Independence Day 2: Resurgence (2016)

Summary: It is twenty years after the first alien attack on earth and now there is a large anti-alien organisation with stations in various areas of the solar system. However despite the defence the aliens are back in an even larger space ship which hovers over much of our planet. The defenders unite in Area 51 and the best fighter pilots in the world take to the air. Meanwhile a white sphere has appeared which it turns out can be interrogated by earth scientists and is a messenger from those who are fighting the aliens.  As well as refuelling their ship from the earth’s core the aliens wish to take possession of the sphere and so are ready to attack Area 51. They have powers beyond the comprehension of earth, so can the planet survive?

Content: No sex or nudity or anything else that could cause offense. The plot centres on the half dozen superpilots who include a young Chinese woman. They fly off in their fighters and in one way or another there are many dogfights which are reminiscent of those in Star Wars. There is a lot of tension in the headquarters in Area 51 and the alien sphere provides information and images. For some reason there is a subplot involving the father of scientist David Levinson who drives a school bus full of children into the centre of the melee. There are fire fights on the ground between the earth people and the aliens and there is a climax when the vast alien queen appears.

A View: This outing was not much liked by the critics, or as it turns out the general public. It was incredibly expensive, but despite the negative response might have broken even in the end. Much of the time I did not know what was going on and had to consult the Wikipedia entry to be able to write this review. Despite the very elaborate graphics it looked very much like more of the same in the commercial sci-fi mould. There is supposed to be a gay character, but not enough of him said the LGBQ crowd and a Chinese pilot, but not enough of her said the Chinese. But in all not enough tension, we would all agree. So only a view if you are a dedicated disaster movie fan.

Quite a few invasion of earth movies have been reviewed on this site. Here are three of the better ones: 10 Cloverfield Lane, Arrival and my favourite The Edge of Tomorrow.