{"id":13192,"date":"2016-10-22T07:04:38","date_gmt":"2016-10-22T14:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/?p=13192"},"modified":"2016-10-22T08:45:35","modified_gmt":"2016-10-22T15:45:35","slug":"review-independenceday2-uhd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/2016\/10\/review-independenceday2-uhd\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Independence Day: Resurgence UHD + Screen Caps"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>Independence Day: Resurgence<\/em><\/strong> is merely the latest example of why some sequels are not necessary. Although I don\u2019t think this was awful, and frankly outside of the President\u2019s speech, the first one is hardly great in terms of storytelling, there really is no reason for this to existl.<\/p>\n

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Independence Day: Resurgence<\/span>
\n(2016)<\/span>
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Genre(s): <\/strong>Science Fiction, Action
\nFox | PG13 \u2013 120 min. \u2013 $39.99 | October 18, 2016<\/p>\n

Date Published:<\/strong> 10\/22\/2016 | Author:<\/strong> The Movieman<\/span><\/p>\n

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MOVIE INFO:
\n<\/u>Directed by: <\/strong>Roland Emmerich
\nWriter(s): <\/strong>Dean Devlin & Roland Emmerich (characters); Dean Devlin & Roland Emmerich and Nicolas Wright & James A. Woods (story), Nicolas Wright & James A. Woods and Dean Devlin & Roland Emmerich and James Vanderbilt (screenplay)
\nCast: <\/strong>Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Maika Monroe, Travis Tope, William Fichtner, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Judd Hirsch, Sela Ward, Brent Spiner, Vivica A. Fox, Angelababy, Joey King<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DISC INFO:
\n<\/u>Features: <\/strong>Commentary, Featurettes, Deleted Scenes, Gag Reel
\nDigital Copy: <\/strong>Yes
\nFormats Included: <\/strong>UHD, Blu-ray
\nNumber of Discs: <\/strong>2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Audio (UHD): <\/strong>English (Dolby Atmos), French (DTS 5.1), Spanish (DTS 5.1)
\nAudio (BD): <\/strong>English (DTS-HD MA 7.1), French (DD 5.1), Spanish (DD 5.1)
\nVideo (UHD): <\/strong>2160p\/Widescreen 2.39
\nVideo (BD): <\/strong>1080p\/Widescreen 2.39
\nSubtitles: <\/strong>English SDH, French, Spanish
\nDisc Size: <\/strong>NA
\nCodec: <\/strong>HEVC \/ H.265
\nRegion(s): <\/strong>A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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THE MOVIE \u2014 2.5\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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The tagline \u201cWe had twenty years to prepare…\u201d makes me chuckle because one would apply it to the (numerous) writers to ask, 20 years and this<\/em> is what they came up with? Now, I will say, Independence Day: Resurgence<\/em><\/strong> isn\u2019t a dumpster fire of a sequel as there are some entertaining moments and the finale at least was passable, and yet by the end, I can only ask, \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

The story, taking place 20 years following the \u201cWar of 1996\u201d, there is world peace and humankind has utilized and weaponized the alien technology in case they ever would return. And it\u2019s a good thing because not only are they back, but they are not out for revenge but to drain our resources, namely the magma at Earth\u2019s core, thus ending all of life. They\u2019re also bigger and badder than ever, led by the Queen (a la Aliens<\/em>), with larger ships.<\/p>\n

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On the front lines to stopping these aliens are some familiar faces: David Levinson (JEFF GOLDBLUM), director of the Earth Space Defense; ex-President Whitmore (BILL PULLMAN) and Dr. Brakish Okun (BRENT SPINER) who have a telepathic connection with the aliens, the former looking like a nutcase while Okun wakes up from a 20 year coma; and Dr. Isaacs (JOHN STOREY) who I honestly do not remember from the first movie. We also get some fresh faces including pilots Jake Morrison (LIAM HEMSWORTH), Dylan Hiller (JESSE USHER) \u2014 who is the son of Captain Steven Hiller (played by Will Smith), killed off-screen in a training accident \u2014, Rain Lao (ANGELABABY) and Charlie Miller (TRAVIS TOPE); U.S. President Lanford (SELA WARD), General Adams (WILLIAM FICHTNER); scientist Catherine Marceaux (CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG) who has a past with David; and war lord Dikembe Umbutu (DEOBIA OPAREI) with experience killing the aliens.<\/p>\n

In addition, there are some side characters from Julius Levinson (JUDD HIRSCH), Jasmine Hiller (VIVICA A. FOX), Patricia Whitmore (MAIKA MONROE who was cast instead of MAE WHITMAN), a trio of kids (one portrayed by JOEY KING) whose parents were killed in the attacks, and a government bureaucrat (NICOLAS WRIGHT) who I think was supposed to be another comic relief.<\/p>\n

The first Independence Day<\/em> was hardly a masterpiece but a serviceable disaster flick with thin characters mostly played by charismatic actors (Pullman and Smith especially) and if it were not for Whitmore\u2019s speech and some creative visual effects and miniatures, the entire film would be forgettable. With Resurgence<\/em><\/strong>, the effects were so-so; in some scenes outright bad (anything involving the futuristic helicopters was especially bad), and now you add in new characters who have no charisma whatsoever spewing laughable dialogue and you\u2019ve got a film that at times was tough to sit through or even get engaged with.<\/p>\n

