****UPDATE 4/22/16– TRAILER #2****

 

Growing up I had been an immense fan of the movie Independence Day. The scale of the attack, the large talented cast, and the seamless blending of both types of special effects: CGI and Practical– All of this was what made this film so special (and lucrative), and what launched Roland Emmerich‘s career of blockbuster disaster movies. Whether that’s a good thing or not… I’ll let you decide.

So when I sat down to finally watch the trailer for the oft-delayed sequel Independence Day: Resurgence, I was taken back to my childhood. What I didn’t expect however, was the lore that they’ve constructed around the first movie.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love Sci-Fi. And those who truly know me, know that I love references, crossovers and more material: continuity. ID:R uses the latter with a deft hand. Using the actual twenty years since the first film, and building a world around this idea is not a new concept for long separated sequels.

But what ID:R does is set-up the events for the new movie with a lore displayed through their website WarOf1996.com. Some movies have done similar things here as well, especially District 9. But it’s the tie to my nostalgia that seems to be affecting me the most. It’s twenty years that I’ve lived. That’s the important factor here. But not only that, but in this universe… THEY HAVE FREAKING MOON BASES!! All throughout the solar system!! Something I’d love to actually see in my days on Earth. Intersystem space travel.

I know this will be an unpopular opinion due to the fact that Emmerich’s films have been laughed at for years now, and while I defended Dumb and Dumber To in the same vein, I have higher hopes for the ID4 sequel because while the aforementioned comedy had to try to relive the jokes of the first D&D, ID:R is building upon its first film.

In all honesty the swift way they were able to tie it into its predecessor’s past is along the lines of how Creed followed the Rocky series.

There is a strong chance that this movie will be a letdown, and an even better chance that it won’t win Best Picture at the Oscars (maybe Visual Effects), but I will definitely be there opening day, June 24th, 2016 and will enjoy every minute of this film. Whether or not I enjoy it in hindsight… Who knows?

-Jamie

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As previously mentioned: Jamie loves crossovers, continuity, and oh so much more. Discuss it with him on Twitter @GuyOnAWire or in the comments below!