Independence Day vs. War of the Worlds

Nathan Myers28 said:Both movies feel a bit hollow, honestly—though I have to give them credit for having top-tier special effects! If I had to pick a winner, my vote goes to Independence Day just because I enjoy it more, but let’s be real: both films fall pretty short when you hold them up against a masterpiece like Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Even though they all deal with aliens, those three films are just too different from one another..

I voted for Independence Day. It’s such an incredible movie! My absolute favorite part has to be that scene where Will Smith takes down the alien and then just keeps kicking him while saying, "No, I'm not mad." The whole film is solid from start to finish.

I still find myself leaning toward War of the Worlds.
When I first caught a glimpse of the trailer for Independence Day, I honestly had this Independence Day daydream that it would be the greatest SF film ever made. And in some ways, it was—those aerial dogfights were crafted so well they actually gave me chills, and the core concept of an invasion is just pure madness. However, there is such an abundance of typical Hollywood tropes that makes the whole thing a bit difficult to swallow. I mean, just consider how none of the main characters seem to show even a shred of genuine fear; everyone acts as if they have more bravado than sense, always finding the right moment to crack a joke. And then there are those Cuban cigars... it’s such a tired cliché that you can hardly find an action movie nowadays without them.
War of the Worlds feels much more grounded when it comes to how people actually react to terror, though it is a shame there aren't more direct combat sequences, which I suppose is its primary flaw. It does feature some truly excellent moments (like that scene with the burning train passing through), but the ending feels rushed, doesn't it? You barely realize the machines are falling before the credits start rolling.

Chloe Smith11 said:I still find myself leaning toward War of the Worlds.
When I first caught a glimpse of the trailer for Independence Day, I honestly had this Independence Day daydream that it would be the greatest SF film ever made. And in some ways, it was—those aerial dogfights were crafted so well they actually gave me chills, and the core concept of an invasion is just pure madness. However, there is such an abundance of typical Hollywood tropes that makes the whole thing a bit difficult to swallow. I mean, just consider how none of the main characters seem to show even a shred of genuine fear; everyone acts as if they have more bravado than sense, always finding the right moment to crack a joke. And then there are those Cuban cigars... it’s such a tired cliché that you can hardly find an action movie nowadays without them.
War of the Worlds feels much more grounded when it comes to how people actually react to terror, though it is a shame there aren't more direct combat sequences, which I suppose is its primary flaw. It does feature some truly excellent moments (like that scene with the burning train passing through), but the ending feels rushed, doesn't it? You barely realize the machines are falling before the credits start rolling.

Well, you missed the mark there. ID is great specifically because of those flaws. It is so over-the-top that it actually works. Complaining about the lack of drama in ID is like complaining about the historical inaccuracies in 300.
On the other hand, the lack of combat in WOTW is its biggest strength. If there had been constant fighting, it would have just been another generic "invasion and defense" title. Instead, we got panic and misery... which is much more realistic.

I’m casting my vote for Independence Day. Why? Primarily because of the alien designs, their specific method of conquest, and that final showdown. I suppose the way humans managed to crack those alien shields using a computer virus was quite clever, too. Plus, I’ve always had a soft spot for the whole Area 51 concept.

In contrast, in War of the Worlds, the aliens drop from the sky like lightning bolts and go about destroying the world in those massive "tripods," only for their shields to be taken down by a biological virus—which feels perhaps a bit too convenient, if you ask me.

That’s just my take on it, though I suppose everyone has their own preferences.

Good grief, you guys!
To me, Independence Day is basically a James Bond movie. It’s so ridiculously hilarious that even parodying it feels redundant—the movie is a total parody of itself!
Lord help us 🙏

And of course—the President of the United States hops into an F-18 and saves the entire world. 😂 😂
I love the United States of Freedom! 🤣

A film only qualifies as a parody if its actual intention is to mock something. If Independence Day was designed to be a parody, then someone please just go ahead and butcher me, slicing me into 427 perfectly identical pieces. I suppose I’d just call it some sort of unserious SF; it isn't exactly bad, but it isn't great either—kind of like a high-volume, low-margin business model where you're working harder than you're making.

Independence Day is quite simply the only non-stop action movie where America actually saves the world.

