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Home › Culture & Entertainment › Movies › Independence Day vs. War of the Worlds

Independence Day vs. War of the Worlds

Started by Elizabeth Price2 · · 👁 9 views · 129 replies

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Participants Elizabeth Price2quietdriver3Eric Jackson43nimblemarlin17Brian Foster2stormycyclist13dustyscoutMorgan Wrightcasualpuma71rapidbison42Terry Fisher2northerncrane4frozentiger6Justin PatelMichelle TurnerAlex Price2crimsonmoose3redowl90Joseph Edwards86rapidmoose5Douglas Phillips4Jeremy Bishop5fadedsailor932Jose Miller17 …
Alex Price2 Alex Price2 Newcomer
1 message
joined Jul 2005
#21 ·
Elizabeth Price2 said:Also, as weird as it sounds, I actually think we're more likely to be taken down by a computer virus than some biological one.

😂 😂 😂 😂 There isn't a single virus that runs on every operating system using the exact same version, let alone one that would infect a quantum or biometric computer (which any civilization capable of interstellar travel in ships just a few hundred miles wide would definitely have)...

So, as far as I'm concerned, both movies are:
👎 a big 👎 regardless of the acting, special effects, or whatever else...
crimsonmoose3 crimsonmoose3 Regular
310 messages
joined Jun 2006
#22 ·
I much prefer War of the Worlds over Independence Day. At least there’s less forced patriotism than in Independence Day. Plus, you don't have to deal with an irritating Will Smith. 👎 I just can't stand him (imagine if he had been cast in The Matrix). Besides, the special effects showing the destruction of the U.S. are far superior to those in Independence Day—there is a certain satisfaction in watching the destruction of the U.S., which beats watching people fall off the Titanic...
crimsonmoose3 crimsonmoose3 Regular
310 messages
joined Jun 2006
#23 ·
Michelle Turner said:Folks, have you actually read "War of the Worlds"? Because if you had, the ending wouldn't come as a surprise...

I read that H. G. Wells book (one of my favorite authors) quite a while ago. I'm a bit disappointed by how little respect they show the source material, but I suppose I should be used to it by now...
northerncrane4 northerncrane4 Regular
384 messages
joined Aug 2005
#24 ·
crimsonmoose3 said:It’s pure entertainment watching them tear down that proud American Inc.

Personally, I get more satisfaction out of watching kids trembling in mortal danger—Steven Spielberg knows exactly what he's doing.
Elizabeth Price2 Elizabeth Price2 Active MemberOP
66 messages
joined Feb 2006
#25 ·
Elizabeth Price2 said:And honestly, as weird as it sounds, I feel like we’d actually have a better shot at winning against a computer virus than some biological one.

Alright, I'll own it: I totally blew it with that statement. 😁
I clearly wrote that while still riding the high from just watching Independence Day, and—well, damn it—it was just straight-up nonsense.
I’m actually on the same page as dustyscout here:
War of the Worlds was better made, purely for the effects, but man, I remember sitting in the theater eight years ago watching Independence Day and just being completely frozen... I remember it being my absolute favorite movie until Fight Club came along... Independence Day had such insane special effects back then, so that’s my vote for the winner.

...except for that bit about Fight Club 😁. I can vividly recall that exact feeling walking out of the theater after seeing Independence Day and hearing everyone buzzing about it. Sadly, after watching War of the Worlds, that vibe was totally different—just a massive disappointment, like the movie was a complete "nothing." No matter how many flaws, plot holes, or clichés Independence Day had, that specific "feeling" just pushes all that stuff to the background, which is why Independence Day will always be better than War of the Worlds for me.
redowl90 redowl90 Regular
287 messages
joined Aug 2005
#26 ·
Independence Day is a masterpiece compared to War of the Worlds!

Honestly, Independence Day is such a great movie. 👍

Haha, okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but to me, that film still holds up way better than any of those other blockbusters we've been bombarded with over the last decade...
Brian Foster2 Brian Foster2 Active Member
78 messages
joined Mar 2007
#27 ·
redowl90 said:Independence Day is a total masterpiece compared to War of the Worlds!

Honestly, Independence Day is such an incredible movie! 👍

Haha, okay, maybe I'm exaggerating just a tiny bit, but for me, that film still stands head and shoulders above all those other blockbusters they've been blasting us with over the last decade...

Don't you just love it when Americans step up and save the entire world? And the best part of the whole movie is when the President's wife dies, right?🙂div>
Joseph Edwards86 Joseph Edwards86 Member
14 messages
joined Jan 2005
#28 ·
I feel like we should totally add Signs to the poll. That movie hit me way harder! I mean, War of the Worlds is awesome, but this one felt more intense to me, and I think Mel Gibson did such a better job playing that dad trying to protect his family.

To me, it feels much closer to War of the Worlds than Independence Day.
Anyway, Independence Day is complete 👎
rapidmoose5 rapidmoose5 Newcomer
3 messages
joined Mar 2004
#29 ·
I don't know about you all, but this movie feels more like Signs to me.

- It’s the same premise: one guy with his kids just trying to survive. Nothing else matters.
And it even has a similar ending (in Signs, the aliens are allergic to water.😁)

Otherwise, Independence Day is a decent enough film—smoothly paced. However, as much as I've found Tom Cruise unappealing lately, War of the Worlds has a much stronger lead.

