Vue: Independence Day Resurgence

In 1996 the trailer for Independence Day was so captivating that it almost guaranteed a summer blockbuster that everyone must see. The sequel is sort of a let-down and the first hint of this let- down can be seen in the fact that the trailer hints at nothing more than an action –things-exploding style film with little to distinguish it from so many of the other action films that are churned out.
The plot is more or less the same as the first film to be honest, and maybe that's ok, keep it simple was their approach - alien invaders come down in huge ships and start blowing things up while we try to figure out how to repel them. And that really is it. The film starts more or less straight after the first one ends time-wise and then quickly speeds on to "20 years latter" the narrative point to ponder is that "they" had 20 years to get ready for round 2, and have really got ready. We on the other hand stole some of their technology but are really no more ready than before.  The cast is again more or less the same with the notable absence of Will Smith (who wanted 50 million USD to do it!) so he has justifiably been written out. So is it any good? Actually the level of disappoint is quite pronounced. The first problem is that in the first film it was recognisably modern military technology against their super advance hardware, this is what gave it a sense of threat that is absent now. This time round we have lasers and all the gadgets too, it makes all the difference. Secondly is the absence of the charismatic Will Smith, this is kind of noticeable here as well, they haven't really replaced him fully sticking Liam Hemsworth in the "hero role" and he's really not up to the task. Lastly the original used a lot of models for the effects instead of CGI, in the sequel it's all CGI planes and ships and explosions so the effects have no heft or physicality to them – it like watching a sophisticated screen saver mostly and that's not good enough.
Ultimately if you're watching this you are there to watch the action of which there is loads and mostly its quite good fun, the jokes are tacky but the performances quite still good (Goldblum and Pullman are theatre trained actors after all) but 20 years has not served this franchise well, an hour in you will either be slightly bored or wishing you were 20 years younger watching the original. Hopefully they will be no 3rd instalment.