today's movie is an action classic that's about to get a sequel.

No. 24 — Independence Day (1996)
Starring: Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Randy Quaid, and Judd Hirsch
Director: Roland Emmerich
Quote: "Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. "Mankind." That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom... Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: "We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!" — President Whoitmore
About: So while last week's pick, "The Shawshank Redemption," — was an award nominee, this week's movie is straight cheese. In fact, director Roland Emmerich is pretty much known for making disaster movies. This is probably his best, and it's certainly the one I like the best. There is a lot about this movie that works for me. I like the performances — Smith and Goldblum are great leads, Pullman is a good president, and Hirsch adds the comic relief. Plus the story and the special effects work well. This was one of the first big summer blockbusters, and it's a movie I still tend to watch near the Fourth of July each year. That being said, I'm not excited about the potential sequel next summer — especially without Will Smith. Hard to imagine the movie being as good or capturing the glory of the original. For now, if you're in the mood for a good disaster movie with a happy ending, you could do a lot worse than "Independence Day."
Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi destruction and violence.

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