I'm not particularly fond of either film, but if I have to choose, I’d say the ID version is better. It's just two hours of typical Hollywood fluff made for an easygoing American audience—the kind that shouts "Yeah, man!" whenever someone yells "Let's get 'em!" ☕ Still, it functions as an action comedy, despite their attempts to make it more serious...
WOTW is a much worse movie in my opinion. Given the massive budget, I expected something significantly higher in quality, especially with Tom Cruise 🤮 involved. Then you have that whiny Tom who manages to make the entire movie feel unwatchable. Of course, there are those ridiculous giant squids snatching people up, and watching them get destroyed at the end feels almost comical. 😂😂

The War of the Worlds (1953)
War of the Worlds (2005)

Man, I just absolutely love both of these movies! Honestly, my vote goes straight to War of the Worlds regardless of whether we're talking about the original classic or the modern remake, because let's be real—both versions are just total masterpieces.

I’m with you there. Honestly, The War of the Worlds is leagues better. I don't mind the ending one bit; it’s unconventional, and frankly, it makes way more sense than some Hollywood blockbuster where the President decides to personally lead an assault against aliens. I’ve always been a bit sick of that trope of the invincible American hero who somehow pulls off a miraculous, flashy stunt just when things look most hopeless. And like someone else pointed out, an ID isn't a parody unless that was the actual intent—which clearly wasn't the case here—so if it comes across that way, it's really just a testament to its own flaws. You could make the same argument about Armageddon, couldn't you? The themes aren't identical, sure, but the misguided approach is exactly the same.☕

War of the Worlds ftw! 🙂
one ES 🙏 for the beaver...

Independence Day—just more typical Emmerich nonsense 👎
Wotw - a decent enough SF flick to kill some time ☕

Hannah Roberts said:I’m with you there. Honestly, The War of the Worlds is leagues better. I don't mind the ending one bit; it’s unconventional, and frankly, it makes way more sense than some Hollywood blockbuster where the President decides to personally lead an assault against aliens. I’ve always been a bit sick of that trope of the invincible American hero who somehow pulls off a miraculous, flashy stunt just when things look most hopeless. And like someone else pointed out, an ID isn't a parody unless that was the actual intent—which clearly wasn't the case here—so if it comes across that way, it's really just a testament to its own flaws. You could make the same argument about Armageddon, couldn't you? The themes aren't identical, sure, but the misguided approach is exactly the same.☕

You nailed it! 👍

I'm assuming you're talking about the original classic, but what's your take on the remake?

Independence Day is a million times better than Spielberg's constant dragging things out.

Anyway—might as well weigh in since the topic is right here 😁 Independence Day—there really isn’t much of a debate to be had. Why? It’s basically just a massive love letter to those absolute bangers from the 50s and 60s... it’s spectacular in that simple, popcorn-munching, "turn your brain off" kind of way. It’s funny without trying too hard to be, and just sentimental enough that you actually find yourself getting sucked into the plot and rooting for the good guys. packed with big-name actors and recognizable faces—honestly, it’s the perfect flick for any lazy, sunny afternoon. For pure entertainment—8/10

Independence Day has its merits, but it also serves as proof that Emmerich always seems to struggle with crossing the finish line to deliver a truly great film. The movie essentially unfolds in three acts—the first act, featuring the suspenseful build-up and the initial alien onslaught, is phenomenal; if the entire film had maintained that caliber, it would have been excellent. The second act starts to show some cracks, though it remains somewhat watchable. However, the third act contains some of the most nonsensical scenes I have ever encountered in a Hollywood blockbuster, but I won't go into detail here since there has already been plenty said about that specific issue. All in all, it’s a silly, entertaining ride, but it certainly could have been better.

War of the Worlds isn't exactly among Spielberg's finest works, but in this particular lineup, it is convincingly superior—it's more atmospheric, darker, and most of it is brilliantly directed. If only little Dakota wouldn't scream so much and pierce my eardrums; that's probably the main reason I've only watched this film a handful of times, even though I keep it in my collection...

I think War of the Worlds is better, though both movies have pretty hollow endings.

redowl90 said:Man, you guys... Once you grow up, you'll finally understand Stanley Kubrick...

What? So, he filmed a fake American moon landing in a studio just in case? Or is it because his entire crew met their end under "mysterious circumstances" shortly after, leaving him to spend the rest of his life hiding away on some private estate—terrified to step foot outside for fear of being silenced before he could leak the ultimate secret?