The film has bright spots that tie the whole thing together much better. Even though we're dealing with aliens, it feels more grounded to me, mostly due to the realistic depiction of mass panic and individual terror. That car scene was good, and Tony Robbins' "exhaustion" was phenomenal. Some women I know were actually crying during those scenes ( 🙄 )
Great effects and an impactful ending.

I’m walking out of the theater now, checking to see if everything is still in its right place.😁
Rarely does a film leave this kind of impression.

And thank God there aren't any stupid patriotic tropes from mindless Americans.
Douglas Phillips4 Douglas Phillips4 Active Member
70 messages
joined Apr 2003
#30 ·
Independence Day is basically a comedy, whereas War of the Worlds leans much more into drama. I don't see why anyone even compares them. 😕

And thank God there aren't any mindless patriotic clichés from dumb Americans.

👍 😘
rapidmoose5 rapidmoose5 Newcomer
3 messages
joined Mar 2004
#31 ·
Douglas Phillips4 said:👍 😘

hey, Douglas Phillips4, sweetie😘
dustyscout dustyscout Newcomer
6 messages
joined Jun 2005
#32 ·
rapidmoose5 said:

thank God there aren't any stupid patriotic tropes from dumb Americans

I don't think anyone would actually try to fight a spaceship...🙂
redowl90 redowl90 Regular
287 messages
joined Aug 2005
#33 ·
Brian Foster2 said:You love it when Americans step up and save the entire world, while the main plot point is just the President's wife dying. 🙂

Oh, absolutely! Totally! I just love Americans! I want to be one of them! 🙂

In all seriousness, though, I still think Independence Day is one of the best blockbusters from the last decade—everything from the story and characters to the cast and special effects is top-tier.

Sure, it’s a bit silly that the Americans handle everything themselves, but hey... it's their movie, made for their market, and they're the heroes of the story. That doesn't bother me at all. 😉
Eric Jackson43 Eric Jackson43 Active Member
73 messages
joined Dec 2006
#34 ·
Are you guys actually joking right now, or do you seriously believe this? Look, I get it—if you watched Independence Day as a kid, it probably left a lasting impression, but please, watch it through a modern lens. I honestly don't understand how anyone can sit through that movie today and claim it’s good unless we're strictly talking about it in the context of being total trash. Every single "expert" scientist in the movie is portrayed as a complete moron, and then, naturally, Jeff Goldblum has to step in and teach them how to actually do their jobs. Then you've got Will Smith, who acts like some incredibly naive amateur, somehow taking down a much more advanced enemy by driving them into rocks before deciding to just personally knock them out. You don't even know which characters are worse or more unbelievable. And then, as if that wasn't enough, we get the grand finale involving a computer virus. Sure, War of the Worlds has its own flaws and we could argue about those all day, but putting Independence Day in the same category is just a total lack of common sense. Seriously, go rewatch it if you've forgotten how bad it is.

The issue isn't even that the movie is overly pro-American; the real problem is that the movie is just plain stupid.
Jeremy Bishop5 Jeremy Bishop5 Member
31 messages
joined Jul 2005
#35 ·
Independence Day - 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

I still have War of the Worlds fresh on my mind, and I've gotta say, when I weigh it against what I remember from Independence Day, the winner is definitely Independence Day. It’s not even close!
Brian Foster2 Brian Foster2 Active Member
78 messages
joined Mar 2007
#36 ·
Honestly, I truly believe that even after all this time, watching War of the Worlds again would still hit people right in the gut. I have to admit, I thought the movie was absolutely fantastic! My only regret is that I missed the first thirty minutes because I showed up to the theater late. 😁 🙂
fadedsailor932 fadedsailor932 Active Member
101 messages
joined Oct 2004
#37 ·
Roose Bolton said:Independence Day is the biggest piece of trash ever to come out of Hollywood...

...if Independence Day is trash, then War of the Worlds is straight-up nuclear waste. Honestly, it’s one of the worst movies I've sat through in five years—and that includes all those Dark films and their sequels, most modern American horror flicks, and pretty much everything else coming out lately. The only thing I took away from it? If I ever have kids and aliens actually invade the Country, I'm just gonna end it right then and there. It'd be easier on my nerves. Or maybe I'll just surrender to the aliens immediately... save myself the headache, you know?😁
fadedsailor932 fadedsailor932 Active Member
101 messages
joined Oct 2004
#38 ·
Eric Jackson43 said:Are you guys actually kidding me, or do you really believe this? Look, I get it—if you watched Independence Day when you were a kid, it probably sticks in your memory. But honestly, have you seen that movie lately?

It’s not even about whether the movie is too pro-American. The real issue is that the movie is just plain stupid.

So, how does it even stack up against War of the Worlds?😕
northerncrane4 northerncrane4 Regular
384 messages
joined Aug 2005
#39 ·
fadedsailor932 said:..and how does it differ from War of the Worlds😕

How do you not get it? It’s because Steven Spielberg is a genius—and he’s a genius because he writes in the papers that he is.
Douglas Phillips4 Douglas Phillips4 Active Member
70 messages
joined Apr 2003
#40 ·
mirrorball said:The only thing I actually took away from that movie is this: if I ever have kids, and aliens decide to invade Earth, my first move is going to be taking out the children. It’s the only way to stay sane. Or maybe I'll just surrender to the aliens immediately. Either way, I'm saving myself the headache...😁

🤣

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