2 decades later, ‘Independence Day’ returns

Movies

Published: 02 Jun. 2016, 20:10

2 decades later, ‘Independence Day’ returns

The sequel to the 1996 sci-fi disaster flick “Independence Day” opens this month. [20TH CENTURY FOX KOREA]

In 1996, German filmmaker Roland Emmerich set the bar high for disaster films with his sci-fi flick “Independence Day.”

The blockbuster grossed $8 million internationally, becoming the most successful film of the year.

Exactly 20 years later, having polished his skills with more disaster films like “The Day After Tomorrow” (2004) and “2012” (2009), Emmerich returns with a second installment of the alien movie, “Independence Day: Resurgence,” armed with cutting-edge CGI effects and a new generation of actors. It’s also his first 3-D movie.

“Over the last 20 years, the technological side of films has changed enormously,” the director said during an online press conference Monday. “I always think as a director that you have to appreciate all that technology.”

Emmerich said that he worked with more than 15 visual effects studios to formulate the scenes.

Replacing the titular captain character played by Will Smith back in the ’90s, Liam Hemsworth and Jessie Usher have joined the cast, while original members Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman will act as bridges with the previous installment.

The film kicks off 20 years after the Independence Day attack occurred. Just when U.S. citizens are starting to take their safety for granted, the aliens return to conquer Earth once and for all, armed with stronger and bigger weapons. Goldblum plays the cynical Dr. David, who knows a thing or two about such attacks since he has been through one, while Hemsworth plays an ambitious young fighter pilot.

Equipped with its own gravity, the gigantic alien spaceship tears apart - or to be exact, sucks up - everything that gets in its way. After crashing into the Asian continent, it moves on to the United States, the United Kingdom and many other Western countries to destroy everything.

However, the Earth is not the same defenseless planet that it was in 1996. Since that attack, nations have joined forces to come up with more intelligent and destructive technology to protect their planet.

This major showdown will be revealed when the film opens nationwide June 23.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]