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Returning to the director\u2019s chair, and is one of five<\/u> screenwriters, is Roland Emmerich and technically speaking, he\u2019s a serviceable director but at best he\u2019s average with outings like 2012<\/em>, White House Down<\/em> and The Day After Tomorrow<\/em>, he doesn\u2019t exactly helm top-shelf material; this one is no different.<\/p>\n

In the end, much like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows<\/em> before it (at least that one came out a few years after the first), there\u2019s really no good reason for Independence Day: Resurgence<\/em><\/strong> to even exist. Perhaps this is fine as throwaway, fast food-like entertainment but at this point, nobody asked for it and if the studio wanted to make money, it should\u2019ve come out back in 2000.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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SPECIAL FEATURES \u2013 4.0\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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This 2-disc release comes with a semi-reflective slip cover<\/strong>. Inside is a code for the Digital HD<\/u><\/strong> copy.<\/p>\n

Deleted Scenes (8:24; HD)<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 There are 8 scenes here including an alternate opening, a death scene of a semi-major character (was killed off-screen in the final cut which was a good idea) and a few others. There is an optional commentary included.<\/p>\n

The War of 1996 (5:11; HD)<\/u><\/strong> is a mock news story looking back on the attack 20 years ago.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Early ABQ! (3:07; HD)<\/u><\/strong> is a mock morning show hosted by Terry Dudley (played by Fred Armisen) with Julius Levinson promoting his book and Jeff Goldblum\u2019s David making an appearance.<\/p>\n

Another Day: The Making of Independence Day: Resurgence<\/em> (55:25; HD)<\/u><\/strong> is a 4-part making-of featurette documenting the ideas behind the sequel and introducing the new and old characters. Includes interviews with the cast (including Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Liam Hemsworth, etc) and crew (Roland Emmerich, Dean Devlin).<\/p>\n

Gag Reel (6:14; HD)<\/u><\/strong> which mainly shows Jeff Goldblum goofing off.<\/p>\n

Audio Commentary<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 Producer\/Co-Writer\/Director Roland Emmerich provides a scene-specific track offering insights into how the movie got made and drills down into the story aspects. If you\u2019ve ever heard an Emmerich commentary, it can be a tad dry but this one is still informative.<\/p>\n

Concept Art<\/u><\/strong> for the Aliens, AI, Humans, Locations and Original Presentation Images<\/p>\n

Theatrical Trailers (5:18; HD)<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 2 Trailers and a TV Spot<\/p>\n

Previews<\/strong> \u2013 Assassin\u2019s Creed<\/em>, Deadpool<\/em>, X-Men: Apocalypse<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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4K UHD VIDEO \u2014 5.0\/5, BD VIDEO \u2014 5.0\/5
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Independence Day: Resurgence<\/em><\/strong> is the latest UHD release from Fox and the movie is presented with a 2.39 widescreen aspect ratio and a 2160p ultra high-definition transfer. As expected, this film looks incredible with excellent and sharp, well defined detail throughout while colors have a great pop off the big-small screen, surely replicating the theatrical experience. As with X-Men: Apocalypse<\/em> this is reference quality work here from the studio, just a shame the movie wasn\u2019t better.<\/p>\n

The 1080p Blu-ray is more or less the same with an obvious deference to the 4K UHD transfer. Colors are again vibrant and detail looking sharp and there were no signs of artifacts, aliasing or other flaws.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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4K UHD AUDIO \u2014 5.0\/5, BD AUDIO \u2014 4.75\/5
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As with other Fox UHD releases, this one gets the Dolby Atmos treatment and it sounds fantastic. Sure, the movie might not be very good but it is the type of film that takes full advantage of the Atmos soundtrack where the action sequences blare through each and every channel will full force but with even dispersion. The LFE channel does kick in for an extra measure of depth.<\/p>\n

For whatever reason, the Blu-ray has the old fashioned DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track which in itself sounds very good, though by comparison, the Atmos track on the UHD does take top prize and is ever so slightly better. However, fear not, for Blu-ray users, this still sounds extraordinary providing clear dialogue (unfortunately) intermixed with the bombastic destruction sequences.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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OVERALL \u2013 3.5\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Overall, Independence Day: Resurgence<\/em><\/strong> is merely the latest example of why some sequels are not necessary. Although I don\u2019t think this was awful, and frankly outside of the President\u2019s speech, the first one is hardly great in terms of storytelling, there really is no reason for this to exist and based on its box office performance, the masses agreed which means we\u2019re probably spared from any more. As far as this Blu-ray release is concerned, the video and audio transfers (both UHD and BD) are excellent and there\u2019s a fine selection of bonus material to peruse.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Check out some more screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers<\/strong>.
\nThese are only here to give an idea of the movie\u2019s video quality and may not be truly representative of it.<\/p>\n