A few words about...™ Independence Day -- in Blu-Ray

Robert Harris · 05-04-2008, 03:05 PM

When Independence Day arrived on laserdisc in July of 1998 it was considered state of the art for home theater software.

Available in either a film only 2-disc set for $49.98 or a Criterion-like Special Edition for $99.98, it was one of those titles that had to be owned.

It didn't have to be owned because it was extraordinary filmmaking or for great acting or screenwriting.

I had to be owned because it was one of a growing number of roller coaster ride films that had become a summer phenomenon.

Huge, noisy, and filled with interesting, if not great, special effects, Independence Day is wonderful, silly summer fun.

Now, twelve years later, Fox has released Independence Day on Blu-Ray DVD.

Viewing it today, Will Smith, and Bill Pullman (as POTUS) look amazing young. Jeff Goldblum, Randy Quaid, Harvey Fierstein -- every 1950s sci-fi knockoff should be required to have Harvey Fierstein in it -- and virtually every other actor working in Hollywood at the time seems to have a role.

And the really nice thing is that the Blu-Ray presentation makes the film look very much as it did in 1996.

And that's a good thing.

Fox has done a terrific job!

Independence Day on Blu-Ray is Recommended. It is definitely still summer fun for one's home theater in 2008.

RAH

TonyD · 05-04-2008, 11:41 PM

i'll second all that.

this is one of my favorite summer action movies.

looked and sounds great on blu-ray.

i'll also add that i'll buy it as soon as the special edition comes out.

Eric F · 05-04-2008, 11:49 PM

Tony, I'm not sure why you'd expect there'd be a "Special Edition" any time soon, if at all?

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the current version and I applaud FOX for the excellent job they did. I picked it up off Amazon for $20 and it was well worth that.

Douglas Monce · 05-04-2008, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric F

Tony, I'm not sure why you'd expect there'd be a "Special Edition" any time soon, if at all?

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the current version and I applaud FOX for the excellent job they did. I picked it up off Amazon for $20 and it was well worth that.

Well a version that at least ports over all of the extra features that were in included in the DVD version would be nice.

Doug

TonyD · 05-05-2008, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Douglas Monce

Well a version that at least ports over all of the extra features that were in included in the DVD version would be nice.

Doug

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Michael Warner · 05-05-2008, 10:55 AM

I was pretty ticked at Fox for releasing this bare bones as well so I rented it with no intention of buying anytime soon. But since Fry's had it for $14.99 this weekend I just had to get it. I guess that's the magic price point to make me get off my high horse.

Dave H · 05-05-2008, 11:37 AM

This is definitely on my catalog title list to pick up. Next good deal I'll grab it.

Douglas Monce · 05-05-2008, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Warner

I was pretty ticked at Fox for releasing this bare bones as well so I rented it with no intention of buying anytime soon. But since Fry's had it for $14.99 this weekend I just had to get it. I guess that's the magic price point to make me get off my high horse.

Oh yeah for the right price I'll pick up a bare bones release, but not for $34!!! Or whatever the going MSRP at Fox is now.

Doug

Bleddyn Williams · 05-06-2008, 09:37 AM

I agree that not putting the available extras on a disc is lame.

Van Ling's tricks, like a searchable index are unlikely to be used by many, surely.

I will say this, though - the original "Five-Star Collection" DVD did have a fair bit of stuff on it, but I remember it as being very EPK like, and the featurettes were rather repetitive. If you can get this cheap, grab it because the presentation trumps the DVD. Personally, I won't miss the old extras.

WillG · 05-06-2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Well a version that at least ports over all of the extra features that were in included in the DVD version would be nice

I would have been happy if they at least offered the extended cut as the viewing option, which by the way gets several mentions in the trivia track that is on there. Or at the very, very least the extra footage as deleted scenes.

Grant H · 05-06-2008, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillG

I would have been happy if they at least offered the extended cut as the viewing option, which by the way gets several mentions in the trivia track that is on there. Or at the very, very least the extra footage as deleted scenes.

Lack of the extended cut is why I didn't buy it, even at the Target sale price of 19.99. That's just a sunk cost once a proper edition comes out.